Grow Omaha
News Briefs
Maplewood Lanes to Open Game Arcade This Friday
Maplewood Lanes plans to open its “Level Up Arcade” Friday, December 12 inside its bowling facility at 3030 North 101st Street. The arcade features video games, interactive redemption attractions, crane machines and prize games designed for guests of all ages. The arcade will be open daily during the bowling alley’s regular hours.
Hyper Energy Bar to Open First Omaha Location
Hyper Energy Bar will open its first Omaha location this Friday – December 12th – southwest of 180th & West Maple Road. The grand-opening celebration will take place from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Hyper Energy is a drive-thru beverage chain from Des Moines, Iowa. Other locations are planned at 180th & Burke Street and 204th & Harrison Street.
TakeRoot Farm Stop Opens in Downtown Dundee
TakeRoot Farm Stop opened this past weekend at 5018 Underwood Avenue next to Jaipur Indian Restaurant in Dundee. The business is a year-round, indoor farmers market. Take Root is a “community food market selling 100% local products, all on a consignment model that ensures our farmers, producers, and makers keep 70% of every sale.” The farm stop is open seven days a week and stocks products from 34 local producers.
Grocery Store Plans to Open in Benson
Benson Grocery plans to open soon in a retail strip at 5420 Northwest Radial Highway in the Benson neighborhood. The business is currently working on its liquor license and getting the interior ready. No opening date has been announced. The space was previously occupied by Hosiery Plus.
Former Fresh Thyme Store to Become Rush Market
The Rush Market apparently plans to open in a former Fresh Thyme grocery space at 14949 Evans Plaza along the West Maple Road corridor, according to a building permit. Rush Market had been operating in the former Sears and Younkers stores at Oakview Mall. Fresh Thyme closed the store in late 2020. People were working inside 30,000 sq. ft. space today, but no signage has been installed, No opening date has been announced. Rush Market is a furniture and home goods retailer known for selling overstocked, open-box and returned items at deep discounts.
Freedom Travel Plans Ribbon Cutting for New Location
Freedom Travel, a family-owned travel agency, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 14 to celebrate its new location at 1501 Mike Fahey Street. The 12-year-old business serves both leisure and corporate travelers. – Nicole Buntgen
Evergreen Veterinary Clinic to hold Ribbon Cutting in Papillion
Evergreen Veterinary Clinic will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 28 to celebrate the opening of its new location at 2063 Creekside Drive in Papillion. The open-concept clinic allows clients to stay with their pets throughout appointments, including procedures and surgeries. – Nicole Buntgen
NU Regents Approve $67.5 Million Athletics Facilities at UNO
The NU Board of Regents yesterday approved the next phase of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s athletics campus masterplan located south of Center Street. It includes the a training facility that will be attached to Baxter Arena and a baseball/softball clubhouse. The $67.5 million project is privately funded. Construction will begin next year with occupancy planned for 2028.
Frontier Airlines Announced Nonstop Flights to Phoenix
Frontier Airlines will offer nonstop flights between Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and Phoenix Skyharbor International Airport starting March 25th. The seasonal nonstops will operate three times per week. Frontier will be the third airline to offer direct flights between Omaha and Phoenix. American and Southwest airlines offer daily, year-round service. Allegiant Airlines offers nonstops between Omaha and the nearby Mesa Gateway Airport. Frontier already offers direct flights between Omaha and Atlanta, Denver and Orlando.
Copal Reopens as Benjamin’s Neighborhood Kitchen
Copal Mexican Cuisine is reopening under new ownership as Benjamin’s Neighborhood Kitchen. The former restaurant at 3623 North 129th Street closed on November 30 before transitioning to an American-style dining concept. – Nicole Buntgen
National Veterinary Hospital Chain Comes to Omaha
VEG ER for Pets will open its first Nebraska location early next year in a former Old Chicago restaurant space at 13110 Birch Drive in northwest Omaha. Interior build-out is underway. The business will be a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital in which clients stay with their pets during procedures. Based in White Plains, N.Y., VEG ER has more than 100 locations in 33 states. The closest existing locations are in Kansas City and Minneapolis.
Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement Announces Opening Date
Omaha Performing Arts announced the opening date for the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be March 19th, with a free open house on March 22nd from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The center is the final part of the Dick and Mary Holland Campus bounded by 11th, 12th, Douglas and Dodge streets. The project has been in development since 2023, as more space was needed to serve the community. The Tenaska Center will host arts classes, workshops and camps for all ages and experience levels. – Grace Huffstetler
NEI Global Relocation Receives National Recognition
NEI Global Relocation was named #1 for overall satisfaction in the 2024 and 2025 Trippel Relocation Managers’ Survey. The Omaha-based company had more #1 rankings than any other relocation company across categories like performance, quality, integrity and willingness to recommend. Trippel surveys are based on feedback from corporate HR and mobility leaders as well as relocating employees. Part of the NP Dodge family of companies, NEI has been in business nearly 40 years supporting clients in more than 150 countries.
Vietnamese Restaurant Opens in Blackstone District
Golden Turtle has soft-opened at 3910 Harney Street in the Blackstone District. The Vietnamese restaurant occupies the former Blackstone Meatball space. An official grand opening will take place on December 15th. The restaurant offers sandwiches, soups, a full bar and an outdoor balcony overlooking the Blackstone District. Golden Turtle has the same ownership as IPHO#1 The Noodle House at 25th & Capehart Road in Bellevue.
Don & Millie’s Closing Midtown Location Near UNMC
Don & Millie’s will close its Midtown location December 27th. The fast-food restaurant has operated at 4430 Farnam Street for many years. The University of Nebraska Medical Center plans to use the Don & Millie’s site for a parking garage that will serve a planned $2.2 billion hospital just to the south. An announcement posted on Don & Millie’s door reads, “We will return in the near future,” indicating the restaurant plans to reopen elsewhere in Midtown. Don & Millie’s has six Omaha-area locations.
Pink Poodle Restaurant Closes After 70 Years in Business
The Pink Poodle in Crescent, Iowa, has closed permanently after 70 years in business, according to the Council Bluffs Nonpareil. Located at 633 Old Lincoln Highway, the steakhouse was known throughout the Omaha metro area for its prime rib. The restaurant’s owner, John McNeil II, died back in June.
Infill Development Planned for 120th & Military
Tadros Development is planning an infill development northwest of 120th & Military Avenue. The 8.5-acre site will be subdivided into four lots. Three lots along Military Avenue will accommodate an 18,000 sq. ft. commercial building, a gas station/c-store, and a 26,000 sq. ft. mixed-use building. A lot tucked away from Military Avenue along 122nd Street will be developed for residential use. The developer plans to build four 4-plexes and one duplex building. – Isaiah Ang
Maryland-Based REIT Buys Village Pointe Shopping Center
Village Pointe Shopping Center is under new ownership. Federal Realty Investment Group has purchased the 453,000 sq. ft. retail center for $153.3 million from RED Development, according to a news release. This sale includes the main shopping strip, including the theater, and big box retail buildings to the east. Village Pointe is 96 percent leased. Scheels owns their own building. Maryland-based Federal Realty is a leader in property management and redevelopment of retail-based real estate assets. – Isaiah Ang
Wisconsin Bank Buys Omaha-Based American National
Associated Bank of Green Bay, Wis., will acquire Omaha-based American National Bank in an all-stock deal valued at $604 million. American National shareholders will receive 36.25 shares of Associated Bank stock for every one share of American National they own. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. American National currently has $5.3 billion in assets and 33 branches in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. After the merger, Associated Bank will have $50 billion in assets and 217 branches in five states.
Talus Nears Completion of West Maple Restaurant
Talus Spirits & Sustenance’s West Maple Road location is targeting an opening day after Christmas as interior work wraps up at 17205 Evans Street in Whispering Ridge. Owner Aron Mackevicius said in a Facebook Live that the restaurant is finishing its 25-to-30-seat bar, booths and seating. The Maple location will offer a slightly different menu than the Papillion restaurant while keeping several classics. – Nicole Buntgen
Sponsored by ACCESSbank:
Founded in Omaha, ACCESSbank serves individuals, families, and businesses who value trusted relationships alongside strong financial results. Our approach is built on local decision making, responsive service, and direct access to experienced professionals who take the time to understand each client’s goals.
From personal and mortgage banking to business banking, we provide clear guidance and the ability to move quickly when it matters most. Whether someone is buying a home, managing personal finances, or growing a business, our team focuses on making banking efficient, straightforward, and personal.
Rooted in Omaha, ACCESSbank is committed to supporting the communities we serve through active involvement, volunteer efforts, and long standing local partnerships. This focus on people and place is central to how we operate and why clients continue to view ACCESSbank as a trusted financial partner.
Subscribe
To our newsletter
Creighton University Index Shows Negative Growth
For the third time in the past five months, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved slightly below growth neutral. The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, sank to 49.5 from 50.5 in October.
Revival House Opens Second Omaha Location Early
Revival House has opened its second Omaha bar ahead of schedule at 16939 Wright Street in the former Parliament Pub space at the Shoppes at Legacy. The Flagship Restaurant Group concept, which debuted in Blackstone earlier this year, is now open daily with all-day happy hour on Sundays. – Nicole Buntgen
Property Owners Have Until Midnight to Clear Snow
The City of Omaha Public Works Department declared the end of snow operations on major roads at 12 a.m. this morning. That means property owners have until 12 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, to clear sidewalks under a city ordinance that requires this 24-hour window. Cleared snow must be placed on private property, not on roadways. Reports of uncleared sidewalks can be submitted to the Mayor's Hotline at 402-444-5555, via email at hotline@cityofomaha.org or at omahahotline.com.
Federal Public Defenders Office Relocates to Redfield Building
The Federal Public Defender’s office will relocate to the Redfield Building at 1901 Howard Street from the office towers formerly known as Central Park Plaza. NuStyle Development is transforming the iconic twin towers into an apartment complex. In addition to the renovation of the existing towers, an 11-story building with apartments built on top of several stories of parking will be located on the former Parkfair Mall site. The Federal Public Defender’s office will be joining Modus Coworking and Luli Creative House, among others, in the Redfield Building. - Isaiah Ang
Harney Street Bridge over I-480 Reopens to Traffic
The Harney Street bridge over Interstate 480 reopened earlier this week after being closed for nearly a year. The bridge was demolished and rebuilt to accommodate the future streetcar line. The Farnam Street bridge, one block north, is scheduled to be demolished and rebuilt in 2026.
Nodest Plants Moving to Blackstone District
Nodest Home Plants is moving to the Blackstone District. According to a Go Fund Me page, the owner reported significant reduction in sales at its original location at 25th & Harney Street because of streetcar construction. The new location will be on the ground floor of the 37 West building, a mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial space, a few floors of city-owned parking and a private apartment complex taking up the upper floors. - Isaiah Ang
Pennsylvania Company Opening Office in Downtown Omaha
The Capitol District will have a new office user at 1100 Capitol Avenue. Wabtec Corporation, a Pennsylvania-based rail-and-freight equipment and technology company, will lease 8,500 sq. ft. on the second floor, according to a building permit filed for tenant build-out. - Isaiah Ang
Millwork Commons Parking Garage Will Have Retail Space
The City of Omaha has demolished a couple vacant buildings in Millwork Commons for a 600-stall parking garage northwest of 11th & Nicholas Street. This week, the city filed a building permit for the garage, revealing additional details. The parking garage will be a 5-story structure, totaling more than 240,000 sq. ft., with ground-floor commercial space. Millwork Commons is a mixed-use district just north of Charles Schwab Field. There is a significant amount of other construction activity in the area, including an apartment building by White Lotus called the Nova and an apartment building named The Frame. - Isaiah Ang
Holiday Lights Festival Takes Place Tomorrow
The City of Omaha’s Holiday Lights Festival Lighting Ceremony is taking place at 6 p.m. on November 29 at Gene Leahy Mall. The event is paired with the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign, with this year’s focus being on food insecurity and proceeds benefitting the Food Bank for the Heartland. - Mark Champion
Louisiana Sports Bar to Begin Building Omaha Location
Rally Cap Brewing Co., a Baton Rouge, La.-based sports bar, announced earlier this year that they would open a satellite location in Omaha in the under-construction Nova mixed-use building in Millwork Commons. According to a recently filed building permit application, the bar will take 2,840 sq. ft. of commercial space on the ground floor. The interior build-out will cost nearly $200,000. The owners previously announced a possible opening as early as the first quarter of 2026. - Isaian Ang
Kittie Krystals and More Opens at Westroads Mall
Kittie Krystals and More has opened on the lower level of Westroads Mall next to The Cookie Company and near JCPenney and DSW. The shop sells hair and fashion accessories along with men’s jewelry. - Nicole Buntgen
UNO Food Pantry Sees 55% Increase in Traffic
The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Maverick Food Pantry, which provides food and other basic items for students and staff from UNO, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the College of St. Mary, has seen a 55 percent increase in student visits from the first week of November 2024 to the first week of November 2025, according to pantry officials. - Mark Champion
Shoeman’s Liquor & More Opens in Blackstone District
Shoeman's Liquor & More opened for business yesterday inside the recently completed 37 West Farnam Building in the Blackstone District. The exact address is 3737 Farnam Street, Suite 112. The wine, beer and spirits store is locally owned by Chad Shoeman, who also has the Red Lion Lounge a block to the west.
Shaheen’s Afghan Cuisine to Close Benson Location December 7
Shaheen’s Afghan Cuisine will close its Benson location at 6121 Maple Street on December 7. The family-owned restaurant, known for its made-from-scratch Afghan cuisine, has operated in Benson for one and a half years. Its first location at 1115 South 119th Street was open for four years. The restaurant’s buffet will be available daily until the final day of service. - Nicole Buntgen
Toys R Us Plans Soft Opening This Week
Toys R Us is holding a soft opening tomorrow – Wednesday, November 26 – in Westroads Mall. The soft opening will be limited to only one of the store’s two levels. The full store will open this Friday, but there will still be some inventory set-up not fully completed. A formal, grand opening is planned for next week. Toys R Us is opening in a 2-level, 30,796 sq. ft. space formerly occupied by Forever 21. Toys R Us went out of business in 2017. The Westroads store is one of the brand’s first “come-back” stores.
Native American Cuisine Concept Tradishish to Launch Food Truck
Tradishish, a Native American cuisine concept, plans to launch a food truck in spring 2026. The “tradition with a twist” eatery continues to operate out of its Bushwackers location at 7401 Main Street in Ralston, serving burgers, NDN tacos, fry bread and more since August 2025. - Nicole Buntgen
Very Important Pizza Taking Over Former Voodoo Taco
Very Important Pizza has signed a lease for the former Voodoo Taco space at 2502 Farnam Street downtown. According to Oak Investment Real Estate, the restaurant will sit along the future streetcar route and will feature a fully built-out layout with a large kitchen, full bar, open seating area and outdoor patio. – Nicole Buntgen
Foodbank for the Heartland Strives for 6 Million Holiday Meals
Food Bank for the Heartland is hosting its 19th annual Shine the Light on Hunger Campaign. Thanks to sponsors Conagra Brands Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, Baker’s and WoodmenLife, every gift made by December 31, will be matched up to $200,000. The Food Bank’s goal is to raise enough for 6 million meals this holiday season. - Mark Champion
Bora Bora Juice to Open Second Omaha Location
Bora Bora Juice is opening a second Omaha location. According to a building permit, the store will be at 4002 North 203rd Street, on the northeast corner of 204th & West Maple Road. Bora Bora Juice is a Kuwait-based chain that serves juices, smoothies, coffee, waffles and crepes. Omaha’s current location is at 13110 Birch Drive southeast of 132nd & West Maple Road. - Isaiah Ang
Owners of Billy Frogg’s Plan to Open Event Space
An event hall will open at 1412 Howard Street downtown just west of the Old Market. The applicant is the owner of Billy Frogg’s, a long-standing Old Market bar. The event center will be called Clover Leaf House. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. for hosting events. - Isaiah Ang
