Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Cracker Barrel revealed a new text-only logo on August 21 removing the man-and-barrel image and the “Old Country Store” subtitle. Part of its “All the More” branding campaign, the update echoes the chain’s original 1969 logo before the barrel and man were added in 1977. Cracker Barrel has Omaha-area locations in Council Bluffs and Papillion. – Nicole Buntgen

Buffalo Wild Wings at 4287 South 144th Street in Southwestern Plaza is undergoing an extensive renovation. So far, the business has remained open during the project. Completion is scheduled for next month.

YouTurn, a north Omaha nonprofit violence prevention organization, announced plans to move from 34th & Ames Avenue into a larger, 7,300 sq. ft. space near 32nd & Dodge Street. The move will make space for the planned North High School football stadium and upgrades to the Butler Gast YMCA. – Mark Champion

Sierra Homes has plans for an in-fill development at 56th & Frances Street. The City Council approved a planned unit redevelopment for the 13,000 sq. ft. vacant parcel. Plans show that the property will be subdivided into six lots each with 2-story, single-family houses with garages. Each home will be approximately 1,500 sq. ft. and have 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. – Isaiah Ang

Revival House will open a second Omaha location in January 2026 at 16939 Wright Street in the former Parliament Pub space the the Shoppes at Legacy. The cocktail bar, owned by Flagship Restaurant Group, opened its first Omaha spot in June at 3737 Farnam Street in the Blackstone District. - Nicole Buntgen

Tipsy Sisters, a mobile bar concept, is opening a brick-and-mortar spot at 12100 West Center Road in Bel Air Plaza. The new venue will feature a full bar and patio, while the mobile bar continues to operate on weekends at Heartland of America Park and Gene Leahy Mall. - Nicole Buntgen

Creighton University has welcomed 1,250 freshmen, its largest incoming class ever. Thirty-seven percent of them ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school classes, and nearly 50 percent graduated with a 4.0 GPA or higher. The class is geographically diverse with 36 percent coming from more than 400 miles away. Nebraska is the most represented home state with 294 students, while Minnesota is second with 188. Other states sending more than 50 freshmen to Creighton this year include Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Hawaii.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, a private, all-girls high school, is building an athletic complex on its Midtown campus near 36th & Burt Street. The state-of-the-art facility is tailored to serve female athletes and includes a competition gym holding 1,200 fans with an indoor track as well as a turf soccer field with a geothermal system installed below ground. Amenities include a locker room, weight room and commons area with a commercial-grade kitchen. Fundraising has surpassed 81 percent of the school’s $43 million goal.

Wick & Paper Studio has opened in a boutique space inside The Dizzy Mule building at 1252 Izard Plaza. The building is part of Millwork Commons, a burgeoning urban district north of Charles Schwab Field. Wick & Paper Studio is the shared brick-and-mortar home of Telle & Resa Candle Co. and J.Diane Creations. Telle & Resa sells handcrafted soy wax candles. J.Diane Creations provides creative services, including handmade greeting cards, custom art and planning for events.

VIP Lounge has reopened in its new space at 8505 Frederick Street in a space once occupied by Gaeta’s restaurant and For the Wild Birds store. VIP Lounge had operated at 9001 Arbor Street for 61 years.

The Nebraska Community Blood Bank opened its Eagle Run Donor Center July 29th in Omaha near 132nd & Birch Street, accepting whole blood, plasma, double red cells and platelets. Executive Director Cheryl Warholoski described it as a vital resource for rapid response to hospital needs, especially amid a severe summer blood shortage.

The Council Bluffs Planning Board reviewed a plan from Lincoln-based Hoppe Development for a 2.54-acre site next to the First Avenue Trail bounded by 28th and 29th streets and 2nd Avenue. Hoppe plans to build an 89-unit, mixed-income, residential complex. The city had previously approved other proposals from Brinshore Development and White Lotus Group. In late 2024, Hoppe was chosen as the developer from the third Request for Proposal. Hoppe’s plan is named West End Roost and consists of eight buildings ranging from 4-plex buildings to a 3-story, 47-unit building. In addition to traditional residential units, Hoppe plans several live-work units in a building adjacent to the trail. – Isaiah Ang

Starbucks Coffee has opened a store in Papillion’s Tower District, a 120-acre, mixed-use project northwest of 84th & Highway 370 in Papillion. The Tower District will also be home to Panera Bread, Casey’s, Pinnacle Bank, AutoZone and GreenState Credit Union. The development gets its name for its proximity to Papillion’s iconic water tower.

The Omaha Public Power District continues to expand its electrical power generation capacities to keep up with current and future growth. By the end of the decade, OPPD plans to add more than 3000 megawatts in additional generation while diversifying its energy portfolio. Earlier this summer, OPPD announced that the new Turtle Creek Station was officially operational. Located near 168th & Fairview Road in Sarpy County, the station currently has two dual-fuel combustion turbines, with a combined output of 450 megawatts. OPPD is adding a third turbine which is expected to be completed in 2027. – Isaiah Ang

Pa Más Kitchen at 220 South 31st Avenue in Midtown Crossing is holding a grand re-opening August 15-17 after a remodel. The restaurant reopened July 9 with brunch, extended hours and an evening bar. Event specials will include food, drinks and buy-one-get-one 50 percent off entrées. - Nicole Buntgen

Habitat for Humanity is planning a 7-unit townhome development on a .6-acre site near downtown Council Bluffs. The property is located in the north half of the block bounded by 1st and Willow avenues and South 7th and 8th streets. Each 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom townhome will have a private garage with access from a public alley. - Isaiah Ang

Izzy’s Pizza has officially retired its mobile pizza bus, which launched in Las Vegas in 2019 and moved to Omaha in 2022. The Detroit-style pizzeria will now focus solely on its brick-and-mortar location at 522 South 24th Street, open Wednesday through Saturday. - Nicole Buntgen

Southwest Airlines announced that it will add nonstop flight service from Omaha’s Eppley Airfield to New York City LaGuardia and Miami International Airport. The New York service begins March 5, 2026, while the Miami route starts March 7. American and Delta already offer nonstops between Omaha and New York. American currently offers seasonal nonstops to Miami. Southwest is Eppley’s biggest carrier and currently offers nonstops to Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington, D.C.

The Omaha Housing Authority is planning major renovations to Pine Tower Apartments at 1500 Pine Street. Built in 1965, the 13-story apartment building has 144 units. According to a building permit, studio units will be converted to 1-bedroom apartments. Additionally, kitchens, bathrooms, finishes and common areas will be updated. Some mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades are planned. The project will cost $8.6 million. - Isaiah Ang

Fifth House, a local vegan restaurant, plans to open soon in the former Get Real Sandwiches space at 3901 Farnam Street in the Blackstone District. The restaurant’s tagline is “the vegan joint of your dreams.”