Omaha Marine Center

3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 5 rine Center NAVIGATING THE WATERS I t’s a sure fact that the pandemic has affected retail businesses across every sector, including the boating industry. Supply has slumped and demand has risen, leading to unique scenarios for local marine dealers like Omaha Marine Center in Nebraska. The company has two locations, highlighted by a retail center housed near downtown Omaha. The headquarters includes two showrooms that total more than 22,000 square feet, including repair and sales departments. In addition, a 30,000 square-foot warehouse would normally display a large number of boats for sale (pre-pandemic). The other location is a boating experience center that also houses storage, service, a pro shop, and restaurant. Paul Davis is a second-generation owner of the business, having purchased it from his father in 2000. Originally started in 1980, the company has been thriving in Omaha for 42 years. Davis shares, “My father worked in the industry for several years and had moved his family to Wisconsin for another job in the industry. But when an opportunity to own a franchise opened