• The video shows Merhawi Kahsay’s store in Council Bluffs, a new store in north Omaha and the liquor products sold in his discount store.
• LaGhe Andrews, born and raised in north Omaha, talks about the positive impact the store could have on the community if the store owner works with neighbors.
• Merhawi Kahsay, the owner of Weini’s Market, which is coming to North Omaha, and his attorney, Lindsey Schuler, declined to speak with me about the neighbors’ needs.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:

I’m Melissa Wright and I live in North Omaha. A few weeks ago I told you about the opening of a grocery store in this area that will also sell alcohol.

Now the store has been officially approved, and a neighbor I spoke with says this could be an opportunity to expose local business owners and offer healthier food in the area. LaGhe Andrews, born and raised in North Omaha, says she’s used to having to drive long distances for decent food.

“I think it would be a blessing for them if there were more healthcare options near them, especially in this area,” Andrews said.

Andrews has been vegan for five years. She says she likes to shop local when she can, but she also finds plenty of vegan foods at Whole Foods.

“We want to make sure that when you bring the store here, you are given the opportunity to see different ways of eating and drinking or actually trying the exact things that you are used to,” Andrews said.

She says the store opening could help local business owners if store owner Merhawi Kahsay communicates with the community.

“If he asked how he could help the community more with his business … ‘I would say get more community involved,'” Andrews said.

Andrews says Kahsay’s collaboration with the community and sourcing natural products from local entrepreneurs could benefit him and his neighbors.

“A lot of stores already have soaps, but you can’t pronounce half the stuff that’s on the back. So you don’t know what’s going into your skin, you don’t know what’s going into your bloodstream, and providing things like that… fighting more for health will keep people coming back,” Andrews said.

Weini’s Market, owned by Kashay, now has a Class D liquor license, which allows the store to sell beer, wine and spirits, but does not allow it to sell individual beers of 32 ounces or less or spirits under 374 milliliters.

When I spoke to Kahsay a month ago, he said his vision for the business included:

“Meat, fruit, canned fruit, chips… whatever. Whatever you call it food,” Kahsay said.

On Tuesday, I contacted Kahsay and his attorney, Linsey Schuler, to let them know what the neighbors would like to see when the store opens. Neither Kahsay nor Schuler would comment on the matter.

Story Owner Merhawi Kasha plans to open Weini’s Market in Fair Deal Village in north Omaha. I’m Melissa Wright.