Alumni Amber (Darrohn) Fiala '99 and David Fiala '92 purchase Seward's Red Path Gallery and Cocktail Lounge

Seward, NE (05/28/2026) — In what they describe as a "surprise opportunity," Concordia Nebraska alumni Amber (Darrohn) Fiala '99 and David '92 Fiala recently purchased Seward's Red Path Gallery and Cocktail Lounge. Red Path was founded in 2013 to create a space in Seward's downtown for people to gather, have a drink and appreciate local artists. More than just an art gallery, Red Path offers bourbon and wine tastings, art classes and community events and is a gathering place for guests to have fun and nurture their creativity.

"We couldn't stand the thought of our small town losing the art gallery," explained Amber. "The gallery serves Nebraska artists, and we wanted them to continue having this space to showcase their pieces. We absolutely love serving the artists and Seward."

Seward is especially dear to the Fialas. Amber fell in love with Concordia Nebraska when she attended the university's previous Gathering of the Talents events. And David's father Dr. Bob Fiala served as a history professor at the university while he was growing up, so he never considered attending college anywhere else.

Amber has a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master of education degree in administration from Concordia Nebraska and Dave has a bachelor's degree in commercial art. They agree that the supportive faculty and staff made their time at Concordia Nebraska incredibly special. Amber cited Dr. Judy Preuss, Dr. Laurie Friedrich, Janell Uffelman and Dr. Ron Bork as influential during her time at the university. Dave said learning from art faculty that featured "the best in the field" Reinhold Marxhausen, William Wolfram, Richard Wiegmann, Don Dynneson and Lynn Soloway.

"The friendships I made with the other students there were also amazing," he said. "I loved the whole Concordia experience!"

Amber said personalized attention and support from professors helped her develop her strengths and see how God uses individuals to serve others. Dave said his professors all had diverse talents that were very inspiring.

"They were also very approachable and humble, and their strong faith and values were very evident," "he said. "They were a collective role model to me."

Amber said both she and Dave have experienced a variety of twists and turns in their professional journeys that have led them to where they are today.

"We are consistently reminded that God is in the details, and we continue to serve Him in all areas of our lives. Purchasing Red Path Gallery and Cocktail Lounge has been a surprise twist in our story," she said. "It is a perfect blend of our God-given strengths, and we love serving our small community. Concordia's academic programs focus on developing each individual. The strong academic programs have provided us with the skills to apply knowledge to other career paths during our lives."

They agree that their time at Concordia Nebraska helped to strengthen and grow their faith in Jesus Christ.

"We now see the importance of faith formation during the ages of 18 to 22. We didn't fully see it or appreciate it until having two sons be blessed with the Concordia experience," explained Amber. "The world sends a strong message that can distract you from your calling. The culture within Concordia provides an opportunity to continue the faith journey and deepen your relationship with Christ."

Amber served as a teacher for 15 years and as a principal for 10 years then worked as an insurance agent for four years prior to the Fiala's current work at Red Path. Dave was an illustrator for 10 years and graphic designer for 24 years and currently works in manufacturing in addition to owning the business with Amber.

The Fialas said their work at Red Path is full of creativity, community and joy.

"We serve member artists by coordinating art shows, events and organizing the art gallery," explained Amber. "We also offer a full cocktail lounge for a space for people to connect and be surrounded by beautiful artwork. Our space can also be rented for gatherings or meetings. When our business is not open, we rent part of our space to a yoga instructor."

Whether they are coordinating details with member artists or scheduling community events like paint and sip and tastings, the focus on community and fun is always present. Amber said they also work frequently with other businesses on the town square, collaborating to help everyone succeed.

"We love serving others. Providing a space for Nebraska artists brings us joy!" she said.

The Fialas have three sons: Devon '18 and his wife Jensen live in Omaha. Ian is a senior at Concordia Nebraska and will graduate soon with a degree in Spanish and secondary education. Isaac is a sophomore at Seward High School.

"We love being back in Seward," said Amber. "We enjoy being with our family and making memories. Sporting events, playing cards and games and spending time outdoors are just a few of our favorite family activities."

Media Attachments