The November 6th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Colette’s Mercato, a concept from the owners of Dirty Birds, will open at 500 South 18th Street downtown. The scratch sandwich shop will specialize in Italian sandwiches, retail wine and beer, plus house-made bread and cured meats. Anticipated opening is spring 2026.

J. Gorat’s Deli & Market will take over the former Burger Detour building at 1220 South 203rd Street. That’s just southeast of 204th & Pacific Street. Hiring is underway and opening is expected soon. J. Gorat’s website says, “We are bringing together a classic deli with a local market of delicious, fun & eclectic items. The perfect stop to grab some curated items to prepare your meal at home or stay and enjoy one of our fresh, flavorful meals.” Burger Detour closed both of its locations in August.

La Chime plans to open by the end of this year at 33rd & L Street. The locally owned ice cream shop will operate in a 1,600 sq. ft. space in Stockyards Plaza next to DaVita Dialysis, according to Perkins-Critser Construction which is building out the space. The local franchisees are the same people who own Isla del Mar.

Fifth House, a start-up vegan restaurant, opened October 31 in the former Get Real Sandwiches space at 3901 Farnam Street in Blackstone District. The restaurant’s tagline, “the vegan joint of your dreams,” introduces a refreshed concept from the owners of Modern Love, which closed in December 2024.

Gyro Kings opened its second location on November 3 at 2211 Capehart Road in the former Sina Way space in Bellevue. The Mediterranean-European fusion restaurant’s original location at 632 North Saddle Creek Road opened in October 2023.

Vino Mas will open a second location in the Shops of Legacy at 2835 South 170th Plaza in the former Cellar 44 space. Opening is planned mid-November. Vino Mas is a boutique wine shop with a current location at 14450 Eagle Run Drive. In addition to a wide range of retail wines, Vino Mas has a wine bar and hosts a weekly music series and various wine tasting events.

Another indoor golf franchise is coming to Omaha. Tee Box will open its first location outside the mountain west in Miracle Hills Plaza, joining Funny Bone, Draftcade and Hawaiian Bros Island Grill in the revitalized shopping center at 114th & West Dodge Road. Tee Box will open early next year in a 4,000 sq. ft. space north of Funny Bone. Tee Box combines state-of-the-art technology and weight training to improve golf skills all year round. The Utah-based company has 10 locations in Utah and Idaho.

Construction is nearing completion on a new AutoZone near the southeast corner of 22nd & West Chandler Road in Bellevue. The auto parts retailer has more than a dozen locations across the Omaha metro area.

Riddle’s Jewelry is getting close to opening, and now plans to open right around Black Friday at Village Pointe Shopping Center. The Rapid-City, S.D.-based retailer has more than 60 stores in 10 states, including one at Westroads Mall and another that just opened in Papillion’s Shadow Lake Towne Center.

Learn more about Anderson Convenience market at www.Anderson1952.com

Inkwell Pours a Mix of Literature, Legacy & Liquor

Tyler Schaeffer opened Inkwell with his brother, Jonathan, in April 2017, after the owners of a scissors-and-scotch-style barbershop in Countryside Village decided to cut their space in half. The Schaeffer brothers stepped into the former barroom, took one look and made an offer on the spot. To this day, a small window still connects Inkwell and the barbershop next door—a quiet nod to the space’s previous life.

Though Schaeffer holds an art degree from Grinnell College, he took a different career path. He moved to Miami where he found himself immersed in the emerging “craft mixology” movement. He would later make his way to Los Angeles where he took on every job from doorman to barback before earning a place behind the bar at Roger Room in West Hollywood.

“It was through those relationships that I met some really talented bartenders and brand reps—titans of the industry, at least the way I saw them,” Schaeffer said. It was those long nights of talking shop until dawn that sparked his dream of opening his own bar.

Inkwell is designed for reflection. It’s dark and intimate—moody yet romantic. Amber Edison bulbs cast a soft glow across the bar, creating a warmth that invites conversation. The bar itself is a showpiece: black subway tile walls with dark wood shelving lined with gently lit rows of bourbon and whiskey bottles. A mirrored backsplash is partly covered with dollar bills and mementos left by regulars. Along the walls hang portraits of literary greats—writers who might have found refuge in a place like this. Under the amber light, their faces take on a cinematic glow, as if one might glance over and find Hemingway or Fitzgerald sipping an Old Fashioned beside you.

Inkwell’s literary aesthetic hits close to home. Schaeffer’s father, a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, played a role in bringing the brothers to Omaha in the first place.

“He was a big reason why we even ended up here,” Schaeffer said. The theme’s nod to writers and creativity felt natural. “All the writers on the wall probably partook in their fair share of alcohol,” he added with a laugh. “It’s a common theme in literature—and in the production of literature.”

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Progress Report on Omaha’s Marquee Development Projects

Omaha has plenty of high-profile development projects underway. This week, we are providing a progress report on the some of the biggest, high-value projects that are changing the face of Omaha.

CHI Health Center Expansion

The CHI Health Convention Center is undergoing a renovation of its existing space while the extension on the east side of the building is under construction. The existing convention center will receive updated wall paneling, acoustical treatments, wainscoting and baseboards. Restrooms will receive updated finishes and toilet partitions.

Additionally, operable partitions will be installed in existing meeting and exhibit rooms to increase acoustical performance. The renovations are part of the $200 million expansion of the convention center. The 94,000 sq. ft. expansion is currently under construction with steel beam framing being installed now. The overall project will be complete by summer 2027.

Eppley Airfield

Progress is moving fast on the Omaha Airport Authority’s $950 million terminal modernization and expansion project at Eppley Airfield. External doors #2 and #4 have recently reopened to the traveling public. The steel framework is being installed for the future central pavilion. That portion of the building will house the combined TSA security area and a mall/food court.

Also in the central pavilion will be Escape Lounge, which will be Eppley’s first airport lounge when it opens in 2027. Escape Lounges is based in Manchester, United Kingdom, and has 20 locations in the United States along with five in U.K. and two in Australia. The closest existing locations are at airports in Kansas City, Minneapolis, Northwest Arkansas and Tulsa, Okla.

Mutual of Omaha Tower

Exterior glass paneling continues to climb upward on Mutual of Omaha’s tower at 14th & Farnam Street downtown. The steel frame will be completed before the end of this year. At that time, most of the exterior panels will also be in place. The tower is being developed by Lanoha Development. Though it won’t be fully completed until late 2026, the 44-story tower is already the tallest building in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and South Dakota. The final height will be 677 feet, while the final size will be 800,000 sq. ft.

Streetcar

Massive utility work is now underway along most of the future streetcar route that will connect downtown with the Blackstone District and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The utility work is causing a great deal of disruption for residents and business owners, but it is necessary to allow for actual streetcar tracks to be installed starting next year.

We have some milestone dates to report. The rebuilt Harney Street bridge over Interstate 480 is scheduled to reopen November 26th. The Farnam Street bridge is scheduled to be demolished on January 4th. It will be rebuilt with a completion date of about a year from now. On November 14th, walls will start going vertical on the future Vehicle Maintenance Facility under construction on part of the CHI Health Center’s parking lot A. The first actual tracks to be installed early next year will most likely be located near 8th & Douglas Street or 10th & Capitol Avenue.

Project Health

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents last month approved the second design phase for Project Health, a transformational academic health care facility that will be based on the Omaha campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.

The project, the first phase of the larger Project NExT initiative, will serve as a state-of-the-art clinical learning center to educate and train future health care providers, conduct cutting-edge research and expand access to clinical trials.

The regent action authorizes construction of the shell and core of the facility. This work amounts to about $1.22 billion of the entire $2.19 billion project. Initial design phase approval, granted in April 2025, allowed for site preparation and foundational work to begin.

A planned third phase, which also would require regental approval, would be necessary to complete the project. Funding for the project comes from several sources: philanthropy, the state of Nebraska; the city of Omaha; the university and Nebraska Medicine; and private financing.

This section is sponsored by NAI NP Dodge, the commercial real estate division of NP Dodge, Omaha’s largest full-service real estate company. Founded in 1855, NP Dodge is the longest running real estate firm in America.

Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Cizek Construction plans to build a 4-story, class-A office building at 200 Applied Parkway in Heartwood Preserve, the mixed-use development west of Boys Town. The area is already home to several upscale office buildings, including Valmont’s global headquarters. According to a City of Omaha building permit, the 166,050 sq. ft. “Heartwood Place” building will have underground parking, a fitness facility, locker rooms, patio, fire pit and balconies.

A light industrial project is underway in South Omaha. The Omaha Planning Board approved a Tax Increment Financing application for El Toro Plaza, a 5-acre redevelopment area southeast of 25th & Z Street. The site has been an eye sore for many years. The developer, Ryan Sell, plans to build a 32,000 sq. ft., light industrial building, which will have warehousing, office and manufacturing space. Potential tenants include local contractors. The total investment is $10.3 million with approximately $867,000 coming from the TIF loan. The project is expected to come online at the end of 2026.

Heartwood Preserve will be the new home for B Morton Interior Design. According to a building permit, the local interior design company will be relocating from 204th & Pacific Street to a commercial building currently under construction on the northeast corner of 147th & Canopy Avenue. The building is just west of 30 Hop and Gunderson’s. B. Morton will occupy 7,500 sq. ft. and will be the first tenant in the multi-tenant building.

Holy Name Housing Corporation is building a small, infill residential project, called Tukey Heights at 36th & Saratoga Street that will bring needed low-income housing options. The development site is bounded by 36th, 37th and Saratoga streets as well as Sorenson Parkway. The site will be subdivided into 35 lots with a variety of for-sale housing options including single-family detached homes, row houses and duplexes. The property also incorporates paving Brown Street and building a neighborhood park space.

Wood framing is now underway on the future Oxworth Apartments at 27th & Leavenworth Street. Clarity Development Company plans to build a 5-story, 194-unit apartment building on the southeast corner. The layout includes 56 studio, 115 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom apartments. The first floor will have 127 indoor parking stalls. An existing building at 810 South 26th Street will house an additional 12 parking stalls. Completion is planned for late 2026.

Crews are scheduled to tear down the L Street bridge over 72nd Street starting next week — Thursday, November 13. Traffic will be closed on 72nd Street in both directions until 6 a.m. on Friday, November 14. During construction, L Street traffic will be funneled into a 2-lane route until this time next year.

Les Schwab Tire Center plans to build a store in the Iron Bluff mixed-use development southwest of 204th & F Street. The Omaha Planning Board this week approved the amendment to the mixed-use agreement to allow for auto repair services. This Les Schwab store will be located on a 1-acre lot and will consist of a 9.775 sq. ft., one-story building with seven services bays.

Image Studios plans to open near 84th & Barmettler Drive in La Vista’s City Centre area. The business will offer salon suites to be rented by independent beauty professionals. Build-out is currently underway in the 5,000 sq. ft. space, according to Perkins-Critser Construction. Completion is planned at the end of this year.

The Omaha Municipal Land Bank celebrated its 10-year anniversary last month. During that time, it has generated an estimated $83.5 million in citywide economic impact as it carried out its mission to transform vacant or abandoned properties into new opportunities. The land bank has acquired more than 1,500 nuisance properties and prepared them for redevelopment.

The Mensch Group, led by developer Phillip McClain, is leading another affordable housing project in North Omaha. The company completed a nine single-family home project near 49th & Curtis Avenue last year. Their Row at Barkalows is currently under construction. When completed, it will bring 14 for-sale townhome units to market.

The company’s most recent project is Conestoga Collection Florence Boulevard & Lake Street. The Omaha Planning Board approved the developer’s TIF application this week. The project consists of four for-sale units divided into two duplex buildings. Each 2,100 sq. ft. unit will have three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a two-car garage. The anticipated for sale price for each will be $275,000. The homes will be sold to households with incomes between 60 and q20 percent of the area median income. The project is receiving funding through the Spark’s Capital program. The total investment is nearly $1.7 million, with an anticipated $226,000 coming from the TIF loan.

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Berkshire Hathaway reported a 17 percent increase in quarterly earnings after its insurance business picked up from a year ago, according to the Wall Street Journal. Berkshire, whose businesses include insurer Geico and railroad BNSF Railway, posted a net income of $30.8 billion, or $21,413 per Class A share equivalent, in the third quarter. That compared with a net income of $26.3 billion, or $18,272 a share, in the year-earlier period.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations are planned for 192nd & West Center Road and 72nd & Crown Pointe Avenue in Sorenson Park Plaza. The southwest location will be in a 1,700 sq. ft., one-story building. The developer also intends to build a 1,300 sq. ft., one-story, multi-tenant commercial building on the same 1.17-acre site. The Sorenson Park Plaza location will neighbor Golden Coral Buffett and Taco Bell. That site is .95 acres and will have a 3-bay, 1,800 sq. ft., one-story building.

HDR is now the fifth-largest employee-owned company in the United States, according to a report from the National Center for Employee Ownership. It’s the first time the Omaha-based architecture-engineering design firm has been ranked this high. The report ranks the 100 largest companies — by employee count — that are majority owned by an employee stock ownership plan, worker cooperative or other broad-based employee ownership plan.

Green Plains Inc. announced financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Net income attributable to the company was $11.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to the company of $48.2 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, for the same period in 2024.

Valmont Industries, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.68 per share payable on January 15, 2026, to shareholders of record on December 26, 2025. The dividend indicates an annual rate of $2.72 per share.

U-Haul Co. of Nebraska announced that Expressway Detail, LLC, a local car wash and detail company, signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer. The company is located at 4501 Florence Boulevard and will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment and moving supplies.

For the second time in the past four months, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved slightly above growth neutral. The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, rose to 50.5 from 49.8 in September.

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SHARE Omaha and the Omaha Community Foundation have compiled helpful resources for those looking to help amid disruptions to SNAP benefits. Information about volunteer options is available HERE. The Omaha Community Foundation is partnering with the City of Omaha to establish the Food Relief Fund, which will provide support to local organizations and nonprofits working to provide access to food.

The Omaha STEM Ecosystem is hosting its third annual #ShowUsYourSTEM social media challenge, running November 1 through 8. The challenge invites students, educators and professionals to share the ways science, technology, engineering and math are part of everyday life. To participate, take a photo or video of a STEM activity, project, toy or experience, then post it on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtags #ShowUsYourSTEM and #OmahaSTEM.

Lutheran Family Services is collecting new or gently used winter clothing for its winter clothing drive. Donations are accepted at LFS Offices between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. until November 14.

Fontenelle Forest is celebrating the 25-year anniversary this fall of its primary facility, the Katherine and Fred Buffett Forest Learning Center. Now, the organization is looking for 25 new monthly donors before the end of the year.

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Omaha Hockey swept conference foe No. 15 Colorado College in a weekend series, winning both games by slim margins, 3-2 on Friday and 5-4 on Saturday. Omaha returns home this weekend, hosting No. 8 North Dakota at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday at Baxter Arena. Omaha received votes in the latest NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey rankings.

After making 49 saves for a .961 save percentage in Friday’s upset, goaltender Simon Latkoczy has been named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Goaltender of the Week. It is his first time receiving the honor this season and fifth of his career.

Omaha women’s soccer concluded its season as the Mavericks fell 1-0 to South Dakota State over the weekend in the Summit League Championship quarterfinal. Omaha finished the season 6-9-4 overall and 3-4-1 in conference play.

Creighton men’s soccer earned a 1-1 draw against No. 21 Seton Hall over the weekend and now sits at 8-3-4 on the season and 4-1-2 in conference play. Creighton will host Akron at Morrison Stadium at 6 p.m. on Friday to decide the Big East Midwest Division in its final regular season match. Creighton sits atop the division one point ahead of the Zips and will win it with a win or draw.

The Omaha Supernovas ended the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship with one medalist and one major award winner. Reagan Cooper finished the event as runner-up, ending second in the league in kills (157) and kills per set (4.36), trailing the AU champion Jordan Thompson. Morgan Hentz earned her fourth straight Defensive Player of the Year honor, leading all players with 169 digs and 4.69 digs per set.

Ava Martin was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row, the league announced Monday. Last week against DePaul and Marquette, the Creighton volleyball senior outside hitter averaged 5.25 kills and 1.75 digs per set, setting a career-high with 30 kills in Saturday’s win over Marquette.

Creighton volleyball came in once again at No. 12 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. In its final homestand this weekend, Creighton will seek its 15th and 16th consecutive wins against Villanova at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, before Georgetown on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Union Omaha named Vincenzo Candela as head coach on Tuesday. Candela took the club over as interim head coach midway through this season following the transfer of former head coach Dominic Casciato to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. From there, Candela led the Owls to a 10-4-5 regular season record to storm into the USL League One Playoffs. Last Saturday, the club’s run ended in heartbreak in its quarterfinal match against FC Naples, ending 4-3 after going to penalties. Candela is the third head coach in Union Omaha history.

Creighton women’s basketball dropped its season-opening game against South Dakota State Monday night at Sokol Arena, 78-62. Its schedule only gets tougher next week, beginning with a road trip to Drake on Sunday and then Lincoln for the Battle of I-80 against Nebraska on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Creighton men’s basketball successfully kicked off its season Wednesday, defeating South Dakota 92-76 behind five different Bluejays scoring in double figures. The win was another milestone in Greg McDermott’s Hall of Fame career – it was his 500th career Division I win as a head coach. Creighton faces its first true test of the season next Tuesday, November 11, when it travels to No. 21 Gonzaga. Tuesday’s game will tip off at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

Creighton women’s soccer will begin Big East Tournament play tonight against top-seeded and No. 12 Georgetown. Tonight’s match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+. A subscription to ESPN+ is required to watch.

The Big East has released its All-Conference teams ahead of the tournament, and Creighton seniors Ariana Mondiri and Tori Gillis each earned honors. Mondiri earned her second consecutive All-Big East honor, this season being named to the First Team. Gillis was named All-Big East Second Team in her first season with the Bluejays.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha women’s basketball at Saint Mary (Neb.) | Thursday, Nov. 6 | 6:30 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer vs. #12 Georgetown | Thursday, Nov. 6 | 6:30 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball at Abilene Christian | Thursday, Nov. 6 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha volleyball at South Dakota | Thursday, Nov. 7 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton men’s soccer vs. Akron | Friday, Nov. 7 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey vs. #8 North Dakota | Friday, Nov. 7 | 7 p.m.
• #12 Creighton volleyball vs. Villanova | Friday, Nov. 7 | 7:30 p.m.
• Omaha volleyball vs. Denver | Saturday, Nov. 8 | 12 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey vs. #8 North Dakota | Saturday, Nov. 8 | 7 p.m.
• #12 Creighton volleyball vs. Georgetown | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 1 p.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball at Drake | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 4 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball at Colorado State | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 5 p.m.
• #23 Creighton men’s basketball at #21 Gonzaga | Tuesday, Nov. 11 | 9 p.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball at Nebraska | Wednesday, Nov. 12 | 8 p.m.
• Omaha women’s basketball at Utah Tech | Wednesday, Nov. 12 | 8 p.m.

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The Historic Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot

By Patrick Wyman

Just south of the Old Market, an ornate one-story brick building long surrounded by empty parking lots will soon find itself at the center of the city’s newest park.

Located at 1213 Jones Street in the Rail and Commerce Historic District, the building originally served as the office for the Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot. Designed by German architect Henry Voss—whose primary focus was breweries—the depot was built in 1887 and included not only the office but also a beer vault and icehouse, bottling area, and stable arranged around a small courtyard that opened onto Jones Street.

The rectangular office building, constructed of red brick, is one of the most elaborate examples of Romanesque Revival architecture in Omaha. Facing Jones Street, the office served as the focal point of the depot, featuring a front façade surrounding a slightly projected middle section with large arched windows, columns, rounded corners, and a cornice with finials.

While Anheuser-Busch was based in St. Louis, Omaha served as the central headquarters for its western territory, which included Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Wyoming. After the beer was brewed, it was transported by train to Omaha, where it was bottled before being distributed elsewhere.

Anheuser-Busch continued operating the beer depot until 1916, when Prohibition was approved in Nebraska. The Willow Springs Bottling Company then occupied it until 1949. After that, the office building continued to serve a number of purposes, including as the longtime home of Honest John’s Emporium before it relocated to the Old Market. All but the office and a gate post leading to the courtyard were demolished in the 1970s and replaced with parking lots.

In the late 1970s, the building became the private residence and studio of a commercial artist and designer. Despite the mice that roamed the basement, the occasional intoxicated individuals who slept on his doorstep, and the trains that passed by at 3 a.m., he enjoyed his unconventional living quarters.

Featured in the 1977 Landmark book Omaha City Architecture, the 4,000 sq. ft. building contained 14-foot ceilings, 11-foot-wide doors with arched transom windows above them and original oak woodwork that had been painted too many times to count. Large wheels—possibly once used in beer barrel production—still hung from the ceiling above the bedroom and workspace.

After its occupant moved out, it opened as Dyer’s Stripping Service followed by Beauty and the Beast Antiques. By 1989, the building had long been neglected and was falling apart. That’s when longtime admirers Perry Poyner and Michael Alley purchased it to serve as the headquarters for their architecture firm, Alley Poyner. The company embarked on a renovation that included new utilities, plastered walls, repaired window frames, a new stairway to the basement and a second-floor loft, along with extensive exterior work on the masonry and brick.

The architecture firm moved out in 2008, after which the building became home to the New BLK, an art gallery, event venue, and co-working space. Most recently, it was used as a law office before being purchased by Lauritzen Gardens.

Lauritzen Gardens will manage the park that now surrounds the building. Named Polina Gardens, the park is being designed by renowned Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf—whose notable works include the High Line in New York City and Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park.

The 2025 Autumn Festival is being hosted at Liberty First Credit Union Arena November 6th through the 9th. Hundreds of the nation’s finest artists and crafters will display and sell their handcrafted works. Their Arts & Crafts tour of shows are consistently ranked in the Top 100 Shows in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine. The event will feature an hourly gift certificate winner, plenty of food and drink, lots of family fun and free parking.

Holland Performing Arts Center will showcase The Omaha Symphony’s annual Choral Collaborative performance of Joseph Haydn’s masterwork, Lord Nelson Mass on November 9th at 2 p.m. It is one of the largest musical ensembles yet, with hundreds of choir students from six area high schools including: Bellevue West, Bennington, Blair, Creighton Prep, Fremont and Plattsmouth. In addition, the choir has four professional singers and will be conducted by Maestro Ernest Richardson. Tickets can be purchased at www.omahasymphony.org or calling Ticket Omaha at 402.345.0606.

The Orpheum Theater has a few shows coming up:

American Midwest Ballet: “The Nutcracker” will be performing November 4th through the 7th. This acclaimed production features a beautiful ballet performance with 130 professional and student dancers, more than 250 costumes and lavish set design. Additionally, the show will be playing at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center on November 22nd and 23rd.

“A Motown Christmas” is coming Saturday, November 15th at 7 p.m. If you’re a fan of R&B, then you’ll enjoy this performance of professionals bringing soul into the Christmas spirit. Tickets are selling fast.

Omaha Performing Arts will feature The Silent Comedy concert at Holland Music Club inside the Scott Hall at the Holland Center, on November 14, at 7:30 p.m. This band led by two brothers is bringing their unique blend of blues, punk and rock & roll music to the stage. They’ve toured for years, sharing shows with popular artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Dave Matthew’s Band, Queens of the Stone Age and more. To learn more and purchase your tickets, visit ticketomaha.com.

Visit Benson First Friday on November 7th to see the opening reception of Bart Vargas’ “FLOW” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Radial Arts Center at 5915 Maple Street. This is Vargas’ solo expedition, where he focuses on geometric abstraction and color theory to explore movement and the universal language of line. Bart Vargas is a visual artist and advocate from Bellevue, having received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from University of Nebraska Omaha, and his Master’s degree the University of Twin Cities. He’s established nationally and internationally and publishes a weekly list of local Arts, Culture and Entertainment events on social media. To learn more, visit radialartscenter.org.

Did you know the City of Omaha is doing a massive upgrade to Tranquility Park near 120th & West Maple Road? The $60 million project includes 12 synthetic-turf, outdoor soccer fields with room to expand.

Did you know the Omaha Symphony reaches 225,000 people per year through more than 150 performances?

Did you know one in 29 Omaha jobs exist because of visitor spending?

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La Calavera Catrina recurring daily through November 8th: Discover the rich history and iconography of La Catrina, one of the most recognizable figures of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), through eight, larger-than-life skeleton sculptures by Los Angeles artist Ricardo Soltero. An elegant female skeleton and an icon of Mexican heritage, La Catrina approaches death not through sadness, but as a colorful celebration of life. See these colorful and joyful works, with accompanying signage in both English and Spanish!

2025 Nebraska Startup Job Mixer happening November 13th: Join others for an evening of connections, job opportunities and innovation at one of the most highly anticipated startup events of the year! Whether you’re seeking a full-time position, part-time role or an internship, this is YOUR gateway to engaging with innovative startup companies and discovering exciting new opportunities.

An Evening in the Cloud Room happening November 13th: Join in for an extraordinary evening at Omaha’s premier Cloud Room. In this elegant setting, we will celebrate the distinguished recipients of ERC’s Aequitas Awards, share moving stories of impact and offer guests an elevated experience with live music, a curated silent auction and a wine pull. Savor chef-inspired hors d’oeuvres and an open bar while connecting with an exclusive network of ERC supporters who, like you, are dedicated to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Millwork Moves: Yoga in the Dock recurring weekly on Tuesdays: Happening on select Tuesdays, Millwork Commons is hosting Yoga in the Dock with Lotus House of Yoga! This event is free and taught by a certified yoga instructor. Simply bring a mat, a water bottle and show up to enjoy flowing movement with the community.

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Baird Holm LLP has welcomed Lauren A. Dubas, Allyse M. Noel, Connor J. Oldenburg and Steven M. Winston to the firm. Dubas focuses on tax and estate planning as well as business and corporate transactions with an emphasis on tax efficiency and compliance. Noel concentrates on labor and employment litigation. Oldenburg is a member of the Labor and Employment practice group. Winston is a member of the Creditors’ Rights team, representing lenders, creditors and distressed investors in out-of-court workouts, bankruptcy proceedings and related commercial disputes.

Mutual of Omaha has appointed Angel Bennett as vice president of absence in workplace solutions claims. She brings more than 20 years of experience in absence and disability management, including 13 years in management and six years as assistant vice president at Unum. Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Associate, Customer Service and Associate, Life and Health Claims certifications.

Lutz, an Omaha-based business solutions firm, recently added eight team members to its tech division: Kayla Birr, Network Operations Center technician; Kolby Brink, Jed Christensen and Connor Wicks as data analysts; Logan Brown and Patrick Pfister as service desk technicians; Austin Connor, software engineer; and Angela Hartle as a business operations coordinator.

After 10 years on the job, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse announced his resignation this week. He plans to return to private work. Gov. Jim Pillen will appoint a replacement and is now accepting applications from people interested in the position.

The Greater Omaha Chamber is a catalyst and connector, advocating for businesses small and large. Learn, share and grow with more than 12,000 professionals from 3,000 member businesses across Greater Omaha. Click HERE to see our latest events.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

The best leaders prioritize developing their people more than just achieving immediate numbers. How do you develop your people? 1. Personalize your coaching to appeal to each team member’s unique personality/circumstances; 2. Encourage self-reliance, allowing your people to become good at solving problems; 3. Identify and nurture future leaders by focusing on coachability and potential rather than just past experience.

Management guru Peter Drucker once said, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” Active listening means you are looking for cues and clues as to what the other person values. You need to find out for sure what they value. To do that, you need to become absorbed into the conversation.

“Jobless Boom” – Corporate profits and the stock market are doing great, but companies have cut nearly 1 million jobs this year, according to CBS News, the most since 2020, when the pandemic slammed the economy. Some people are referring to the phenomenon as a “jobless boom.” Technological advances have been eliminating a lot of jobs lately.

SALES

After making a successful prospecting call, send a personalized connection request on LinkedIn that references the recent conversation. Follow up with a LinkedIn message that shares a piece of content relevant to your discussion. This creates a cohesive, multi-channel narrative that keeps a rep top-of-mind and builds credibility, according to Jeb Blout, author of The LinkedIn Edge.

Don’t start talking (or pitching) until you’re sure you know what your prospect values. If you’re not 100 percent convinced, keep asking probing questions and keep listening intently to the answers. When you do talk, your pitch should be customized based on what the prospective client told you during the value discovery process. Portray your products or services in such a way that they satisfy exactly what the prospect wants and needs.

WISDOM

“When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience, and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; culture-death is a clear possibility.” ― Neil Postman

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What do bell bottom jeans, tie-dye t-shirts and 60/40 stock/bond split portfolios have in common? They are all past their useful time, and the only people who use them are knuckle dragging Neanderthals.

DISCLAIMER; If you are less than 50 years of age, you’ll need to consult Funk and Wagnalls to understand the social significance of bell bottoms and tie-dye t-shirts.

The 60/40 bond/stock portfolio is a formulaic asset allocation and diversification model whose goal is to reduce volatility and risk. When I was a novice investment guru, brokers loved it, because it was more beneficial to them than it was to their clients. Fifty years ago, only 3 percent of the population owned stock, so we had to maximize our return from a small pool of money. In today’s market, 65 percent of the population own stocks, but 90 percent of their dollars are in self-directed 401(k) accounts.

Back in the day, our approach was to build 60/40 portfolios using individual stocks and individual bonds. Why 60/40? Because these are nice round numbers, other than that I have never heard a scientific justification. What we loved about this allocation was that it was a sure bet that it won’t take long for the stock/bond allocation to get out of whack with the formula. And voila, we had to sell something and buy the other to bring us back into line with the magic formula. (I can still hear the cha-ching, cha-ching sound that formula makes.)

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal called in to question the 60/40 approach as a viable model in today’s electronic market dominated by discount brokerage firms that hold the bulk of the public money in tax advantaged retirement accounts. The article cites an academic study that found that, going back 100 years, the average return, adjusted for inflation, with bonds was 0.95 percent and that of stocks was 7.74 percent.

Given these numbers, the 60/40 model makes little sense. The article went on to say that just because the 60/40 model is a dumb idea doesn’t mean that 401(k) investors should always be 100 percent invested in stocks. The other alternative, is money market funds. Money market funds have a dividend return, but they lack the downside risk of actively managed bond funds.

Bottom line, investing is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Before entering into any investment model, investors must make certain that their chosen approach is in line with their temperament, investment skills and ultimate objective.

I feel moved to end my commentary with a few brief words about the end of another era. When we start 2026, Warren Edward Buffett will no longer be at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway.

For many of its 50-year history Berkshire stock enjoyed a strong tail wing: First, it was in the top 10 of the S&P 500, which gave it a small boost. And second, the stock enjoyed a phenomenon that Wall Street referred to as the “Buffett Premium.” Along with the passing of the Buffett Premium will be the end of the Buffett Letter to Shareholders and the three-ring circus that surrounds the Berkshire Annual meeting. It has been a fun ride. Many thanks and kudos to W.E.B.

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The Grow Omaha radio show broadcasts live every Saturday morning at 9:00, but now you can watch videos of each episode instead of just listening.

Grow Omaha’s brand-new website features video footage shot inside the radio studio during each week’s show!

Videos include News of the Week, Lightning Round, guest interviews, and “Grow Omaha Uncut,” a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during commercial breaks.

Support the Grow “O” Mission

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