As the co-warehousing model evolves from fringe concept to foundational infrastructure for product-based businesses, Midwestern cities are emerging as unexpected epicenters of innovation.
At MindMyBusinessNYC.com, we’ve covered this trend extensively—including in our March 2025 feature, “The Co-Warehousing Multiplier Effect”, which outlined how shared logistics environments supercharge business growth. In that same article, we highlighted Elevator—an Omaha-based pioneer in the space—as a standout national model that co-warehousing operators in New York and other major metros could learn from.
Now, Elevator is expanding its footprint to Lincoln, Nebraska, with a bold new location set to open in late 2025. And while co-warehousing in Lincoln is still new territory, the demand is building fast—and Elevator’s timing could be perfect.
The Lincoln Opportunity: Ripe for Reinvention
Lincoln has all the ingredients for a co-warehousing boom: a robust entrepreneurial community, growing e-commerce brands, and small businesses eager for more flexible, scalable workspace solutions.
But traditional commercial leases—often rigid, expensive, and undersized or oversized—aren’t meeting the needs of agile product entrepreneurs.
That’s where Elevator comes in.
Their 25,077-square-foot space atop the Atrium building in downtown Lincoln will combine co-working in Lincoln, micro-warehousing, and small office spaces for rent in Lincoln—all designed to eliminate the friction that prevents small businesses from growing. Month-to-month leases. Plug-and-play logistics. And, most importantly, an intentional community built for cross-pollination.
“Lincoln doesn’t need more square footage—it needs smarter space,” says Emiliano Lerda, Elevator’s Co-Founder and CEO. “We’re not here to drop in a building. We’re here to plant a business ecosystem.”
A Model That’s Already Proven Itself
Elevator is not a startup guessing at what might work. Since launching in Omaha in 2021, the company has proven that co-warehousing can be more than just storage—it can be a catalyst for growth.
Take Joseph Kenney, founder of 316 Strategy Group. After moving into Elevator’s Omaha facility, he closed over $150,000 in new business within two months—just from neighbors he met in the building.
Or Tholi, an essential oils brand that grew from a single micro-unit to six, then leveraged Elevator’s network to secure capital, expand marketing, and ultimately purchase its own manufacturing facility in Kansas City.
“It’s not about space. It’s about proximity, velocity, and shared momentum,” explains Shannon Lerda, Elevator’s Co-Founder and President. “That’s where the real ROI is.”
Why MindMyBusinessNYC Cares About Co-Warehousing in Lincoln
MindMyBusinessNYC’s core mission has always been to surface strategies, models, and movements that empower entrepreneurs—from the five boroughs to the broader business landscape.
Our editorial team continues to track co-warehousing as a breakout infrastructure category, and Elevator’s expansion into Lincoln is a data point that reinforces a national trend: the best ideas don’t always come from the coasts.
When we first covered this topic, we noted that many New York co-warehousing operators were still focused on square footage—not on fostering scalable ecosystems. Elevator flips that model: its focus is on outcomes, not just leases.
In Lincoln, a city rich with entrepreneurial energy but underserved by modern workspace solutions, this approach could be transformative.
Co-Working in Lincoln, Reimagined
Beyond warehouse bays and loading docks, Elevator’s Lincoln facility will feature:
- Flexible co-working in Lincoln for solo founders and remote operators
- Private offices and suites for scaling startups
- Shared fulfillment stations, shipping areas, and packaging zones
- A rooftop deck and lounge for community events, workshops, and networking
- Access to investor networks, mentorship, and curated programming
It’s not just space. It’s strategy, wrapped in drywall.
“We host TikTok marketing workshops, e-commerce meetups, and investor pitch days,” says Levi Cermak, Elevator’s VP of Revenue. “We’re not just landlords—we’re facilitators of growth.”
Looking Ahead: Lincoln Joins a Growing Network
Elevator’s Lincoln launch is part of a larger expansion strategy now reaching St. Louis, Des Moines, Kansas City, and beyond. Its model is quickly becoming the blueprint for how co-warehousing should be done—especially in cities where traditional space models no longer fit modern business needs.
“We believe Lincoln can be a launchpad,” says Emiliano Lerda. “Not just for Elevator—but for the next generation of physical product entrepreneurs building brands that matter.”
As the co-warehousing industry matures, the companies that prioritize community, flexibility, and outcomes will rise above the rest. Elevator is positioning itself to lead that charge—one city at a time.
Learn More:
Visit elevatorspaces.com to explore Elevator’s co-warehousing communities and join the waitlist for the Lincoln location.
