Grow Omaha
News Briefs

A Starbucks Coffee restaurant is under construction on the southeast corner of 96th & L Street just west of an existing Romeo’s restaurant. The free-standing building with a drive-thru replaces a former Well Fargo bank Building, which was demolished.

Guardify, a company that helps law enforcement and legal teams manage digital evidence, is acquiring Engage Vision, a company that specializes in smart video analysis. Both companies are based in Omaha. Guardify will now offer tools that can quickly find and track objects in videos, making it easier to review and manage evidence. Guardify’s customers will start seeing these new features in the coming months. The updates will also enhance Justice Hub, Guardify’s platform that helps agencies store, share and analyze digital evidence.

ALDI is opening a grocery store this week at 19311 Oakmont Drive in Gretna. Located just northwest of 192nd & Highway 370, the store will hold a soft opening Wednesday, March 19th. The ribbon cutting will take place Thursday, March 20th at 8:45 a.m. The new ALDI is part of the Gretna Landing development, which also includes a Chase Bank, Arby’s, Starbuck’s Coffee, Walgreen’s, McDonald’s, Scooter’s, Centris Credit Union, and eventually, a Fleet Farm store.

Rally Cap Brewing Co., a baseball-themed brewery from Baton Rouge, La., plans to open at NOVA Apartments, a mixed-use building under construction at 12th & Nicholas Street in Millwork Commons. The 5-story building is just north of Charles Schwab Field Omaha and will have 74 apartments and 12,500 sq. ft. of retail space on the ground level. Completion is planned for spring of 2026.

Warhorse Casino Omaha’s expansion is expected to open next month. Last August, Warhorse celebrated the grand opening of its initial phase. The expansion includes space for an additional 1,200 slot machines and two restaurants. The opening date for the expansion is April 22, 2025. - Isaiah Ang

We have a new completion date for the Bob Kerry Bridge expansion, colloquially called “Baby Bob.” The $6 million project will create a new pedestrian and bicycle connection between North Downtown and Riverfront. The official opening had to be pushed back, because some of the finishing components are on back order. In MECA’s February board meeting, it was reported that there was a setback because of theft of some fencing. As a result, new fencing was ordered and manufactured. The new completion date is now June 2025. - Isaiah Ang

Terra Gaucha, a Florida-based Brazilian steakhouse restaurant, is nearing its opening date in the former Charleston’s building near 137th & West Dodge Expressway. This week, the Omaha City Council approved its liquor license. The application indicates that the opening date is set for April 20, 2025. The restaurant will have lunch and dinner hours. The Omaha location will be the fifth, along with existing locations in Jacksonville, Tampa, Indianapolis and Stamford, Conn. - Isaiah Ang

Yumchaa, a bubble tea and gelato shop at 1018 South 74th Plaza, has rebranded as T 101 under new ownership. The local shop, which launched in 2018, continues to operate with the same business model. Its menu features milk teas, smoothies, onigiri (Japanese rice balls), and waffles. - Nicole Buntgen

The Omaha metro has surpassed the 1 million population mark for the first time, based on just-released U.S. Census Bureau data. As of July 1, 2024, the estimated Omaha metropolitan area population is 1,001,010, an increase of 12,000 from the previous year’s estimate. Both natural change and net migration contributed to the increase in population. Specifically, births outpaced the number of deaths by 4,269. Additionally, there was a net positive of 6,548 due to international migration and 1,329 from domestic migration. Douglas County alone now has 601,158. Sarpy County has 204,828. – Isaiah Ang

Snooze Mattress Company has opened a second Omaha store at 10916 Prairie Brook Road in Rockbrook Village. The first store opened a little over a year ago at 16950 Wright Plaza in the Shops of Legacy. The locally owned Omaha franchises are among 16 total locations in nine states.

A free-standing Starbucks Coffee building is under construction near 195th & Highway 370 in Gretna. It’s part of the Gretna Landing development. Other recently opened businesses nearby include Arby’s, Chase Bank, McDonald’s, Scooter’s Coffee and Walgreens. An ALDI grocery store plans to open just to the east on March 19th.

We have an update about On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, which abruptly closed its only Nebraska location last month at 8810 South 71st Plaza in Papillion. The Dallas-based chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing more than $19 million in prepetition funded debt, according to court documents. At the time of filing, the company operated 60 locations. - Nicole Buntgen

Godega Market, a coffee shop and convenience market, is planning a second location in Aksarben Village, according to a recently filed building permit to remodel the space at 1917 South 67th Street. The previous tenant was Zoup, which closed last year. Godega Market’s original location is at 423 South 11th Street in the Old Market. - Isaiah Ang

Beautiful Soul Luxe Suites and Blow Dry Bar has opened at 16919 Audrey Street. The 7,500 sq. ft. space is Omaha’s first Japanese head spa. The space also features 20 salon suites occupied by independent beauty and wellness professionals. The same owners operate Beautiful Soul Spa Suites at 168th & Cornhusker Road.

OPAL Luxury Salon Suites will open its second location by the end of March at 16920 Wright Plaza in the Shops of Legacy. Owned by 402 Permanent Cosmetics, the spa suites and cosmetic academy offer specialized beauty services and education. OPAL’s first location is at 18101 Chicago Street in Elkhorn. - Nicole Buntgen

Lemon Tree Cafe, a family-owned breakfast and brunch spot in Ralston, has temporarily closed at 7614 Main Street following a fire on March 6. Local businesses are organizing fundraisers to support its rebuilding efforts, including the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce, which will begin accepting donations at its office on March 12. To make a donation, click HERE.  - Nicole Buntgen

Betty Rae’s Ice Cream will open a second Omaha location at 595 North 155th Plaza. That’s near Karma Coffee in Pepperwood Village. Omaha-based franchisee Zach Molacek also owns the Betty Rae’s shop at 6307 Center Street near Aksarben Village. Started in Kansas City, Betty Rae’s sells hand-made, hand-scooped ice cream with 26 core flavors. The west Omaha store will be the eighth location overall.

After 38 years in business, The Market Basket is closing permanently Friday, March 14. Owned by Liz Liakos, the restaurant is located at 2501 South 90th Street in Loveland Shopping Center. In its earlier years, The Market Basket was in Countryside Village. The final week will include 50 percent off gift merchandise and party goods. The restaurant will celebrate its closing with an evening Cabaret show on Friday.

Central Skate Shop held its grand reopening on March 7 at 2905 North 59th Street in Benson. The shop, which first opened in May 2022, changed ownership earlier this year and continues its mission of supporting skateboarding and art culture with locally focused gear and community engagement. – Nicole Buntgen

First Round is taking over the former Copps Pizza location at 2829 South 181st Street, according to Tom Millie, owner of The Auction Mill. The location is southwest of 180th & West Center Road. It will be First Round’s second location. The sports bar’s original location is at 3901 Farnam Street in the Blackstone District. Copps PIzza closed that location earlier this winter but still operates restaurants in Shadow Lake Towne Center and Nebraska Crossing.