Omaha to rename street after war veteran who founded legendary bakery
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Near 16th and Cass streets, it begins the story of a 70-year-old north Omaha bakery, now well known as Pettit’s Pastry.
As you first walk in, you’re welcomed by the sweet aroma of its donuts and its friendly family service.
“My father and my grandpa started the business and my dad took it over in 1962,” said bakery owner Mark Pettit said. “He worked here for over 50 years making fresh pastries and donuts every day and delivering them all over town.”
His dad, the late Richard Pettit, took over the business after returning from the Korean War.
“It was something that he knew he could do and make a high quality product,” Mark Pettit said. “He believed at the time he could serve a lot of people.”
Since then, the pastry shop’s doors have been open seven days a week, serving cakes, cookies, and other baked goods for 50 years.
The bakery was hit hard the most during COVID, when it they had to cut back on production. Years later, Pettit said they learned a lot from the pandemic.
“Sometimes things don’t go as well as you planned,” Pettit said. “You must persevere through good times and bad times.”
To honor Pettit’s work, on Tuesday, the city council approved to commemoratively rename 16th Street after Richard Pettit. This is something the city told our partners at 6 News it was right to do.
“It was justified that the application spelled out his contribution to his country as a war veteran and his contribution to the city of Omaha,” Dave Fanslau, Omaha city planning director, said.
If there’s one thing Pettit wants people to take away from the new change it’s this.:
“My dad was a very humble man he wasn’t in it for the glory, but he just always pushed quality product and service and people keep coming back,” Pettit said.
It’s still unclear when exactly the city will make changes to 16th Street.