Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Omaha metro area residents are invited to take an online survey to provide their opinions about the Omaha streetcar’s brand and logo design. The survey, which takes about seven minutes to complete, is open through Tuesday, October 7. The survey is available at publicinput.com/v80820. The streetcar brand will be unveiled at the end of the year. Responses will remain anonymous.

Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc., has opened an Omaha distribution center at 13661 Giles Road. The facility includes 67,700 sq. ft. of warehouse along with 4,700 sq. ft. of office and mezzanine space. The South Carolina-based company is a wholesale distributor of roofing, insulation, gypsum, siding and other building products. Cameron Ashley has more than 70 distribution centers nationwide.

Ooh De Lally, a non-profit restaurant with a mission of helping previously incarcerated persons transition to employment, is expanding. The organization will repurpose the vacant Johnson Sash and Door Building at 1412 Military Avenue. Plans call for eight apartment units on the second floor and a bakery/coffee shop on the ground floor. Like the original restaurant in Dundee, Ooh De Lally’s bakery/coffee shop will provide employment for formerly incarcerated people. Renovation will begin this fall and should be completed by late 2026. – Isaiah Ang

Omaha Performing Arts will celebrate the Holland Performing Arts Center’s 20th anniversary this Friday at 8 p.m. The event will feature dance and music performances from local artists. Built on a former Swanson food plant site at 12th & Douglas Street, the 175,000 sq. ft. facility was primarily funded by a $90 million donation from Mary and Richard Holland. In 2022, Omaha Performing Arts announced an expansion of the center with added rehearsal, workshop and classroom space. Named the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement, the $108 million expansion is expected to open spring 2026. – Isaiah Ang

Black Label Burgers & Shakes will open in October at 1631 Washington Street in downtown Blair, taking over the former Red Brick Bar and Grill space. The Fremont-based restaurant first opened in September 2022. - Nicole Buntgen

Omaha Steaks broke ground this week on a $20 million Product Safety Facility that will use cold pasteurization technology to ensure the safety of its ground beef and other protein products. The 40,000 sq. ft. building will be adjacent to the company’s fulfillment center in the Steel Ridge development southeast of Interstate 80 & Highway 370. The center is expected to be operational by June 2027 and will be the first of its kind in America.

The intersection of 8th & Douglas Street downtown is nearing its long-awaited transformation. Last year, the city announced a major project including a building for the Omaha Children’s Museum and a high-rise apartment project by NuStyle development. A city-owned parking garage will soon go vertical based on a recent building permit. The garage will be a 4-story structure with ground floor retail space. – Isaiah Ang

Chateau Vin Wine & Spirit Bar will soon open at 220 South 31st Avenue, Unit 3108, next to Pa Mas in Midtown Crossing. The local spot will feature more than 100 global wines, a wine club, cocktails, spirits, and a food menu. – Nicole Buntgen

Countryside Cones will close its shop at 8721 Countryside Plaza in Countryside Village on October 25 after three years in business. The family-owned shop is known for its soft-serve custard and will honor gift cards through its closing. - Nicole Buntgen

VASA Fitness has opened at 909 Fort Crook Road in the former No Frills grocery store space near Southroads Mall in Bellevue. The Utah-based gym chain also has Nebraska locations at 14445 West Center Road in Omaha plus one in Lincoln. - Nicole Buntgen

Hammer & Nails, an upscale hair and grooming business for men, opened its first Nebraska or Iowa location in August at Greyhawk Pointe near 144th & West Maple Road. All the services are geared toward men, but the shop is open to all customers. Offerings include hair-and-beard services, manicures, pedicures, signature treatments and a full bar, allowing patrons to sip a beverage while receiving grooming services. Hammer & Nails has locations in 19 states. 

The City of Omaha will host a parade downtown this Saturday, September 27, at 10 a.m. to celebrate Terence Crawford’s historic victory over Canelo Alvarez. The parade will begin at 19th & Farnam Street and travel to 10th & Harney Street before culminating with a ceremony at Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront. The parade follows the same route as the victory parade held after Crawford’s historic 2023 win over Errol Spence. In that fight, Crawford became the first male to become undisputed champion in two weight classes during the four-belt era. - Cole Young

Toys R Us will open one of its first come-back stores in the former Forever 21 space at Westroads Mall. The famous toy retailer went out of business in 2017, but a new owner is bringing it back to life. Toys R Us will occupy a 2-level, 30,796 sq. ft. space on the mall’s lower level. Opening is planned no later than Black Friday. Westroads is now 98 percent occupied.

Signage is up for a new restaurant called Crafted Ramen at 7425 Dodge Street in the former Sakura Bana space near 74th & Dodge. The restaurant is sharing soft-opening details through its mailing list and appears to specialize in miso ramen. – Nicole Buntgen

A developer plans to build a multifamily building at 1724 Wilshire Drive near Harlan Drive & Galvin Road in Bellevue. The 1.51-acres lot is located next to Freedom Village of Bellevue, an independent living facility. According to a planning department document, the project consists of a 4-story apartment building with 59 underground parking stalls and 61 surface parking stalls. The estimated number of total apartments will be 80 with a mix of one-to-four-bedroom units. The building will also have a playground area. – Isaiah Ang

Heartwood Preserve, a 500-acre, mixed-use development west of Boys Town, received a top national design award for its greenway system infrastructure that “doubles as art” and an additional award for General Excellence as one of three national finalists in the Urban Design category in Fast Company’s 14th annual Innovation by Design national competition. Heartwood Preserve has roughly 80 acres devoted to green space, eight miles of trails and more than 10,000 trees.

Williamsburg Pizza, a New York-based chain, plans to open its second Omaha location north of 156th & Maple on September 23 following a hood system issue delay. The brand opened its first non-New York location in Omaha in 2023 near 168th & Harrison Street. - Nicole Buntgen

Lopez Taco, a food truck, has opened at 1928 Leavenworth Street. While the set schedule runs Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m., the owners note they may open earlier and “if the window is up, it’s open.”

The Fuel Bar, a shake and tea shop, opened on September 13 at 7799 L Street in Ralston. The menu includes meal-replacement shakes, energy teas, protein coffees and snacks. – Nicole Buntgen

Harrison Financial Services, an Omaha-based financial planning firm and member of the Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group, has moved its headquarters into the Triage building at 13609 California Street, Suite 300. The building will be renamed as the Triage/Northwestern Mutual building. Harrison Financial Services has 25 team members and plans to hold an open house this fall.