Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Dairy Queen Grill & Chill has reopened at 404 North 114th Street on the southwest corner of 114th & West Dodge Road after extensive renovations. Crews demolished the second floor and roof of the classic, barn-style Dairy Queen building last December. The ice cream shop has been converted into a contemporary, single-story, fast-food restaurant.

The Lerner Company will break ground Friday on Gretna Crossing, a 70-acre retail development southwest of 192nd & Highway 370. Some site preparation work has already started. The development will have up to 500,000 sq. ft. of retail, restaurant and commercial space, while supporting 1,400 permanent jobs. Upon completion, Gretna Crossing is expected to generate an estimated $50 million in combined sales and property tax revenue for the City of Gretna over 10 years.

A building permit has been filed for a Trader Joe’s store at 210 North 191st Street. The 13,500 sq. ft. store would be constructed on the northeast corner of 192nd & Burke Street, just south of West Dodge Road in the Avenue One Good Life District. The California-based grocery chain has an existing Omaha store at One Pacific Place. Other retailers planning to join Avenue One include West Elm, Arhaus, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Barnes & Noble and Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille.   

Ageless Skin Co. has opened at 1150 Sterling Ridge Drive southeast of 132nd & Pacific Street, relocating from its previous 96th & L Street space. The med spa also has a location in Gretna and will celebrate its seventh anniversary in May. – Nicole Buntgen

Still Poppin Gourmet Popcorn will occupy a storefront in north Omaha. According to a building permit at 3207 North 30th Street, Still Poppin will open a 1,700 sq. ft. store. Known as Malcolm’s Place, the mixed-use building has 51 apartment units and ground-floor retail. Still Poppin is currently selling out of Big Mama’s Kitchen in the Highlander Accelerator building in the Seventy-Five North development. – Isaiah Ang

Baker’s has filed a building permit for its planned 100,181 sq. ft. grocery store at 18303 Evans Street, which is southwest of 180th & West Maple Road. The building will sit on a 13-acre lot, which was originally going to be a Fleet Farm store before those plans changed. Kroger, which owns Baker’s, has not announced a construction timeline. Baker’s has another store under construction northwest of 204th & Q Street.

Kidlavie, an entertainment center for children and families, has opened in Oak View Mall. The indoor amusement park occupies a 22,000 sq. ft. space on the mall’s second level between a vacant Sears store and the former Rush Market. Geared to children ages 1 through 12, Kidlavie also has a full restaurant. The business was founded in 2022 and has another location in Mobile, Ala.

Forbes featured Don and Linda Eckles, founders of Omaha-based Scooter’s Coffee, yesterday in an article titled, “From Coffee Kiosk to Billion-Dollar Business: How Scooter’s Became One of America’s Top Franchises.” The Eckles founded Scooter’s in 1998. The company now has 912 locations in 32 states and rang up $859 million in total sales last year. The Eckles, who remain majority owners, said they are not currently looking to sell the company, and "for now, we love being a privately held company." 

Three more upscale retailers have filed for permits at Avenue One, the Good Life District south of 192nd & West Dodge Road. A week after Arhaus filed, West Elm, Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma filed permits. Pottery Barn will occupy 12,500 sq. ft., and Williams Sonoma will have 5,600 sq. ft. in the same building. West Elm’s 12,500 sq. ft. store will be in the same building as Arhaus. – Isaiah Ang

Osaka Steakhouse & Sushi Bar Elkhorn will open in mid-2026 at 18118 Evans Street southwest of 180th & West Maple Road. The restaurant, previously planned as Kyoto Sushi & Hibachi, will be owned by Michael Zhu and Amy Chen, who also operate the original Osaka location in La Vista. The 7,000 sq. ft. space will feature an expanded kitchen, hibachi dining and a menu similar to the La Vista restaurant. - Nicole Buntgen

Tipico Helado, a locally owned Mexican ice cream shop, is opening a Gretna location inside the former Cold Stone Creamery space at Nebraska Crossing. Opening is planed for May 15. Founded in 2017, Tipico Helado has existing shops in South Omaha, the Old Market, 156th & West Dodge Road and downtown Fremont.

Wine Beer and Spirits has closed its downtown Omaha store at 1037 Jones Street and is transitioning it into a neighborhood bar. Interior renovations are underway. It will reopen soon as Monty’s Bar & Bottle Shop. The space is in the Old Market Lofts building on the south side of the Old Market. Wine Beer and Spirits’ original location near Oak View Mall remains open. The company has additional stores in Fremont, Lincoln and Grand Island, Neb.

John’s Grecian Delight has reopened at 1001 Fort Crook Road North after temporarily closing in late December due to a serious injury to owner John Sakkas. The longtime Bellevue restaurant is currently operating with limited hours as Sakkas continues his recovery. - Nicole Buntgen

The Garment District is moving within Shops of Legacy retail area southwest of 168th & West Center Road. The women’s clothing store will move this Sunday from 16939 Wright Plaza, Suite #123, to the former Deka Lash space at 16950 Wright Plaza. Because it’s a corner space, the move will give Garment District greater visibility.

7 Brew Coffee is coming to the 168th & Harrison Street area. A building permit has been filed to construct a 646 sq. ft., prefabricated, drive-thru building at 16901 Polk Street on a currently vacant lot. The Arkansas-based company, which sells coffee, tea and energy drinks, has an existing Omaha location at 182nd & West Maple Road and another under construction in Council Bluffs.

Helzberg Diamonds may be opening a store in the Oakview area. This week a building permit was filed for remodel of an existing space a 2625 South 140th Street, which is on the northeast corner of 140th & West Center Road. The permit indicates that prior office space will be converted to retail space. Helzberg is a national jewelry store based in Kansas City and owned by Berkshire Hathaway with current Omaha stores inside Oak View and Westroads malls. - Isaiah Ang

Crisp & Green will open its second Omaha location tomorrow – April 24 – at 16902 Wright Plaza in the Shops of Legacy. The grand opening will include a free entrée from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a wellness event on April 25. The restaurant’s original Omaha location is at 225 North 80th Street. The brand has more than 45 locations nationwide. - Nicole Buntgen

Habitat for Humanity’s Pope Leo Village build project kicked off this weekend as more than 50 Habitat for Humanity of Omaha volunteers, staff, homeowners and guests began construction on the first of 20 homes to be built over the next two years at Habitat Omaha’s Bluestem Development near 52nd & Sorensen Parkway. The Pope Leo Villages project is designed to promote volunteerism for young people, and includes 20 Habitat affiliates nationwide. This is the first Pope Leo Village build in Omaha. - Mark Champion

Godfather’s Pizza has opened a restaurant at 20462 R Street in the Coventry development southwest of 204th & Q Street. Today is the first day of business, but a grand-opening celebration is scheduled for May 3. The new restaurant replaces the 180th & Q Street Godfather’s, which is now closed. The Coventry store has dining space for 60 customers and a drive-thru, pick-up window.

Manhattan’s Coffee Deli & Grill announced that it will close its downtown location Friday, April 24. The restaurant is located at 1802 Farnam Street on the ground floor of a parking garage across the street from the Douglas County Courthouse.