Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Nékter Juice Bar will open its first Nebraska location Wednesday, July 16th at 8 a.m. in the former Phoenix Pool and Spa space at 1405 South 204th Street. Shannon and Jeff Salem are the local franchisees. California-based Nékter is an award-winning juice bar concept, offering juices, smoothies, açaí bowls and healthy snacks at more than 200 stores nationwide. The company was founded in 2020. The closest existing location is in Kansas City.

Village Needleworks, which has operated for the past 18 years at 8709 Shamrock Road in Countryside Village, is moving a few doors to the west. The new address at the end of July will be 8721 Shamrock Road. Village Needleworks’ management says it’s “the only dedicated needlepoint shop in Nebraska offering hand-painted canvases, fine threads, custom finishing and expert guidance.”

The Omaha Inland Port Authority has a new director. Garry Clark took over this week after nearly two decades of economic development work in Nebraska, Florida, Oklahoma, Washington, D.C., and state of Washington. He holds degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the former Dana College in Blair. The Omaha Inland Port Authority was created by the city to oversee a State of Nebraska effort aimed at driving economic development in portions of northeast Omaha near Eppley Airfield.

Club Pilates will open its fifth Omaha-area location this fall at 18870 Oakmont Drive, Suite 10. That’s just east of the Gretna Hy-Vee store in a newly built retail strip that is also home to Bisou Nail Spa and Aspen Creek Veterinary Clinic. Club Pilates offers low-impact, full-body Reformer Pilates workouts designed for all fitness levels. Leading up to the grand opening, the club will host community pop-up events throughout Gretna.

Golf Galaxy is opening at 12204 K Plaza in the former Buy Buy Baby space at L Street Marketplace. Golf Galaxy is a retail store with indoor golf practice space. Its current location is in the Oak View Mall area at 3425 Oak View Drive. According to the building permit, the renovation of the 25,000 sq. ft. retail bay will include exterior improvements, new interior walls, HVAC and lighting. – Isaiah Ang

Know Good, a bakery and “brunchette” concept by the owner of Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, has opened at 3528 Center Street in the former Sunnyside on Center space. The menu features house-made bagels, sandwiches, artisan toast bowls, pastries and Archetype Coffee. – Nicole Buntgen

Gimme the Scoop, a locally owned, Italian-ice, food truck, will host a grand opening on July 26 at its new location inside Huskerland Popcorn at 2305 North 90th Street. The event includes face painting, a raffle and a bounce house. The shop offers handcrafted, dairy-free treats free of artificial additives. – Nicole Buntgen

Tracks Lounge’s second location will open for business Wednesday, July 16th at 11 a.m. at 18111 Q Street. The original Tracks Lounge has been in business for 60 years at 1506 South 60th Street just east of Aksarben Village. The restaurant is famous for its fried chicken. The west location features custom millwork, pendant lighting and a racing-themed mural. Exterior updates include a new patio and horse silhouettes.

Two new businesses are coming to the northwest corner of 16th & Cuming Street in North Downtown. Two interior renovation permits are on file for a 2,000 sq. ft. commercial building at 910 North 16th Street, right next to Elie’s Chinchorro. The businesses opening in that building are 910 Wine Lounge and Lit Cigar Bar. – Isaiah Ang

La Plaza Fiesta, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Mexican restaurant, is expanding to Omaha at 12405 West Center Road in Westwood Plaza, taking over the former El Vallarta space. The restaurant is known for its margaritas and scratch-made menu. An opening date has yet to be announced. – Nicole Buntgen

On Deck Housing is preparing to sell five affordable homes in East Omaha. The newly constructed 3-bed, 2-bath ranches are being sold for $200,000 and eligible for owner occupancy only. On Deck Housing plans to build 40 similar homes in the next 12 months. – Mark Champion

VIP Lounge, a longtime local bar at 9001 Arbor Street, will move this August to 8505 Frederick Street in a space once occupied by Gaeta’s restaurant. The relocation, prompted by the need for more space and parking, marks the end of its 61-year run at its current spot.- Nicole Buntgen

N&N Learning Tree Academy is opening at 808 Village Square in Gretna. That’s just southwest of the Highways 6/31 & 370 intersection. The space had been occupied by a daycare for the past 20 years but has undergone renovation. Locally owned and operated by the Nelsen and Nicholson families, N&N Learning Tree Academy offers educational care for children 6 weeks through 12 years.

The State of Nebraska chose Kearney for the fifth and final Good Life district, beating out Papillion. Kearney’s district will be on 200 acres of vacant land surrounding the city’s SportsPlex and will include retail, restaurants and attractions developed by a private developer. Good Life Districts are intended to attract new industries, generate employment and strengthen Nebraska’s retail, entertainment and tourism sectors. Fifty percent of state sales taxes generated in the district are rebated to the city to assist in funding the development for 30-year period. Other approved districts are in Gretna, Bellevue, Omaha and Grand Island.

Omaha ranked 45th on Resonance Consultancy’s annual America’s Best Cities list, higher than neighboring metros Des Moines, Iowa (#52) and Kansas City (#56). The list is limited to metros with 500,000 or more people and is based on factors correlated to attracting 25–44-year-olds, visitor expenditure and business formation. In addition to traditional metrics, Resonance Consultancy takes into account people’s perception of a city by reviewing survey data and social media as well as online reviews of restaurants, museums and events. – Isaiah Ang

Wander + Wonder Kids Play Café will open this fall at 120 North McKenna Avenue in Gretna next door to the recently opened Prim Studios. Owned by Arya Pokhrel of Bennington, Wander + Wonder Kids Play Café will have a full-service barista serving beverages and food items and a “thoughtfully designed play area for independent and imaginative play.”

Lovisa recently opened its first Omaha-area store at Westroads Mall on May 16th. The Sydney, Australia-based retailer was founded in 2010 and now has hundreds of locations in approximately 40 countries. Lovisa sells “on-trend fashion jewelry at ready-to-wear prices.” The Westroads store is located on the first level across from Victoria’s Secret and PINK.

The Reading Room will open its doors at 12 noon on Monday, July 7 at 1505 Farnam Street in the former Omaha Lounge space downtown. It will be Omaha’s first reading lounge, combining a comfortable space with access to a full bar, coffee, tea and small food items. – Isaiah Ang

Midwest Maintenance Realty, LLC, plans to turn five vacant lots across from Metropolitan Community College’s South Omaha Campus into an apartment building along Q Street. The planning board approved a TIF application for the $25 million QMetro project. Plans call for a 5-story, mixed-use building with 72 market-rate apartments, ranging from studio to 3-bedroom units. Rents will range from $875 to $1,925 per month. The ground floor will have 18,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Construction is planned to begin next March and conclude by August 2027. – Isaiah Ang

The Omaha Municipal Land Bank, which supports sustainable and thriving communities by transforming neglected properties into community assets, is currently accepting applications for its ambassador program, which is designed to deepen and expand the bench of community members who support, learn from and provide insights to the land bank. Applications are open through Friday, July 18. A minimum of one participant from each of Omaha’s seven city council districts will be selected. – Mark Champion