Grow Omaha
News Briefs
Funny Bone Comedy Club Opens Next Week in Miracle Hills
We have an opening date for The Funny Bone Comedy Club’s relocated Omaha venue: June 6th. The long-standing comedy club moved from Village Pointe to 710 North 114th Street in Miracle Hills.
Revival House Cocktail Bar Coming to Blackstone
Revival House, a cocktail bar owned by Omaha-based Flagship Restaurant Group, is set to open in mid-to-late-June at 3737 Farnam Street in the Blackstone District. Described as “a world of its own—a fever dream brought to life, with better booze,” the concept has an existing location in Des Moines, Iowa. Flagship also owns Memoir, Ghost Donkey, Châm Pang Lanes, Clio, Blue Sushi, Roja and other concepts. – Nicole Buntgen
Ariat Plans to Open Nebraska Crossing Store in July
Ariat plans to open a store at Nebraska Crossing this July in an 8,800 sq. ft. space between YETI and Athleta. Opening is planned for mid-July. Based in San Leandro, Calif., Ariat is an apparel, footwear and accessories retailer that focuses on equestrian, outdoor and work styles. The company’s name is inspired by Secretariat, the legendary racehorse and 1973 Triple Crown winner with a heart almost three times the size of an average thoroughbred.
Local Burger Detour Locations Listed for Sale
Burger Detour, a locally owned burger restaurant, has listed its buildings for sale or lease at 18308 Evans Street (near 180th & West Maple Road) and 1220 South 203rd Street (just south of Pacific Street), according to real estate listing announcements by ACCESS Commercial. A future location at 120th & L Street is also listed for sale. It appears as if Burger Detour remains open.
Kona Grill Permanently Closes at Village Pointe
Kona Grill is the latest restaurant to close at Village Pointe. Yesterday was the last day for the long-time restaurant at 295 North 170th Street. Other Village Pointe restaurants that closed recently include Paradise Bakery & Café, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, Local Beer Patio & Kitchen and Bravo! Several new restaurants have opened or announced openings in the shopping center including Meddys, Early Bird, North Italia and Kpot.
Hideaway Lounge Under New Ownership
The Hideaway Lounge at 3030 South 203rd Street is under new ownership and will hold a grand re-opening party Friday, June 6 at 6 p.m. Eric Peel and Alyssa Boyd recently purchased the business from Brian Shoup. The bar’s name will remain the same. Located southeast of 204th & West Center Road, Hideaway Lounge serves high-end cocktails and originally opened in February 2023.
Catalyst Ribbon Cutting Takes Place This Afternoon
State, local and university leaders will celebrate a ribbon cutting today at 3 p.m. to officially open Catalyst, the first building in the EDGE District, located west of the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus. The 170,000 sq. ft. building emerged from the renovation of the 1906 Omaha Steel Castings building. Developed by Koelbel & Co. and GreenSlate Development, “Catalyst will facilitate the growth of research and innovation and allow entrepreneurs, investors and businesses to collaborate in industrial tract.”
The Brunch Box Opening Oakview Location Next Week
The Brunch Box, a breakfast-and-lunch restaurant in downtown’s Capitol District, will open its second location in the Oak View Mall Food Court early next week. The new restaurant will have a limited menu available Sunday, June 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. The full menu will be available starting Monday, June 2nd. The summer hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The Pie Fairy Finds New Home in Barnato’s Kitchen
The Pie Fairy, a local bakery specializing in pies and sweets, is now operating out of Barnato’s kitchen at 225 North 170th Street in Village Pointe. Orders are available for pickup or delivery with advance notice via social media. The bakery previously operated out of Green Line Cafe and other shared kitchens. – Nicole Buntgen
Childcare Center Opens at 142nd & Q Street
Little Explorers Childhood Enrichment Center has opened at 14245 Q Street. Locally owned by Tabitha and Justin Bauer, the licensed childcare center serves children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. An official ribbon cutting event is planned for June 3rd at 12 noon.
Dave’s Hot Chicken Opening West Omaha Location This Week
Dave’s Hot Chicken will officially open a second Omaha location, Friday, May 30, at 2615 South 180th Street. The 4,088 sq. ft. building was most recently home to Voo Doo Taco and Jones Bros. Cupcakes before that. Dave’s Hot Chicken’s only existing Nebraska location is at 335 North Saddle Creek Road. The Los Angeles-based chain of Nashville-style chicken restaurants has 258 locations in 36 states and five countries.
Sushi Restaurant Taking Over Former Greenbelly Space
TOMO Sushi & Ramen has opened at 210 North 114th Street in the former Greenbelly space. The restaurant serves traditional Japanese dishes, sushi, sashimi and ramen. First online orders of $20 or more come with a free appetizer. – Nicole Buntgen
Smokin Barrel BBQ Signs Lease for New Location
Smokin Barrel BBQ has signed a lease at 2457 South 132nd Street, just east of Fazoli’s near 132nd & West Center. The local BBQ spot is relocating from 13508 Discovery Drive and said it will share more details soon. – Nicole Buntgen
Former South O Church Becomes Child Care Center
Patty’s Childcare Center is opening in the former St. Rose Catholic Church building at 4110 South 13th Street on a 2-acre site just a few blocks south of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The 12,000 sq. ft. building went through a $4 million renovation that included adding an additional interior floor and elevator.
Lauritzen Gardens Opening $13 Million Play Garden
Lauritzen Gardens will celebrate the grand opening of Sophia’s Play Garden on May 26. The new play area is located just outside of the Visitor and Education Center. The botanical garden broke ground on the project in 2022. The $13 million, donor-funded project offers a variety of interactive, horticulture-related activities and play areas. The attraction is named in honor of the daughter of donors Polina and Bob Schlott. – Isaiah Ang
Unity Seafood Coming to Former Outback Space
Signage is up for Unity Seafood at 7605 Cass Street in the former Outback Steakhouse location near 76th & Cass. The upcoming Cajun grill and bar will feature an outdoor area. Liquor license filings list previous ownership ties to Grand China Buffet and Hot Pot 88. – Nicole Buntgen
Arts Organization Holds Ribbon Cutting on North 24th Street
North Omaha Music and Arts held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to showcase new renovations and additions to their music program at 2510 North 24th Street. The leading-edge space is meant to accommodate the needs of quality music and arts education for the youth of the community. NOMA’s growth and building renovation are an integral part of an overall plan to reinvigorate the North 24th Street corridor. – Joe Champion
Combination Coffee Shop & Art Gallery Coming to Downtown Elkhorn
Cedar Creek Coffee & Art has started building out its future space at 20603 Elkhorn Drive in Olde Town Elkhorn. Opening is scheduled for September. The space is in a newly constructed, 3-story building. The specialty coffee shop will be a multi-roaster concept, carrying coffees from roasters all over the country. The space will have a stage for live jazz, an art gallery and a resident ceramicist studio program with the ceramics studio viewable from the coffee shop space.
Taqueria Opens in a Retail Strip at 84th & Q
Taqueria 84 Tacos Burritos Y Mas opened last week at 8406 Q Street in a former cake bakery space. From the same owner as Bomb Taco, Taqueria 84 serves eight varieties of tacos and nine burritos as well as a wide selection of quesadillas and beverages.
Nebraska Becomes Sixth State to Ban Lab-Grown Meat
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen today signed a lab-grown meat ban into law, making Nebraska the sixth state to do so, according to the Center for the Environment and Welfare, one of the leading critics of lab-grown meat. Nebraska joins Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Montana and Indiana as the states that have enacted bans on lab-grown meat.
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Mobile Golf Simulator Brings Famous Courses to Local Events
Midwest Mobile Golf has opened for business, serving the Omaha metro area. Founded by Garrett Hamilton and Chase VanWinkle, the Gretna-based company provides a golf simulator on a custom-built, truck trailer. The simulator debuted two weeks ago at the SIP Festival in Ashland. Guests can play simulated famous courses such as Pebble Beach. Because it’s mobile, the simulator is available for corporate events, fundraisers and parties.
Nebraska is the #1 State for Women in Retirement
Nebraska is the number-one state in the nation for newly retired women, according to Travel + Leisure. A study by Manhattan Mental Health Counseling ranked all 50 states on many factors including cost of living, health care, life expectancy, crime, climate and more. In addition to #1 Nebraska, several regional states made the top 10: South Dakota (#2); Iowa (#3); Kansas (#4); Wisconsin (#7); North Dakota (#8); and Wyoming (#9).
Prestigious Architecture Award Recognizes Joslyn as One of World’s Best
Prix Versailles, an architecture design award, has recognized Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha as one of the seven most beautiful new museum openings. The other winners were Grand Palais in Paris; Saka Museum in Bali, Indonesia; Audeum, in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Kuntstsllo in Kristiansand, Norway; Diriyah Art Futures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, Ohio. Joslyn recently opened its $100+ million, 42,000 sq. ft. Rhonda & Howard Hawks Pavilion designed by renowned architecture firm Snøhetta.
Godega Market Signage Installed in Aksarben Village
Exterior signage is now in place for Godega Market, a coffee shop and convenience market, which is planning a second location in Aksarben Village. Godega is remodeling a space at 1917 South 67th Street on the ground floor of the HDR global headquarters building. The previous tenant was Zoup, which closed last year. Godega Market’s original location is at 423 South 11th Street in the Old Market.
New Barn to Replace Demolished One at Heartwood Preserve
Developers of Heartwood Preserve are planning to raise a new barn. According to a building permit, a 3,358 sq. ft. barn structure will be built in the park that is adjacent to South 144th Street and will serve as an event venue. The new barn honors the area’s heritage as Heartwood Preserve was previously the Boy’s Town west farm. – Isaiah Ang
Eyewear Store Opening in Millwork Commons Next Week
Kinkead Optical Co., an independent eyewear and sunglasses store, is opening next week at 1001 North 13th Street in Millwork Commons. The store occupies a ground-floor space on the southwest corner of the 5-story Dizzy Mule building. The recently completed Dizzy Mule complex includes both new construction and historic renovations. The upper floors have a total of 172 apartments.
Jersey Mike’s Coming to Former Tide Dry Cleaners Space
Signage is up for Jersey Mike’s Subs at 12327 West Center Road in the former Tide Dry Cleaners location. Perkins-Critser Construction is renovating the space, with interior build-out nearing completion. Tide Dry Cleaners has moved next door. Jersey Mike’s has six existing Omaha-are locations. – Nicole Buntgen
First Occupants Announced for Papillion’s Tower District
We now know the first businesses planning to open in the Tower District, a 120-acre, mixed-use project on the northwest corner of 84th & Highway 370 in Papillion. Developed by Calabretto Building Group, the Tower District will be home to Starbucks Coffee, 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.
Iowa Coffee Chain Entering the Omaha Market
Hyper Energy Bar, a small coffee and infused energy drink chain from Urbandale, Iowa, is planning to build a new location in Omaha. The company has a building permit for a location on the southwest corner of 180th & West Maple Road. The 900 sq. ft. building will have a drive-through similar to Scooters and Starbucks. The company currently has seven locations – six in the Des Moines, Iowa, metro area and one in Iowa City. – Isaiah Ang
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Opening Soon in Sorensen Park Plaza
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is opening its first Nebraska location soon at 6516 North 73rd Plaza in Sorensen Park Plaza. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based company has 574 stores and calls itself “America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory. The closest existing locations are in Kansas City.
Baker’s Candies Opening Mega Store in Greenwood
Baker’s Candies will celebrate the grand opening of its factory outlet store May 23rd through 25th in Greenwood. The 14,000 sq. ft. store will offer 500 varieties of candy and snacks plus 18 flavors of Kool-Aid on tap. The Kool-Aid will be free of charge as a way to celebrate the Nebraska-born beverage. The store will also feature a 14-foot tall “talking cocoa tree” and retro candy from the past 100 years.
Omaha Supernovas Finish #1 in Pro Volleyball Attendance
The Pro Volleyball Federation released 2025 attendance numbers, and the Omaha Supernovas finished #1 for the second straight year. Over 14 home matches in 2025, the club welcomed 152,949 fans, a 32 percent increase from last season. Its 10,925 spectators per match eclipsed last season’s figure of 9,656 for a year-over-year increase of 13 percent. Omaha now has hosted 19 of the top 20 highest-attended pro volleyball matches in history. Average Supernova attendance surpasses league averages for the WNBA (9,807), PWHL (7,260) and WSL (6,713). – Cole Young
Habitat Omaha & Cobalt Credit Union Partner on Affordable Housing in Papillion
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha will break ground May 19th on its first new-build development – 30 single-family houses – in Papillion. Cobalt Credit Union has invested $7 million to help make these houses possible. Habitat Omaha is partnering with a for-profit developer, Hoppe Development, on Tallgrass, a 600-unit, mixed-income, 35-acre neighborhood inside the 440-acre Oak Leaf subdivision near 72nd & Capehart Road.
Papi’s Mexican Grill Opens Second Location in Gretna
Papi’s Mexican Grill has opened a second location at Nebraska Crossing in Gretna in the former PepperJax space. Papi’s menu includes tacos, burritos, bowls and more crafted fresh daily. The original location is in the Inner Rail Food Hall at Aksarben Village.
Census Bureau Releases Population Estimate for City of Omaha
The City of Omaha grew by 2,485 people from 2023 to 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates just released. That’s a growth rate of barely over half a percent. The population inside the city limits was 489,265 in 2024 compared to 486,780 last year. Omaha is now the 41st largest city in America just behind Kansas City (#38), Raleigh (#39) and Colorado Springs (#40). Omaha is just ahead of Miami (#42), Virginia Beach (#43) and Long Beach (#44). The Census Bureau released 2024 metro population estimates back in March, and Omaha was 1,001,010.
Stories Coffee Opening West Maple Location Monday
Stories Coffee will open its new location at 15526 Spaulding Plaza Monday morning. Located just northeast of 156th & Maple in a recently constructed building, Stories will occupy a 2,500 sq. ft. bay. Stories will share the building with Williamsburg Pizza, but interior build-out is still under way in future pizza space. Stories’ business hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. The locally owned coffee chain has four existing stores.
Rural Mainstreet Economy Remains Weak
For the 20th time in the past 21 months, Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index sank below the 50.0 growth neutral reading in May, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. The region’s overall reading for May increased to 44.0 from April’s 40.0.
Popeyes To Open Near 168th & Maple
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen will open at 3430 North 167th Street near 168th & West Maple Road. The project, contracted by Perkins-Critser Construction, has been slightly delayed due to revisions requested by Popeyes' corporate office. Omaha-based Eat Out Now will be the owner. Opening is tentatively set for mid-summer. – Nicole Buntgen
Fusion Restaurant Opening in Former Curry in a Hurry Building
Flaming Bowls Teriyaki and Taco will soon open at 8303 Maple Street in the former Curry in a Hurry space. The Japanese-Mexican fusion concept will offer gyoza, flavored teas and smoothies, teriyaki bowls and queso birria tacos. A grand opening date has yet to be announced. – Nicole Buntgen
French-Inspired Steakhouse to Open in Former Mahogany Space
PIVOT Prime, a French-inspired steakhouse from Lucky Eleven Hospitality Group, will open May 23 at 13665 California Street. The menu features prime cuts, seafood and seasonal dishes like the Red Wine Aged Manhattan Steak. The space includes three private dining rooms, including The Vault Room, where chef-selected cuts are showcased. – Nicole Buntgen
