Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Lovisa recently opened its first Omaha-area store at Westroads Mall on May 16th. The Sydney, Australia-based retailer was founded in 2010 and now has hundreds of locations in approximately 40 countries. Lovisa sells “on-trend fashion jewelry at ready-to-wear prices.” The Westroads store is located on the first level across from Victoria’s Secret and PINK.

The Reading Room will open its doors at 12 noon on Monday, July 7 at 1505 Farnam Street in the former Omaha Lounge space downtown. It will be Omaha’s first reading lounge, combining a comfortable space with access to a full bar, coffee, tea and small food items. – Isaiah Ang

Midwest Maintenance Realty, LLC, plans to turn five vacant lots across from Metropolitan Community College’s South Omaha Campus into an apartment building along Q Street. The planning board approved a TIF application for the $25 million QMetro project. Plans call for a 5-story, mixed-use building with 72 market-rate apartments, ranging from studio to 3-bedroom units. Rents will range from $875 to $1,925 per month. The ground floor will have 18,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Construction is planned to begin next March and conclude by August 2027. – Isaiah Ang

The Omaha Municipal Land Bank, which supports sustainable and thriving communities by transforming neglected properties into community assets, is currently accepting applications for its ambassador program, which is designed to deepen and expand the bench of community members who support, learn from and provide insights to the land bank. Applications are open through Friday, July 18. A minimum of one participant from each of Omaha’s seven city council districts will be selected. – Mark Champion

Phillip McClain, founder of the Mensch Group, plans to develop a mixed-used project on the North 24th Street corridor. The City Council last week approved the rezoning of several vacant lots on the northeast corner of 24th & Laird Street. The development will include rowhouses, a mixed-use building with apartments built on top of a food court, a corner bank location and four additional ground-floor commercial spaces. – Isaiah Ang

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opened its first Nebraska location this week at 6516 North 73rd Plaza, in the former Big Lot’s store in Sorensen Park Plaza. Ollie’s is a retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory and has more than 574 locations. – Isaiah Ang

Warren Buffett is donating $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock to five foundations, including the NoVo and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations as well as three family foundations: the Susan Thompson Buffett, Howard G. Buffett, and Sherwood foundations. This brings Buffett’s total donation amount to $60 billion, since he began giving away portions of his fortune in 2006. In 2010, the Oracle of Omaha pledged to give more than 99 percent of his wealth to philanthropic causes during his lifetime or at his death. – Mark Champion

Interior build-out is underway at Tracks Lounge’s second location near 180th & Q, featuring custom millwork, pendant lighting and a racing-themed mural, according to Slate Architecture. Exterior updates include a new patio and horse silhouettes. – Nicole Buntgen

American Baptist Churches USA begins its biennial convention today at CHI Health Center Omaha, bringing nearly a thousand delegates to Omaha from around the world. The event, which continues through Sunday, is usually held in much larger cities, most recently in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It’s the first time the convention has taken place in Omaha, but there was one in Lincoln decades ago. The denomination has 1.3 million members and 5,000 congregations worldwide. – Terry Anderson

The Wandering Page, a women-owned bookstore and coffee shop, opened June 30 at 3925 Farnam Street in the Blackstone District. The “literary café” serves pastries from The Grand Patisserie. It is near Coneflower Creamery and Archetype Coffee. – Nicole Buntgen

Melissa Stephens, founder of The Cordial Cherry chocolate shop, has launched Ele Chocolates, a brand delivering probiotic wellness through dark chocolate bites. Each bite is “crafted with real functional ingredients to support gut health.” Ele Chocolates is sold via monthly subscription and shipped directly to customers in 48 states. Locally, the product can be found at The Cordial Cherry at 16939 Wright Plaza in the Shops of Legacy.

Dave’s Cakes of Omaha has expanded into the adjacent bay at 14234 U Street just off Millard Avenue. The space, formerly home to Local Makers Collective, sits next to the bakery’s original location, which opened in 2022. – Nicole Buntgen

Cedric Fichepain, a local restaurant entrepreneur, has launched Omaha Sourdough Company, a bakery venture that delivers “health-forward sourdough bread right to your doorstep through a monthly subscription model.” The company currently ships to 18 states surrounding Omaha and plans to go national by the end of the year. Fichepain owns Le Petit Paris, a French bakery in Pepperwood Village near 156th & West Dodge Road.

The Blackstone District is showcasing local businesses with Brunch in Blackstone Saturday, July 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests can visit participating locations to sample brunch bites and cocktails and vote for their favorite. Samples will range from $4 to $6. Participating businesses include: Blackstone Social; Bob & Willies; Corkscrew; Cottonwood (Orleans Room); Crescent Moon; Cunningham’s; Early Bird; First Round; Kamp; Mula; Scriptown Brewing; and 37 West Farnam Apartments.

Burlington Capital, in partnership with Sower Investment Partners and ACCESS Commercial, is now leasing The Arthur, a 329-unit apartment building wrapping up construction at 4647 Dodge Street. Slated to welcome tenants this September, The Arthur offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Property amenities include a resort-style pool, fitness center, co-working spaces and pet spaces. Developers have integrated the historic Pittman veterinary clinic building, which now serves as the property’s leasing office.

The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, remained above the 50.0 growth neutral threshold for a sixth straight month. The index declined to 50.7 from 51.0 in May. “The Creighton survey continues to record job losses with accompanying higher wholesale inflation. Supply managers remain concerned that rising tariffs will push inflation significantly higher,” said Dr. Ernie Goss, director of Creighton’s Economic Forecasting Group.

Metropolitan Community College’s Business Development Center this week recognized 13 small business owners who completed the first cohort of the Cox Small Business Leadership Academy. The eight-week, intensive program was developed in collaboration with the Greater Omaha Chamber and Cox Communications to help small business suppliers “strengthen their leadership, refine operations and gain strategic tools for long-term growth and sustainability.”

An upscale hair salon is planned for Elkhorn. The salon will be located at a new building at 1620 North Main Street, just west of 204th Street. According to the building permit, the name of the new business will be Skyline Landing Salon and will occupy 3,300 sq. ft. – Isaiah Ang

Anthony’s Taqueria Mexican Restaurant plans to open soon in an end-cap space at 2100 South 20th Street in Blair. The space was once a Jimmy John’s location before it moved to a nearby building.

Another hotel will go vertical soon in Council Bluffs’ Mid-America Center Entertainment District. The city council approved a commercial development plan for a 2.24-acre undeveloped site next to Quaker Steak & Lube. The developer plans to build an Echo Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham. The 4-story hotel will have 124 rooms and around 50,000 sq. ft. finished. Construction will likely begin this year and be completed in 14-16 months. – Isaiah Ang