The February 26th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Old Vine Wine & Spirits and ElyÉya Salon will relocate from 3821 North 167th Court in the Shops at Elk Creek to a 13,000 sq. ft. building under construction northeast of 168th & West Maple Road, next to their current space. Built by Arjay Builders, the project will replace their existing locations and double the size of both businesses, which have operated in west Omaha for 12 years under local owners Rick and Violeta Plambeck. Estimated completion date is October 2026.

Interior build-out is underway on two restaurants planning to open in Aksarben Village this May. Red Door Woodfired Grill is taking over the former Spirit World store at 6680 Center Street. Red Door has six Kansas City-area locations. Breakfast Club, a restaurant from Des Moines, Iowa, is taking over the former Jones Bros. Cupcakes space at 2121 South 67th Street.

Noddle Cos. has signed a lease for a yet-to-be-announced sports bar to occupy a 7,500 sq. ft., ground-level space in its 4-story office building at 1501 Mike Fahey Street in the Builders District. The sports bar will open to the south and will overlook a small park, which is currently under construction.

Grand Patisserie has officially opened its second location in Aksarben Village at 2283 South 67th Street, a space previously occupied by Rexius Nutrition. The French bakery’s original location remains open at 14451 West Center Road.

Dairy Queen no longer plans to build on the former Paul’s Sinclair gas station site in old Millard. The original plan was to move the Dairy Queen at 5071 South 136th Street to the gas station site at 13205 Millard Avenue just south of 132nd & L Street. The owner has decided to focus on other priorities and will keep the Millard Dairy Queen operating at its current location. The gas station land has been prepped for development and is now listed for sale by NAI NP Dodge.

Assemble Omaha plans to open this spring on the first floor of the Boho Flats apartment building at 1440 South 13th Street in Little Bohemia. Assemble is both a bar and a shop, offering supplies and space for crafting and art work. The adults-only business is referred to as a “DIY crafting hangout” and “a spot for social creativity.” Crafts include watercolor, macrame, crochet, leather work, tie-dye, diamond painting, polymer clay, acrylic paint and more.

Tee Box will open its first Nebraska location March 6th in Miracle Hills northwest of 114th & West Dodge Road. The national indoor golf franchise will operate in a 4,000 sq. ft. space next to Funny Bone Comedy Club. In addition to golf simulators and a putting green, Tee box will have an in-house golf pro, fitness trainer and gym that focuses on golf-specific training. The Utah-based company has 10 locations in Utah and Idaho.

Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ does not plan to renew its lease at 1912 South 67th Street when it expires this July. Noddle Companies, the building’s owner, is looking for a replacement restaurant. Oklahoma Joe’s was a personal project of Cutchall Management owner Greg Cutchall, who passed away in 2022.

Brownie Bar Bakery will close its retail storefront at 10922 Prairie Brook Road in Rockbrook Village on February 28. The local bakery will continue offering party packs, shipping and onsite catering.

Bruning’s Barbecue, a family-owned food trailer, has closed its business operations at 508 Main Street in Silver City, Iowa. The central Texas-style craft barbecue business launched in 2019 and was known for catering and pop-up events.

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

North Italia Delivers Polished Casual from Scratch

By Chris Corey

North Italia opened in the former Bravo! Italian Kitchen space at Village Pointe this past November. The concept was created by Sam Fox under Fox Restaurant Concepts in 2002. Fox focuses on high-quality, accessible concepts often described as “polished casual.” In 2021, with 17 locations at the time, both North Italia and Fox Restaurant Concepts were acquired by The Cheesecake Factory. Today, there are 48 North Italia locations across the United States.

Despite the name, the menu isn’t limited to Northern Italian cuisine, pulling from both northern and southern traditions. For example, the squid ink tonarelli is a southern Italian dish. The “North” in the name came about simply because the original Arizona location was north of Tucson.

Tanner Moses is the general manager. He’s worked in restaurants nearly his entire working life, starting as a host at Olive Garden at 16 with a goal of becoming a server. At the time, he hadn’t considered a career in the industry beyond that. But while in college, he worked at a fine dining steakhouse.

“That’s where my passion for the industry really grew,” he said.

Moses joined North Italia in 2018 in Houston, and in 2021, helped open The Woodlands, Texas location. After supporting multiple openings across the country, he eventually relocated to Omaha for his first general manager position.

North Italia’s aesthetic is warm, polished and casual, matching the elevated-but-approachable feel Fox intended. The dining room is anchored by natural materials, most notably the slatted wood ceiling that runs its length. The tables are warm walnut-toned with striped upholstered booths.

“We put golden rods all over the restaurant to lean into that Nebraska culture and mix it up with an Italian vibe,” Moses explained.

Moses emphasized that the kitchen is 100 percent from scratch.

“Pasta is made fresh daily,” he said. “Pizza dough is made fresh daily, as are our sauces, and we try to be as local as possible.”

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Grow the Good Life Act Would Incentivize Companies to Move Jobs to Nebraska

By Kacie Ferrazzo

As lawmakers debate LB 1165, the Grow the Good Life Act, the focus is simple: help Nebraska compete for jobs and workers.

The bill would update the state’s current incentive program under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act by increasing wage and investment credits for qualifying businesses. It also adds a bonus credit for jobs filled by people who move to Nebraska, creates a relocation grant program and strengthens tools aimed at keeping and attracting company headquarters. Supporters say the goal is to bring more high-paying primary jobs to the state and encourage existing businesses to grow here rather than elsewhere.

Mike Cassling, chairman of the Aksarben Board of Governors, has been one of the bill’s strongest supporters. He said concerns about Nebraska’s economic growth intensified after Aksarben commissioned a study nine months ago examining Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster counties.

“Data showed very scary — not growing at all in jobs or wages,” Cassling said.

After releasing that report, Cassling said, critics questioned whether the problem was limited to Nebraska’s three largest counties.

“A bunch of people came back and asked, well what about the rest of the state,” he said. “So, we redid it and really looked at all 93 counties and saw the same result — that Nebraska is not growing in wages or jobs — which is a significant problem.”

The long-term consequences, he argues, are serious.

“We’re going to continue to have deficits because we’re not growing the 24-to-34-year-old workforce and we’re losing them to other states,” Cassling said.

LB 1165 seeks to address that stagnation by targeting primary jobs.

“What LB 1165 does is give incentives for businesses, whether they’re in state currently or moving in from out of state, for bringing in high-paying, primary jobs,” Cassling said. “Primary jobs pay about $70,000 or higher. The importance of primary jobs is they are the ones that ultimately bring in secondary jobs.”

Those secondary jobs — from retail and hospitality to construction and professional services — follow population growth and increased household spending.

“This bill is a great bill that will incentivize current businesses in Nebraska to grow and tell people around the country that we’re open for business and we want you here,” he said.

Cassling argues Nebraska is competing in an increasingly aggressive environment.

“The truth is everyone around us has incentives to get employers and employees to move to their state — and they’re all growing,” he said.

He points to nearby metros as examples.

“Over the past five years, if Omaha would have grown at the rate of Des Moines, Iowa – Omaha and Lincoln both – it would have resulted in $700 million to the bottom line of the state,” Cassling said.

Without growth, he warns, the fiscal pressure will intensify.

“If we do nothing, we’ll continue to lose and we’ll continue to not have the money in revenues for the state to keep doing what we need to do for Medicaid and those populations in need,” he said. “On the other hand, if we grow, we will have money to support all Nebraskans.”

He also points to the ripple effects when primary employers leave.

“We can’t afford another Lexington,” Cassling said. “The recent loss of 3,200 primary jobs in Lexington is projected to result in approximately 4,500 total jobs lost when you account for both primary and secondary employment. That’s devastating not only to Lexington, but to the state. We have to stop this. We have to start growing in all 93 counties. I think this bill is a huge step to start doing that.”

A key feature of LB 1165, supporters note, is that the incentives are performance based.

“We’re paying this after the jobs are here,” Cassling said. “This isn’t on a promise. This is guaranteed — those people are here, they’re making their wages, maybe with a spouse and kids, they’re all here and impacting the state.”

If the measure passes, Cassling envisions Nebraska growing at rates comparable to its regional competitors.

“If this bill passes, looking ahead, we’re growing at a rate of Des Moines, Iowa or Sioux Falls, S.D. or most likely even faster,” he said. “I believe Omaha has so many more amenities to bring people here than Sioux Falls or Des Moines.”

For Cassling, the choice before lawmakers is straightforward.

“Call your senator and encourage them to support this,” he said.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Construction has started on the Digs Apartments on 1.53 acres southeast of 31st & Mary Street, just a little south of The Mill on Leavenworth coffee shop. The project will consist of two, 4-story buildings atop parking garage podiums. The project will total 188 apartment units plus a clubhouse, pool, patio and a small outdoor parking lot between the buildings.

The first building will be 119,897 sq. ft. with 107 market-rate apartment units and 62 indoor parking stalls. The second building will be 81,395 sq. ft. with 81 apartment units and 48 indoor parking stalls. The $46 million project received $4.1 million in Tax Increment Financing. Four single-family houses have already been demolished to make way for construction.

After sitting vacant for several years, a small retail building at 4002 Dodge Street is coming back to life. Many years ago, the building was home to Duds ‘n Suds laundromat. After that business closed, the windows were boarded up, and the structure became an eyesore. The owner, Tuxedo Cat Properties, has renovated the 3,735 sq. ft. building, which sits on a .29-acre lot. Improvements include new storefront windows, roof, HVAC systems, plumbing and electrical wiring. Plans also call for an improved parking lot. No tenants for the renovated building have been publicly announced.

Nebraska Medicine will open its recently completed Bennington Health Center on March 9 northwest of 156th & State Street. The public is invited to tour the clinic during a community open house on Saturday, February 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place March 2 at 3 p.m. The Bennington clinic is part of the growing Nebraska Medicine health network, which in recent years has opened locations in Millard, Elkhorn, north Omaha, Chalco and Papillion.

The Omaha Hockey Club is hosting the Omaha Stampede tournament February 26-28 and March 5-7. The tournament will bring a total of 64 teams to the Omaha area. Games will be played at multiple ice venues across the city. The tournament will generate an estimated 1,770 hotel nights. According to Visit Omaha, sports tourism continues to be a steady driver of weekend hotel occupancy in Omaha, particularly during late winter months.

An upscale boutique hotel will open inside an historic building in North Downtown’s Millwork Commons district in 2027. Construction will kick off this spring. Millwork Hotel will be located at 1201 Nicholas Street and will feature 144 guest rooms, a signature restaurant and a rooftop bar. Developed by PGSA Hospitality, Millwork Hotel will join the Aparium Collection, an independent portfolio of l0 “lifestyle hotels” across the United States.

Once home to warehouses and manufacturing facilities, Millwork Commons has evolved into a vibrant mixed-use district north of Charles Schwab Field. The district is home to Hot Shops Art Gallery, the Mastercraft Building, the Ashton Building, several apartment buildings and a couple existing hotels. Union Omaha plans to build its professional soccer stadium immediately east of Millwork Commons.

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Berkshire Hathaway was a net seller of stocks during Warren Buffett’s final quarter as CEO. At the end of 2025, Berkshire sold more equities than it bought, according to CNBC, continuing to whittle away at its big Apple and Bank of America stakes and slashing its already modest Amazon.com holding. Berkshire significantly increased its stakes in Chevron and Chubb in the three months ending December 31 and added a small position in shares of The New York Times Company.

Scooter’s Coffee, one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing specialty coffee drive-thru companies, is celebrating an important milestone: 900 stores nationwide. Omaha-based Scooter’s added 83 stores to its network in 2025, a 10 percent increase in stores nationwide following a 16 percent increase in 2024. Nearly all Scooter’s Coffee locations are owned and operated by local franchisees.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per common share. This dividend will be paid on May 6, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2026. Werner Enterprises has paid a quarterly cash dividend to its stockholders every quarter since July 1987.

HDR has been selected by California’s Riverside County Transportation Commission to lead the next major step in bringing daily intercity passenger rail service between Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. The firm will lead the Tier 2 environmental review program for the Coachella Valley Rail Corridor, including the conceptual and preliminary engineering needed to develop project-level environmental clearance. The service would introduce multiple daily round trips between Los Angeles Union Station and Coachella, supported by nine stations, a layover facility, and infrastructure improvements along a 144-mile corridor.

Midwest Community Services is moving to a larger space. The local human services organization will relocate from 9507 Q Street into a 13,000 sq. ft. space at 9411 F Street. Grand opening is scheduled for April 19. Midwest Community services supports individuals with developmental disabilities as well as youth/families involved in foster care and behavioral health services through two programs: Midwest Disability Services and Midwest Family Services.

Prime Secured, an Omaha-based managed IT services company, has reserved the court-naming rights sponsorship at the GreenState Millard Activity Center, a community facility being developed by the Millard Public Schools Foundation. Currently under construction near 210th & Q Street, the activity center will provide space for athletics, activities and events. Opening is planned for fall 2026.

Top Form, a health clinic at 105 North Washington Street in Papillion, has launched its Employee Care Access Program, designed to help businesses provide healthcare to employees. The plan includes annual exams and labs, management of common adult primary care conditions and four urgent telehealth visits per year. Pricing starts at $70–$100 per employee per month depending on company size, with optional family add-ons available. Other services include flu shot clinics, IV hydration events, pre-employment physicals, drug testing and more.

Valmont Industries, Inc. approved a 13 percent increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend to $0.77 per share, payable on April 15, 2026 to shareholders of record on March 27, 2026. The increase results in an annualized dividend of $3.08 per share.

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Child Saving Institute (CSI) announced the launch of Summer Camp at CSI, an expansion of its early childhood education program designed to bring learning, adventure and quality care to school-aged children ages five to ten over the summer months. Known for high-quality early childhood education, CSI is expanding its care to meet the growing needs of families with school-age children—all summer long. Summer Camp at CSI features weekly field trips to Omaha Children’s Museum, Kiewit Luminarium, Fontenelle Forest and more.

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha is seeking applicants for its first new housing build in Papillion. The Tallgrass neighborhood, located near 72nd & Capehart Road, will feature 30 single-family row homes —the organization’s latest type of housing — designed for hard-working professionals and families. The modern, maintenance-free row homes are connected to places of employment, schools and perfect for startup families who are nurses, teachers or small business owners.

Lily Haven, in partnership with The Set Me Free Project, is hosting a Dinner & Dialogue event today, February 26, at Salted Edge in Waterloo. The one-of-a-kind event creates space for open, guided discussion about human trafficking in a setting designed to feel welcoming rather than intimidating. Organizers say awareness begins when communities feel equipped to talk about difficult issues without fear or stigma.

The Sarpy County Museum at 2402 Clay Street in Bellevue has permanently closed. The museum held a collection of artifacts and historical resources, covering the history of Sarpy County.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

This afternoon, the Mavericks begin play in the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. against the host team and No. 7 Arkansas at 4 p.m. Omaha will face the Razorbacks twice, Kansas, Mid-Major No. 7 Charlotte and Mid-Major No. 22 Boise State this weekend.

Omaha hockey alumnus Jake Guentzel earned a gold medal with Team USA in its 2-1 overtime victory over Canada on Sunday. The win came 46 years to the day after the United States’ last Olympic gold medal in 1980, when it upset the Soviet Union. Guentzel became the first former Maverick to win an Olympic gold medal. He scored one goal in Milan in Team USA’s 6-3 win over Denmark in the preliminary round.

Creighton softball head coach Krista Wood picked up her 600th career win over the weekend with the Bluejays’ 4-0 win over South Dakota in the opening game of the Boerner Invitational. Creighton is currently 5-10 on the season and will take part in the Colorado Classic this weekend, facing Northern Colorado three times and Colorado State twice. Play begins on Friday at 2 p.m. against Northern Colorado.

Omaha baseball sophomore pitcher Maddox Meyer was named the Summit League Peak Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Tuesday, after striking out 10 over six scoreless innings against Arizona last Tuesday.

The Mavericks then went 2-0 in the Tony Gwynn Legacy over the weekend, defeating Western Michigan 8-7 on Friday and 9-4 on Saturday. Thursday’s game against BYU was canceled due to inclement weather.

Now 3-3 on the season, the Mavericks travel to Wichita, Kan. to face Wichita State for a four-game weekend series. The programs will play once each day from February 26 to March 1, with game one taking place at 3:05 p.m. today. Next Tuesday, March 3, Omaha travels to Lincoln for an in-state rivalry bout with Nebraska. Tuesday’s game time is still TBA.

LOVB Nebraska announced on Sunday that it is partnering with the Creighton Bluejays and Omaha Mavericks to host a spring volleyball exhibition match at Baxter Arena on March 28. The exhibition between Creighton and Omaha will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of LOVB Nebraska’s match against LOVB Salt Lake City, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Tonight, LOVB Nebraska will attempt to snap a five-match losing streak when it travels to LOVB Houston. First serve is at 7 p.m.

The Omaha Supernovas seven-match road winning streak, dating back to April 12, 2025, was snapped on Sunday in a loss to the San Diego Mojo. Omaha has tied its longest losing streak in franchise history, set earlier this season, at three matches. They then rattled off five straight wins in response to that slide. The Supernovas will look to get back in the win column tonight, when they host the Atlanta Vibe for Galaxy Night at the CHI Health Center. First serve is at 7 p.m.

Omaha hockey will host its annual Leap-For-A-Cure game in partnership with Methodist Hospital tomorrow, February 27, when it hosts Miami (Ohio). All proceeds from in-game donations and the online jersey auction (open now through Saturday, February 28), will benefit Leap-For-A-Cure, a nonprofit that raises awareness of brain cancer and provides education and diagnostic treatment options for brain cancer and brain trauma patients and families.

Upcoming Events

• Omaha baseball at Wichita State | Feb. 26 – March 1 | 3:05 p.m. today
• Omaha softball vs. #7 Arkansas | Thursday, Feb. 26 | 4 p.m.
• Omaha Supernovas vs. Atlanta Vibe | Thursday, Feb. 26 | 7 p.m.
• LOVB Nebraska at LOVB Houston | Thursday, Feb. 26 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball vs. Providence | Thursday, Feb. 26 | 8 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Kansas | Friday, Feb. 27 | 10 a.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. Tarleton State | Friday, Feb. 27 | 2 p.m.
• Creighton softball vs. Northern Colorado | Friday, Feb. 27 | 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
• Omaha hockey vs. Miami (Ohio) | Friday, Feb. 27 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Charlotte | Friday, Feb. 27 | 2:30 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Boise State | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 10 a.m.
• Creighton softball vs. Northern Colorado | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 11:30 a.m.
• Omaha women’s basketball vs. Denver | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 1 p.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. Abilene Christian | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 2 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Arkansas | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 2:30 p.m.
• Creighton men’s basketball vs. Providence | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 4:30 p.m.
• Creighton softball vs. Colorado State | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 4:30 p.m.
• Omaha hockey vs. Miami (Ohio) | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball at St. Thomas | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. Tarleton State | Sunday, March 1 | 11 a.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball at Xavier | Sunday, March 1 | 12 p.m.
• Creighton softball vs. Colorado State | Sunday, March 1 | 12 p.m.
• Omaha Supernovas at Indy Ignite | Sunday, March 1 | 1 p.m.
• Omaha baseball at Nebraska | Tuesday, March 3 | Time TBA
• Creighton men’s basketball at Butler | Wednesday, March 4 | 5 p.m.

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The History of Omaha’s Oldest Park

By Patrick Wyman

Omaha’s oldest park was founded more than 150 years ago. Prior to that, the city had only one other park, Jefferson Square at 16th & Chicago Street, which consisted of a single block.

Noting the lack of green space in the rapidly growing 18-year-old city, Andrew Hanscom and James Megeath donated 57 of the 400 acres of land they had acquired for use as a new park. Both men were involved in politics, while Hanscom also worked as a real estate developer and Megeath as a forwarding agent for Union Pacific.

The land they donated, considered too hilly for residential development, was named Hanscom Park after the majority landholder. The remaining land was used to create the Hanscom Place neighborhood. The park sat on the western edge of the city, bordering 32nd Avenue. In accepting the donation, the city agreed to five conditions:

1. It must remain a park forever.
2. It would always be named Hanscom Park.
3. The city must improve and beautify it.
4. The city must build a road around the park.
5. The city must maintain the park forever.

When it opened in 1872, the park offered respite from the city, particularly for those with automobiles and for nearby residents, though the surrounding neighborhoods were only beginning to take shape.

By 1888, however, the city had not lived up to its end of the bargain, and the donors threatened to reclaim the land. This prompted the city to install a sewer system and regrade the streets around the park to make them easier to navigate. It also created a parks commission to plan, control and care for the park. That led to the hiring of prominent landscape architect Horace Cleveland to design the park and boulevard system that would connect it to other newly established parks.

Once the renovation was complete and the streetcar line was extended to the park entrance, its popularity exploded. At one point, streetcars were stopping every 10 minutes. Visitors found much to enjoy. In addition to the open green space and large flower beds, the park featured a bandstand and dancing platform for Sunday afternoon concerts, fountains, lagoons, a greenhouse and an abundance of trees that provided shade. The idyllic park was also a runner-up site to host the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition.

Over time, the city banned dance parties and removed the dancing platform. Despite this, ice skating and fishing remained popular activities, along with attractions that included two metal slides hitched together, a merry-go-round and teeter-totters. A pavilion was added by 1924 but burned down three years later. It was replaced with an even larger two-story structure that included a wraparound porch and caretakers’ quarters on its second floor.

Following the Easter Day tornado in 1913, the Joslyn family donated its conservatory to the city and moved it from the castle to the park. The park became even more important after additional greenhouses were installed and used year-round to nurture plants that were later placed throughout the boulevard system.

The park continued to change throughout the years becoming more like the one we recognize today. After the second pavilion caught fire in 1927, it was rebuilt on the opposite side of the lagoon, where it still stands. Its bandstand was torn down in the mid-1940s after being deemed unsafe and was replaced with a gazebo. In 1946, the upper lagoon was filled in, though the lower lagoon was spared. The natural spring was rerouted into the sewer system and eventually plugged. Meanwhile, concrete slabs from the earlier pavilion were repurposed into the city’s first tennis courts. A swimming pool was installed in 1961, and an indoor tennis facility used by Creighton University was built in 1967. The conservatory was deemed unsafe and demolished in 1968, though greenhouses remain in its place.

Hanscom Park became the city’s oldest park after Jefferson Square was demolished in the 1960s to make way for Interstate 480. Today, the park continues to evolve and remains a vital part of the community. It features a pavilion, greenhouses, lagoon and fountain, a zero-depth swimming pool with slides and a spray feature, playground equipment, a mini-pitch, indoor tennis facilities, a nine-hole disc golf course, a dog park and a recently installed steel gazebo that replaced the one that burned down in 2022.

Since 1917, Bankers Trust has been a leading financial institution for commercial and consumer banking services. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with $7.5 billion in assets, Bankers Trust is the state’s largest privately held community bank. Bankers Trust has operated a loan production office in Omaha since 2008 and opened its first full-service branch in 2025. Visit Bankers Trust at the corner of 192nd and Dodge to see how we can make a difference for all your personal and commercial banking needs.

The Omaha Symphony will present Cirque Carmen on March 7 at the Holland Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. The sSymphony, conducted by Ernest Richardson, will perform the classic opera score Carmen by French composer Georges Bizet as the acrobats and dancers of Troupe Vertigo embark on an adventure of beauty, amazement and humor. The LA-based circus company creates a refreshing and mesmerizing mix of circus, dance and theater, bringing audiences on a spellbinding journey through the artistic movement. Tickets start at $26.

Omaha Conservatory of Music will feature The Yale Spizzwinks on March 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Composed entirely of Yale undergraduates, this a cappella group is America’s oldest underclassmen group, entertaining audiences since 1914. As part of their spring tour, they will be performing in Omaha, which is one of the members – Eshaan Giri’s hometown. Admission starts at $25, and free for kids 10 and under. For more information, visit here.

The English Concert returns to Opera Omaha to perform Handel’s Hercules on March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater. The Baroque orchestra is currently on their annual U.S. tour, known for performing with historically accurate instruments and their world-known quality performances. Led by conductor Harry Bicket, the English Concert will also be joined onstage with some of the most renowned singers in the opera world as well as the internationally recognized Clarion Choir. Tickets for Hercules are on sale now. For more information, visit their website.

Omaha Community Playhouse will present Disaster! March 13 through April 4, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. A 1970s cruise turns from boogie fever into chaos with tornadoes, earthquakes and infernos, set to favorite disco hits such as “Hot Stuff,” “I Will Survive” and “Hooked on a Feeling.” This hilarious, over-the-top musical is wildly entertaining, leaving audiences buoyant and singing along! Additionally, there will be a pre-show discussion on March 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. led by director Vincent Orduńa. For more information and tickets, visit here.

Omaha Performing Arts will feature John Mulaney’s Mister Whatever comedy performance on March 19 and March 20 at the Orpheum Theater at 7:30 p.m. Mulaney is a four-time Emmy Award-winning writer, comedian and actor, currently on the first leg of his latest standup tour, JOHN MULANEY: MISTER WHATEVER, performing across North America. This set covers new aspects of the comedian’s life, such as marriage and children. Mulaney is also the host, writer and executive producer of his Netflix talk show, EVERYBODY’S LIVE WITH JOHN MULANEY. Tickets are on sale now! For more information, visit their website.

Résonance has announced a collaboration with the Chancel Choir of First United Methodist Church to present Durufle Requiem on March 19, at 7:30 p.m. at 7020 Cass Street. This concert of vocal ensemble will additionally serve as a showcase of the sanctuary’s newly refurbished Quimby pipe organ, which took several years to restore the 3,599 pipes by the renowned Bedient Pipe Organ Company of Lincoln. Mark Kurtz, director of music ministries, as well as award-winning composer and organist, will test the limits of the organ in this performance. Dr. A. Barron Breland, Omaha’s premier chorusmaster, will conduct alongside Kurtz, leading the Résonance choir. Tickets start at $25, and students get in for free.

Did you know Eppley Airfield’s expanded terminal will be nearly double the square footage of the existing terminal when all construction is complete in 2028?

Did you know the recently completed, $108 million Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement at 12th & Douglas Street in downtown Omaha is four stories and 103,000 sq. ft.? The grand opening is scheduled for March 19th.

Did you know that with a population of 492,601 the city of Omaha is technically bigger than Miami, Minneapolis, Tampa, New Orleans, Cleveland, Orlando, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and St. Louis?

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Gretna Winter Carnival happening February 28th, 2026
Warm up indoors at the Gretna Winter Carnival, a free, all-ages afternoon of carnival-style games at the Gretna Crossing YMCA Gymnasium. Local businesses will run interactive stations like ball toss, can knock down and more, so you can play, cheer and soak up the fun without braving the cold. Kids can win tickets at the games and trade them in at the prize table, with a shot at a grand prize for playing all the stations. Bring the family, invite a friend and stop by.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress happening February 28th, 2026
Follow Morris, a kid who loves puzzles, painting, and pretending to be an astronaut—especially when he finds a tangerine dress in the school dress-up box that sparks his imagination. When classmates question what he “should” wear, Morris’s vivid dreams and jungle characters open up a thoughtful, playful look at creativity and how kids explore the world through pretend. This warm, inventive story celebrates original imagination and the joy of being yourself. If you love heartfelt, picture-book-style storytelling onstage, make plans to see it and grab tickets.

Pat McGann happening February 28th, 2026
Catch stand-up comic Pat McGann live for a night of sharp crowd work and hilariously relatable stories, especially if you’ve ever survived family life. A Chicago favorite and longtime opener for Sebastian Maniscalco, McGann brings quick wit and an easy, conversational style to the stage. This is a 21+ show with valid ID required. The Funny Bone offers a full bar, dinner menu and a two-item minimum per person. Make a plan, arrive together if you want to sit with your group, and grab tickets.

The Oz Experience in Omaha: Escape the Wicked Glitch happening March 1st, 2026
Take your phone and step into an Oz-inspired outdoor escape game where you’ll roam about a 1.5-mile area, solving clues and cracking puzzles to outsmart the witch. Play any day, any time in about 1.5 hours (up to 2), whether you go solo or team up with friends—costumes are optional but encouraged, and there’s even a costume contest. All ages are welcome, with kids under 12 accompanied by an adult, and each player should have their own device with internet. Pick your day and grab tickets!

2026 State of the City – Hosted by Papillion Downtown Business Association happening March 4th, 2026
Start your morning with the Papillion Downtown Business Association at the annual State of the City, where community members, local businesses and city leadership come together for a friendly, info-packed update on what’s happening in Papillion. Hear the State of the City address from Mayor David Black, plus a downtown development presentation from Jerry Reimer, CEO of Urban Waters Development. Stick around for networking and Q&A so you can ask questions and connect with neighbors and decision-makers. If you care about downtown initiatives, economic development or where Papillion is headed next, come out and join the community.

This section is sponsored by Eagle Mortgage, a locally owned, full-service mortgage company helping you with Conventional, VA, FHA and USDA loans in both Nebraska and Iowa. Learn how Eagle Mortgage helps people afford the home of their dreams by clicking HERE!

NP Dodge Real Estate has welcomed new residential sales associates including Ashley Cockerham, Kevin Stocklin, Nicholas Hug and Savina Cobbs.

Scoular’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Maass, has been named to the board of directors of Valmont Industries, Inc., with the appointment effective February 23, 2026. Maass serves as CEO of The Scoular Company, a 133-year-old global agribusiness based in Omaha.

The Omaha Municipal Land Bank has hired Karla McGinnis-Taylor as business process manager. She brings expertise in data management and CRM systems that connects operational teams and technology.

WoodmenLife has appointed Kyle Veenstra as director, sales, independent distribution. He will lead sales strategy and operations for the company’s independent distribution channel, working with agents and brokers to grow life insurance and annuity sales through non-exclusive distribution partners.

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

When we fear that we have overshared information at work, we cringe. But oversharing may actually be underrated, says Harvard Business School professor Leslie John, writing in the Wall Street Journal. Oversharing isn’t always wise, but in the right contexts—especially among people who already hold power—revealing something real about yourself can unlock a deeper level of trust. Undersharing can cost you: friendships that never deepen, colleagues who never quite trust us, romances that never spark.

In the late 19th Century, Frederick Taylor revolutionized industrial productivity by considering workers to be part of a machine, meaning they could be measured, paced and optimized. According to The Conversation, Taylor’s thinking still influences modern workplaces today, even office environments where creative and critical-thinking work takes place. In today’s world, that leads to burnout and disengagement – big problems in a knowledge economy.

Roughly one in nine CEOs were replaced last year, according to executive-recruiting firm Spencer Stuart as reported by The Hustle. The average age of incoming CEOs this year is 54. That’s two years younger than last year. Eighty-four percent of them had no prior experience leading a company.

Thirty percent of U.S. Adults say they get news from emailed newsletters at least some of the time, according to a Pew Research Center study conducted last August. Americans with higher incomes and higher levels of formal education are more likely to get news from newsletters. For example, 35 percent of college graduates get news from email newsletters at least sometimes, compared with 25 percent of those with a high school diploma or less education. So, by reading this newsletter, you’re proving how smart you are!

SALES

Upon arriving at the office one morning, I saw this email in my inbox:

Hello Jeff. I am writing to find out who at your company would be responsible for evaluating suite-of-services solutions that expand your competitive advantage across the enterprise.

If this salesperson’s goal was to promptly get his email deleted, he succeeded. I can’t think of any reason on Earth why a prospect would bother responding to such a message. Not only is it a red warning flag that a salesman is stalking you, the message is full of annoying junk language.

Sadly, junk language is not limited to email sales pitches. It’s seemingly everywhere in today’s business world. Go to any cocktail party mixer, ask someone what they do, and you might get an answer that sounds something like this:

I engage progressive, forward-thinking Fortune 500 companies that are seeking to shift their paradigm and adopt more of a global platform. I facilitate the development of strategic, integrated, highly actionable management solutions, which will boost their bottom line.

Whatever.

When salespeople and other professionals talk like this, they’re trying to sound impressive. Unfortunately, when we use industry jargon and the latest corporate buzzwords, we end up sounding anything but impressive. Convoluted double-speak is often used to cover up the fact that the speaker really doesn’t know what he or she is talking about.

Clear language is important in sales. Messages that are carefully crafted and skillfully delivered, are far more impressive than the gobbledygook that too many people believe sounds “intellectual.”

WISDOM

“If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior.” – Katherine Hepburn

Building Omaha is a partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) & the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Together, we provide the highest level of trained electricians for residential, low-voltage, or commercial construction projects. Visit buildingomaha.org to learn more. Earn while you learn and apply for our Apprenticeship Program by clicking HERE!

I recently spoke to a group of successful small business owners. They meet for a full day once a month to work on ways to improve the profitably and efficiency of their businesses. Their morning session is devoted to outside speakers who provide them with educational business topics. In the afternoon they go into executive session and share issues specifically related to their businesses.

I spoke to them about current developments in the local 401(k) market. At the end of my talk, I asked them how their 401(k) performed last year. Several had no clue. A couple said “okay,” but had no specific numbers. Several said “around 10 to 12 percent.” I found this shocking. They spend a whole day devoted to developing their companies but have no clue about their 401(k).

I did some homework and determined that one of the companies’ plans did perform at about the 10 percent level, while the market, with dividends, did 27 percent. This means that their employees were left with $1.2 million less than they could have had if they invested in low-cost index funds. They also paid $140,000 more in administration fees than they could have if their employer had shopped around for a low-cost administrator.

Employers are the gatekeeper for all our 401(k)s. They choose and employ their plans’ service providers, and the choices they make can have a profound impact on how much money their employees will have when they retire. Unfortunately, the scenario I describe above is the rule, not the exception.

Currently, the majority of Omaha 401(k) plans are administered by either an insurance company or a big bank, both of which are the most expensive and least efficient.

But there are forces at work that have the potential to change this.

Several of the largest plan providers are currently under review by the courts and federal regulators for their pricing policies. Many of the major Wall Street firms are exiting the 401(k) market and moving to more profitable endeavors. However, there are other players moving into the market that are dramatically reducing costs, and at the same time, increasing investment return.

So, what’s the solution? Plan participants must take responsibility for their own money. Nobody cares as much about their money as they do. It begins with them find out about the details of their plan. How much are they being charged and who gets paid and how much.

How are the fees calculated? And remember there’s strength in numbers. The more people who are involved in this process, the stronger will be their case. After you have determined what your plan looks like, you need to determine what the alternatives are. There are many online resources to help you.

P.S. In 95 percent of all 401(k) plans, the largest account balance belongs to the business owner.

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Quantum Fiber in Omaha, Nebraska, is super-fast, reliable internet. We did away with data caps, bundles, and pricing gimmicks because you don’t want them. Instead, you get game-changing customer service, transparent pricing, and a powerful app for freedom, simplicity, and control over your internet. Quantum Fiber is what internet service looks like when it’s built for the world of you.

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

Don’t keep this newsletter to yourself. Forward it to your friends, clients and co-workers. You want to know the real reason we produce this report? It’s to remind Omahans about the vibrant, prosperous and growing city they call home. The more Omaha residents believe in their city, the more successful we’ll all be. Spread the news!

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