Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Take 5 Oil Change plans to build a shop southwest of 120th & L Street. The site was once home to a Famous Dave’s restaurant, which was demolished in 2022. Take 5 will construct a 1,620 sq. ft. building with three service bays. A Scooter’s Coffee building is currently under construction on the same 1.33-acre lot. Based in Charlotte, N.C., Take 5 has an existing shop in Papillion’s Shadow Lake Towne Center.

We have an update on the 17-story Beam apartment and relocation of the Omaha Children’s museum. The museum announced last year that it was pausing its relocation to 8^th & Douglas Street. According to the City of Omaha, both projects are on hold indefinitely. The city plans to reimburse NuStyle Development for the sitework it completed including grading, sewer relocation, road work and design of a city-owned parking garage. The garage is anticipated to be built regardless of either project moving forward. – Isaiah Ang

Completely KIDS will hold a groundbreaking ceremony March 18th for its Henry Davis Center to be constructed at 2448 St. Mary’s Avenue downtown. Part of Completely KIDS $28 million comprehensive campaign, the Henry Davis Center will expand access to early childhood education and mental health services for Omaha children and families. The 2-story building would have eight early childhood classrooms.

AAA’s latest survey of 5,000 U.S. adults shows 39 percent plan to take more vacations in 2026 compared to 2025. Nebraska results show 35 percent plan to take more vacations in 2026. Fifty-five percent expect to take multiple trips this year, and 44 percent are taking two-to-three vacations of three days or more. Iowa results show 33 percent plan to take more vacations in 2026 compared to 2025.

Scooter’s Coffee, one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing specialty coffee drive-thru companies, is celebrating a 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.

Grow Omaha previously reported that a second Yoshitomo location was planned for Downtown Omaha at 1105 Harney Street. This week, a building permit was filed now under the name Sakura Ichiban Co. for interior remodel for the new restaurant concept. – Isaiah Ang

The James Beard Foundation named Johnny’s Café of Omaha as a 2026 James Beard America’s Classics award winner. Located at 4702 South 27th Street, Johnny’s is one of six independently owned restaurants with “timeless appeal that reflect local character and serve as enduring anchors in their communities.” Johnny’s represents the Midwest region. Other winning restaurants are in Inglewood, Calif.; Philadelphia; Kingston, N.Y.; Wheeling, W.V.; and Las Vegas.

A new pilates studio is planning to open at Miracle Hills Plaza on the northwest corner of 114th & West Dodge Road. According to a building permit for a remodel of existing space, Lawless Pilates will be opening a 2,000 sq. ft. location in Suite 175. Lawless Studio currently has locations in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, S.D.- Isaiah Ang

City Sprouts, a local nonprofit charity, is planning to build a utility barn at the southeast corner of 3rd & Jaynes Street, just north of Carter Lake. According to the building permit, the $110,000 barn will span more than 2,000 square feet. It will support the organization’s urban farming programming. – Isaiah Ang

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 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. – Mark Champion

Nebraska Medicine will open its recently completed Bennington Health Center on March 9 northwest of 156^th & State Street. The public is invited to tour the clinic during a community open house 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.

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. – Nicole Buntgen

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. – Nicole Buntgen

Following its public meeting yesterday, the new Streetcar Impact Alliance submitted a list of demands to the City of Omaha. The alliance is comprised of 65 businesses affected by streetcar construction. The mayor’s office today responded, “The city confirms it received and is reviewing a list of requests from the Streetcar Impact Alliance. The mayor’s office remains sensitive to the group’s concerns and has prioritized the review in order to respond in a timely manner.” The statement said the city wants to improve communications along the streetcar corridor. Streetcar information is available at https://www.omahastreetcar.org/.

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 studio, 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.

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.

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 up to the south and will overlook a small park, which is currently under construction. Additionally, interior build-out is underway for Fraser Stryker law firm, which is moving its headquarters to the building.

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.

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. – Nicole Buntgen

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.