It was once called the “skid row of the plains” and a shame on Nebraska. But Whiteclay is quite different today, six years after the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission stopped renewing the licenses of four beers stores in the town of a dozen residents. The litter is gone and so are people passed out on the streets and sidewalks.”We don’t have, you know, have to look at people that are intoxicated,” Holly Hosie said.She remembers when the beer stores used to sell nearly four million beer cans a year, mostly to residents of the nearby Pine Ridge reservation, where alcohol is banned.”It was a it was a human rights issue. They were killing themselves. It was like it was a slow suicide,” Hosie said.On April 30, 2017, the four beer store closed their doors.”It’s now a place where there’s all kinds of good traffic, there’s business are going on,” Jonathan Ruybalid said.Ruybalid purchased one of the former beer stores and converted it into a makerspace for local Native artists to create and sell their work. “What we’re doing. We’re creating jobs were creating spirit for people to support themselves and their families,” Ruybalid said.The store is now a tourist destination on Nebraska Passport.”The irony is huge. But we are showing off a part of Nebraska people can be proud of,” Ruybalid said.There is a local grocery store, a clothing and apparel store, cafe and auto repair shop. One Family Dollar store is doing so well, a Dollar General is preparing to open on the other end of town.Two of the former beer stores remain empty. The fourth store is now a church.”It used to be my favorite bar. And now it’s my favorite church,” Sylas Condon said.Condon is a member of the Community Fellowship Church. He, like many of the members, used to be drawn to Whiteclay seeking booze. Now they thirst for scripture.”Finally listening to God and Jesus to help me to change and stop living evil, you know, hurting people,” Condon said.Hosie manages the artist maker space.”We provide the space. We provide the tools. We provide customer artist support,” Hosie said.”It’s definitely helping us to give back to the people what was taken away from them because of alcohol,” Hosie said.She said alcoholism has left a lot of scars on a lot of families. “I think it’s going to take a long time for us to get over what the alcoholism has caused to the Native American people. But it’s a beginning,” Hosie said.David Grimes is the pastor of the church. He said he serves a God of miracles. “I battled alcohol and drugs for years before God set me free and I know that if God can turn around a scumbag like me, he can turn a liquor store into a church too,” Grimes said.Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
It was once called the “skid row of the plains” and a shame on Nebraska.
But Whiteclay is quite different today, six years after the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission stopped renewing the licenses of four beers stores in the town of a dozen residents.
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The litter is gone and so are people passed out on the streets and sidewalks.
“We don’t have, you know, have to look at people that are intoxicated,” Holly Hosie said.
She remembers when the beer stores used to sell nearly four million beer cans a year, mostly to residents of the nearby Pine Ridge reservation, where alcohol is banned.
“It was a it was a human rights issue. They were killing themselves. It was like it was a slow suicide,” Hosie said.
On April 30, 2017, the four beer store closed their doors.
“It’s now a place where there’s all kinds of good traffic, there’s business are going on,” Jonathan Ruybalid said.
Ruybalid purchased one of the former beer stores and converted it into a makerspace for local Native artists to create and sell their work.
“What we’re doing. We’re creating jobs were creating spirit for people to support themselves and their families,” Ruybalid said.
The store is now a tourist destination on Nebraska Passport.
“The irony is huge. But we are showing off a part of Nebraska people can be proud of,” Ruybalid said.
There is a local grocery store, a clothing and apparel store, cafe and auto repair shop. One Family Dollar store is doing so well, a Dollar General is preparing to open on the other end of town.
Two of the former beer stores remain empty. The fourth store is now a church.
“It used to be my favorite bar. And now it’s my favorite church,” Sylas Condon said.
Condon is a member of the Community Fellowship Church. He, like many of the members, used to be drawn to Whiteclay seeking booze. Now they thirst for scripture.
“Finally listening to God and Jesus to help me to change and stop living evil, you know, hurting people,” Condon said.
Hosie manages the artist maker space.
“We provide the space. We provide the tools. We provide customer artist support,” Hosie said.
“It’s definitely helping us to give back to the people what was taken away from them because of alcohol,” Hosie said.
She said alcoholism has left a lot of scars on a lot of families.
“I think it’s going to take a long time for us to get over what the alcoholism has caused to the Native American people. But it’s a beginning,” Hosie said.
David Grimes is the pastor of the church.
He said he serves a God of miracles.
“I battled alcohol and drugs for years before God set me free and I know that if God can turn around a scumbag like me, he can turn a liquor store into a church too,” Grimes said.
