Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Girls Inc. broke ground on its highly anticipated South Omaha Center construction project at 2108 L Street, behind South High School. Girls Inc. also announced a campaign to raise the final $2.7 million of the $35 million project. The new facility will continue to be known as the Emma Lozier Center. At 36,000 sq. ft., the updated center will be nearly five times larger than the current building and will accommodate 300 girls.

Hiro 88 has temporarily closed its Old Market location at 1308 Jackson Street for a major renovation. The project started earlier this week and is expected to take two months. Hiro 88 has other locations at 3655 North 129th Street and 17664 Welch Plaza.

The Omaha Planning Board approved a developer's Tax Increment Financing application to develop a surface parking lot east of 40th & Pacific Street, a narrow strip abutting the Field Club Trail. The developer has a 50-year ground lease with the University of Nebraska, which owns the property. The $11.1 million project consists of 31 townhome apartment units, ranging from one-to-three bedrooms with attached garages. Unit rents would range from $2,150 to $3,125 per month. Construction is set to begin this fall with a completion date of February 2027. - Isaiah Ang

The owners of Varsity Sports Café & Roman Coin Pizza announced in a Facebook post that they have sold the business. The new owners were not identified, but the post indicated that business would continue in a similar manner. Varsity has locations at 9735 Q Street and 3504 Samson Way in Bellevue.

We now have an opening date for North Italia’s first Nebraska location: November 19th. The restaurant is under construction in the former Bravo Cucina Italiana space at Village Pointe. North Italia is a national chain under The Cheesecake Factory umbrella of restaurant brands and serves handmade pasta, pizza and other Italian inspired dishes. North Italia has 39 locations in 13 states. The closest existing ones are in Kansas City and Denver.

After 18 years in business, Nebraska Brewing Company plans to go out of business. Owners Paul and Kim Kavulak made the closure announcement today on their company Facebook page. The actual last day has not yet been determined. Nebraska Brewing Company’s brewery and tap room are located at 6950 South 108th Street in La Vista.

RateGain Travel Technologies plans to purchase Sojern, Inc. for $250 million. San Francisco-based Sojern was founded in Omaha in 2007. Sojern offers an AI-driven marketing and engagement platform for travel and hospitality companies. The firm reported $172.2 million in revenue in 2024. The deal is expected to close within 45 to 90 days of signing, subject to government approval. RateGain is based in Noida, India.

Omaha-based Flagship Restaurant Group has been ranked among the nation’s 200 largest multi-concept groups by Nation’s Restaurant News. The list is based on number of operating units. Flagship operates nearly 50 locations of concepts like Blue Sushi, Clio and Ghost Donkey. - Nicole Buntgen

The QMetro mixed-use project near the MCC South Campus was revisited by the Omaha Planning Department this week. Originally, the $25 million project consisted of a 5-story, 72-unit apartment building with 18,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor commercial space. Based on issues with required parking, the project is currently a 4-story, 57-unit apartment building, with 15,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. The most recent rendering shows a drive-thru lane for a potential coffee shop. - Isaiah Ang

Brag N Rights in Gretna, formerly known as Wagon Wheel, has reopened under new ownership as Kathy’s Bar & Grill at 115 North McKenna Avenue. The kitchen has not yet opened, though the business teased smash burgers on its menu. - Nicole Buntgen

Cornhusker Auto Wash & Express Lube started construction this week on a four-bay Express Oil Change facility at 25th & Cornhusker Road in Bellevue. Completion is scheduled for next June. The company was founded in 1986 and has existing locations in Bellevue and Fremont.

Blackstone Farnam Fest is back for another year on October 11. The event will take place at Blackstone Alley, the revamped event space behind Scriptown Brewing, near 39th & Farnam Street. Farnam Fest will include live music, a vendor market, food trucks and an outdoor bar. Gates will open at 11am and music will begin at 12pm. Admission is free.

For the second time in the past three months, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, sank below growth neutral. The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, fell to 49.8 from 50.5 in August.

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