Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Simplifi Automated Environments will move its Omaha office to 4509 South 143rd Street in the Southwestern Plaza development. Interior build-out is underway with opening expected in a couple months. Owned by Doug Dushan and Derrick Potts, Simplifi AE started nine years ago in Kansas City. The company expanded to Omaha less than two years ago and has already become the largest custom residential AV company by revenue in the Omaha market.

For the fourth time in the past six months, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved below growth neutral. The, which index ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, fell to 47.6, its lowest reading for 2025, and down from 49.5 in November. The regional manufacturing sector shed jobs for the ninth straight month.

IMAGE Studios has opened at 7878 Main Street, Suite C, near 84th & Barmettler Drive in La Vista’s City Centre. The business offers luxury salon suites for independent beauty, health and wellness professionals. – Nicole Buntgen

Pinnacle Bank will hold a grand opening ribbon-cutting on February 5 at 122 West Cedardale Road in Papillion’s Tower District near 84th & Highway 370. The new branch will replace the bank’s existing location at 1200 Golden Gate Drive near the Sarpy County Courthouse. – Nicole Buntgen

Po’Boy Mega Alley, a north Omaha convenience store, is making improvements to provide additional services. Located at 6011 North 30th Street near Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Campus, the building is undergoing renovations to add a kitchen and dining area. The expansion is funded by a State of Nebraska economic development grant totaling more than $150,000.

Recent funding awarded under the Nebraska Convention Center Financing Assistance Act will provide $294,602 to 40 North Omaha organizations including nonprofits like Girls Inc. of Omaha, Omaha CARES and the MAYS Foundation. Chosen projects showcase important historical aspects, help to reduce street and gang violence or assist with small business and entrepreneurship growth in North Omaha. – Mark Champion

Hyper Energy Bar, a small coffee and infused-energy drink chain from Urbandale, IA, recently opened its first Omaha-area location at 3561 North 181st Street near 180th & West Maple Road. The drive-thru beverage concept has other Omaha-area sites planned near 180th & Burke Street and 204th & Harrison Street, though those have not yet opened. – Nicole Buntgen

Sand Point will close its restaurant at 655 North 114th Street near 114th & Dodge in Miracle Hills on January 17. The New England–style restaurant opened in October 2023 and is known for its lobster rolls and soups. – Nicole Buntgen

Another restaurant is coming to the South Omaha Main Street Business District. The former Home Café at 5110 South 24th Street will be transformed into the Packer’s Building Café, according to a recent building permit. The 1,800 sq. ft. building was sold this past fall and will receive extensive renovations including exterior updates to bring it more in line with the design of neighboring buildings. – Isaiah Ang

Marvella Mercantile has opened a European-imported antiques and home goods shop at 467 County Road K in Yutan, about 15 minutes west of Omaha. The appointment-only storefront operates out of a century-old barn and features furniture and décor sourced directly from Europe, shipped in 40-foot containers. The business offers local delivery and nationwide shipping, with its next container expected in spring 2026. – Nicole Buntgen

ACX Cinema 12+ has transformed its former lounge area into Backlot Sports+ Bar, a full-service sports bar with a 16-foot LG Miraclass 4K LEDscreen and 16 additional televisions. Backlot Sports+ Bar features food from the neighboring Backlot Pizza + Kitchen, offering guests full menu service and bar specials. The space is also designed to host private events from birthday parties to corporate gatherings. The theater, restaurant and sports bar are all located at 6200 South 205th Street.

Grow Omaha Media experienced a 138 percent increase audience size in 2025. The Grow Omaha website attracted 991,693 users and 2.94 million page-views. The Grow Omaha Weekly Market Report ended 2025 with 24,798 subscribers. The biggest stories covered in 2025 included the streetcar, Eppley Airfield expansion, Mutual of Omaha tower, UNMC growth, CHI Health Center addition, Dillard’s move to the Westroads, Bellevue Bay Water Park and Crossroads redevelopment.

The former Burger King at 11325 West Dodge Road will become Taqueria El Rey’s second restaurant. The owners of Taqueria El Ray purchased the 3,800 sq. ft. building earlier this year and will remodel it. Taqueria El Ray’s current location is in the historic South Omaha Main Street Business District at 5201 South 24th Street. The business also operates several food trucks. – Isaiah Ang

Krush Ultra Lounge, formerly Throwback Arcade Lounge, is listed for sale at 1402 Howard Street in the Old Market. The bar surrendered its liquor license on April 14 following a settlement with the City of Omaha, ending an appeal after multiple police incidents, including fights and a shooting in September 2024. – Nicole Buntgen

Supermercado Nuestra Familia will hold a ribbon cutting this Saturday – January 3rd – for its latest grocery at 2323 L Street. Owned by SpartanNash, Supermercado has four existing stores in Omaha and one in Topeka, Kan. The store specializes in Hispanic food and produce. The 13,857 sq. ft. building was previously a Walgreen’s store and is much smaller than other Supermercado Nuestra Familia locations. – Jeff Beals

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill plans to build a quick-serve restaurant at 1130 North 203rd Street. That’s southeast of 204th & Veterans Drive just north of Metropolitan Community College’s Elkhorn campus. Opening is anticipated is this summer, according to Dean Hodges, Omaha-area franchisee. Kansas City-based Hawaiian Bros has locations in 14 states. Existing Nebraska shops are at in Miracle Hills and at Interstate 80 & Highway 370.

Early construction is underway on a 15,000 sq. ft. retail building at 19010 Q Street. The 1.475-acre site is just west of an existing Maverik convenience store, According to a City of Omaha building permit, one of the businesses will be Bubbles Laundry.

Three national quick-serve chains plan to open in a retail building at 15601 Whiting Circle. That’s the southwest corner of 156th & State Street. Wetzel’s Pretzel’s will take suite 115. The soft-pretzel chain has more than 400 stores globally with the closest existing ones in Minnesota. Planet Smoothie is opening in suite 125. The Arizona-based chain has more than 100 stores with an existing one in Lincoln. Coldstone, which has six existing Omaha locations, will open in suite 120. The retail center is already home to Papa Johns and Jimmy John’s restaurants.

OrthoNebraska will hold a ribbon cutting Tuesday, January 6, for its recently completed expansion project at 3415 South 205th Street. The 28,000 sq. ft. addition includes four operating rooms and four treatment rooms, allowing more outpatient procedures like carpal tunnel surgeries and common injections to be done quickly. The treatment rooms are equipped similarly to the operating rooms. Most patients can now get in and out in about an hour.

Brow & Lash opened last week at 3510 North 167th Circle, Suite 401. That’s just southeast of 168th & West Maple Road. Locally owned by Sravanthi Tatikonda, Brow & Lash offers professional eyebrow, wax, facial and lash services. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays. The business closes at 5 p.m. on weekends.