Grow Omaha
News Briefs
New Storage Facility Targets Contractors
Storage Depot has opened at 4202 South 120th Street. The “contractor bay” self-storage facility features large bays, power inside the units, heating/lighting, free Wi-Fi and an on-site dump station for waste disposal.
Church’s Chicken Plans Second Omaha Location
A second Church’s Texas Chicken location is being planned, according to a recent building permit application. The address is 2310 North 90th Street, the location of a previous Godfather’s Pizza. It is still early in the design process, but the permit indicates that there will be a new 1,700 square foot, freestanding building with a drive-thru. – Isaiah Ang
New Restaurant Coming to Former IHOP Building on North 72nd Street
A new-to-market sushi restaurant is moving into a previous IHOP location at 4707 North 72nd Street. The applicant for the remodel building permit is a business named Izumi Sushi and Hibachi. There is a similarly named restaurant in Clive, Iowa, in the Des Moines, Iowa metro area. Based on their website, they offer both ala carte and all-you-can-eat sushi, hibachi and other Japanese inspired dishes. According to the remodel permit, the building will see some exterior changes including a new paint job. – Isaiah Ang
A Switch of Restaurants at 76th & Cass
Golden Palace Express, a Chinese restaurant at 7633 Cass Street, has closed after seven years in business. The owners have announced that a new restaurant, Universal Thai, will take over the space. No opening date for the new restaurant has been shared. – Nicole Buntgen
Eppley Announces Non-Stop Flights to Philadelphia
American Airlines is bringing non-stop service to Philadelphia International Airport back to Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. American will offer twice-daily non-stop flights starting June 5, 2025. Tickets go on sale next week.
Mochinut Schedules Grand Opening for First Nebraska Location
We have a grand opening date for Mochinut, the Hawaiian donut shop from Los Angeles. The dessert crossover business will debut its first Nebraska or Iowa store on September 10th at 3605 North 147th Street in the Shoppes at Grayhawk. In addition to its Japanese mochi and American donut fusion, the shop will also serve Korean corn dogs and boba tea. – Nicole Buntgen
Kia Dealership, Restaurant & Apartments Planned for West Village Pointe
A new Kia dealership is planned for the corner of 180th & Burke Street in West Village Pointe as part of a mixed-use development. The Omaha Planning Board approved a final plat of the multi-phase development. The 34,000 sq. ft. H&H dealership building will be accompanied by a new carwash facility to be built during phase two. Phase one consists of a 10,000 sq. ft. restaurant building just west of Core Bank. The final phase will be the development of a multifamily residential building on the south side, currently planned for 24 apartment flats. – Isaiah Ang
Sub Sandwich Shop Opening at Aksarben
Sammy’s Sub Shop will host a soft opening at the Inner Rail Food Hall in Aksarben on September 5th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first 100 guests will receive a free sandwich. Occupying the former Noname Café + Market space, the locally-owned eatery will operate daily and also offer catering. – Nicole Buntgen
Wohlner’s Grocery Closing After More than 100 Years
After more than 100 years in business, Wohlner’s Neighborhood Grocery will permanently close its store at 3253 Dodge Street in Midtown Crossing. Owners Bob and Dianne Kimball have decided to retire. Wohlner’s has not announced an exact closing date, but in the meantime, customers will receive 15 percent off their total purchases, marking 15 years at Wohlner’s current location.
Progress on Future Restaurant Building Near 72nd & Grover
Workers installed exterior signage today on a new retail building northeast of 72nd & Grover Street in the MH Landing development. That’s where The Salty Dog Bar & Grill soon will open its second location. Salty Dog’s first location is in Council Bluffs. The new building will also be home to the first Nebraska location of Weinerschnitzel, a popular California hotdog chain.
Car Wash Opening Near 72nd & Hascall
Club Car Wash will open its latest Omaha location later this month 3131 South 72nd Street, which is on the northeast corner of 72nd & Hascall Street. The site has been under construction for some time and was originally going to be Silverstar Carwash. Club is based in Columbia, Mo. Silverstar is from Sioux Falls, S.D.
Spirit Halloween Gears Up for the Season
Spirit Halloween will open September 4th at 2609 South 132nd Street in Orchard Plaza, just off 132nd & Center in the former CVS Pharmacy space. Spirit Halloween is the nation’s largest Halloween retailer with more than 1,500 stores. Another Omaha location is in Sorensen Park Plaza at 6336 North 73rd Plaza. – Nicole Buntgen
Capitol Arcade Opens at 10th & Dodge Downtown
Capitol Arcade is now open at 1002 Dodge Street downtown. From the same owners as Fat Putter across the street, Capitol Arcade is an 8,000 sq. ft. bar and video arcade concept.
Affordable Housing Project Slated for Downtown
Clarity Development Company plans to rehabilitate two historic buildings in the Flatiron District downtown. Each building will be converted to Low Income Housing Tax Credit multifamily units. The 3-story building at 1501 Howard Street will have 16 studio and 1-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors, retail space on the first floor and 16 parking spaces in the lower floor. The building known as the Standard at 500 South 18th Street will consist of 40 studio and 1-bedroom apartments on floors two through six plus commercial space on the ground level. The Planning Board will review an application for TIF to help finance the project. – Isaiah Ang
Upscale Golf Business Opening Gretna Location
NetPar plans to open a second metro area location in Gretna in a newly constructed retail building at 178th & Highway 370. NetPar is an upscale, indoor simulated golf business that also serves beer, cocktails, wine and a limited menu of elevated bar food. The first Omaha location opened in the Capitol District downtown back in December. Before coming to Omaha, all the other NetPar locations were in Indiana.
Residential Development Planned for Heartwood Preserve
A new residential phase is in the works at Heartwood Preserve. The Omaha Planning Board will review an application for a major amendment to the Mixed Use District Development Agreement to allow a multi-family development on a 4.59-acre lot north of Ovation Heartwood Preserve Assisted Living. The site was originally approved for an office building up to 50,000 sq. ft. The new plans call for three, 6-story buildings with 36 condominium units in each. The complex will include a courtyard area with lawn space, swimming pool and other amenities. – Isaiah Ang
New York Pizzeria Plans Another Omaha Location
Williamsburg Pizza plans to open a second Omaha-area location in a to-be-constructed, 6-story building southeast of 72nd & Farnam Street. But it won’t happen for quite a while, because construction has not yet started. Williamsburg is small chain of pizzerias with locations in New York City and one in Omaha at 168th & Harrison Street.
Country Sampler Reopening Soon
Country Sampler will soon reopen as The Sampler at its new location, 14513 Center Road, near 144th & West Center Road. That’s just 2.7 miles from its previous 120th & Center location. The local quilt shop has yet to announce an official opening date. – Nicole Buntgen
Warehouse Slated to Become Pickleball Facility
A warehouse located at 13423 F Street is getting a second life as an indoor pickleball facility. According to Planning Board documentation, Ace Pickleball Club will have 14 indoor courts. The facility will also have a 400 sq. ft. event room. Hours are expected to be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturday, with Sunday hours ending at 6 p.m. The building is 32,600 sq. ft. and neighbors an industrial building occupied by Heartland Steel. The operators are seeking a special use permit to allow indoor recreation in a General Industrial District. – Isaiah Ang
Boutique Hotel Planned for Millwork Commons
Millwork Commons may be getting a hotel. The Disbrow Building, also known as the Radford Building, south the Ashton Building, could become a 135-room boutique hotel. According to the TIF application, the $57 million project will transform the long-vacant building into a key component of the district. Located on the same block as the Dizzy Mule project already under construction, the Millwork Hotel would also have 7,000 sq. ft. of retail space and an atrium. A 4th floor would be added, including a rooftop bar. The Dizzy Mule project consists of two new 5-story apartment buildings with 172 units and 18,000 sq. ft. of retail space. – Isaiah Ang
Korean-Mexican Fusion Restaurant Coming to Blackstone
Hola Seoul, a new Korean-Mexican food concept, will open inside Kamp Blackstone, the food hall at 3618 Farnam Street, on September 6th. The fusion eatery will celebrate its opening with a Nite Market, offering items like Supa Tots, Seoulpremes, and other street foods plus drinks available that night only, including Kimbap, Fish Cake Skewers, Kimchi Pancakes and Horchata Ice Shots. - Nicole Buntgen
Another Apartment Building Planned for Millwork Commons
Last week, Grow Omaha reported the city plans to build a 600-stall parking garage in Millwork Commons just east of the Ashton Building. A Planning Board application for TIF shows that developers plan to build a $44 million multifamily apartment building west of the Ashton. The applications shows a 5-story, 146-unit building consisting of 55 2-bedroom units and 94 1-bedroom units. The ground floor will have a single 10,000 sq. ft. retail bay and 65 covered parking stalls. The building will also have two large decks on the second-floor roof. - Isaiah Ang
New York Pizzeria Plans 2nd Omaha Location (But Not Too Soon)
Williamsburg Pizza plans to open a second Omaha-area location in a to-be-constructed, 6-story building southeast of 72nd & Farnam Street. But it won’t happen for quite a while, because construction has not yet started. Williamsburg is small chain of pizzerias with locations in New York City and one in Omaha at 168th & Harrison Street.
Omaha Community Foundation Sets a Record
In 2023, the Omaha Community Foundation set a record by distributing nearly $280 million to nonprofits through more than 17,000 grants, thanks to the generosity of local fundholders and partners. Of the funds, 71 percent stayed in Douglas and Pottawattamie Counties, with 25 percent supporting education, 15 percent for the arts, and 13 percent for human services. Omaha’s spirit of giving is truly unmatched. - Darcie Dingman Willie
Apartment Complex Planned for 56th & Kansas Ave
Developers are seeking approval of a PUR, or planned unit redevelopment, overlay district of a 14-acre site on the northeast corner of 56th & Kansas Avenue. Building plans show an eight-building apartment complex. Each building is shown to be three stories tall. The total number of apartment units throughout the complex is 210. Amenities include a clubhouse and outdoor pool. – Isaiah Ang
Berkshire Hathaway Hits $1 Trillion Market Cap
Berkshire Hathaway reached a $1 trillion market capitalization today, the first non-technology company in U.S. history to reach this milestone, according to CNBC. Shares of the Omaha-based conglomerate have rallied more than 28 percent in 2024, far above the S&P 500′s 18 percent gain. The $1 trillion threshold is somewhat of a birthday present as Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett turns 94 later this week.
Kiewit Luminarium Receives National Recognition
The Kiewit Luminarium has received an Honorable Mention for Fast Company's 2024 Innovation by Design Awards in the Learning category. The honor recognizes designers and businesses that are “using creativity and unparalleled problem-solving skills to shape the world we live in for the better.”
Chinese-Style Tea Shop Now Open in Grayhawk
Tea Time has opened at 14505 West Maple Road in the Shoppes of Grayhawk. The business focuses on drinks with authentic Chinese flavor from classic milk teas to fruit blends.
LEGO Plans September 20th Grand Opening
The targeted opening date for LEGO’s first Nebraska store is September 20th. The Denmark-based toy retailer will open in a 2,131 sq. ft. space next to Vineyard Vines at Nebraska Crossing in Gretna.
Starbuck’s Building New Store in Stony Brook
Starbuck’s Coffee is building a free-standing store with a drive-through in the Stony Brook area near 144th & Stony Brook Boulevard. The construction site is in front of a Hy-Vee grocery store and south of a Chipotle Mexican Grill location. The store should open within a few months.