Grow Omaha
News Briefs

New York Firm Buys Council Bluffs Building

One Liberty Properties, Inc., of Great Neck, N.Y., has agreed to purchase a 236,324 sq. ft. warehouse building in Council Bluffs for $28.3 million, according to GlobeSt, a real estate media company. The building was constructed in 2023 and sits on 23 acres near the I-29/I-80 interchange just three miles from downtown Omaha. Features include concrete tilt walls, 32-foot clear-height ceilings and 27 dock doors.

Storm Debris Collection Update

The volume of debris from the July 31st storm in some neighborhoods far exceeds estimates, reinforcing the projected timeline that it could take three weeks or longer. Many people have pushed debris into the street, causing a driving hazard. Residents are asked to keep the street clear. City employees are working weekend shifts at debris drop-off locations and on curbside collection. – City of Omaha

Mediterranean Restaurant Plans to Open in Village Pointe

Meddys, a Mediterranean eatery and craft bar, plans to open its first Nebraska location inside the former Gunderson’s Jewelry store at Village Pointe shopping center. Kansas-based Meddys has nine existing locations all of them in the Wichita and Kansas City areas. The opening date is yet to be announced. – Grow Omaha staff

Via Farina Opening Second Location This Fall in Regency

Via Farina will open a second location this October in Regency Landing at 10730 Pacific Street in the corner bay next to Twisted Cork. Doubling the size of its current Little Italy location, the modern Italian restaurant will act as a production hub for both venues and will serve lunch, dinner, desserts and breads through an open-kitchen format. The concept will include a “pasta lab” where all pasta is made in-house behind a glass display, plus a cocktail bar and a “charcuterie island” with portions cut to order. – Nicole Buntgen

Popular Pizzeria Reopens Downtown

Frank’s Pizzeria officially reopened its Capitol District location yesterday at 1170 Capitol Avenue under new ownership after closing in January. Frank’s also operates a location at The Alley in Bellevue at 601 Chateau Drive. The restaurant specializes in New York-style pizzas. – Nicole Buntgen

Downtown Tower Crane Rises 80 Feet

The giant tower crane at the Mutual of Omaha headquarters downtown construction site rose 80 feet yesterday as workers added four, 20-foot sections. The higher tower crane will allow the shear core to keep climbing. The concrete core has been poured through level 17. Crews are now working on level 18. – Grow Omaha staff

Sip-and-Paint Business Coming to Benson

Board & Brush, a sip-and-paint woodworking studio, will open its first Nebraska location at 6016 Maple Street in Benson. An official opening date has yet to be announced. The franchise describes itself as a creative studio that combines woodworking with DIY projects and has nearly 300 locations across 43 states. – Nicole Buntgen

Quiznos Returns to Omaha Market

Quiznos, a once-popular sub sandwich restaurant chain, has returned to the Omaha market inside the Gretna Pump & Pantry near Nebraska Crossing. Pump & Pantry, a Nebraska-based convenience store, recently announced an expanded Quiznos partnership with plans for six additional Nebraska locations by 2026, with four currently in operation. Quiznos had nearly 5,000 locations nationwide in the early 2000s. – Nicole Buntgen

UNMC Wins City Approval for Student Housing

The University of Nebraska Medical Center received Omaha Planning Board approval of a rezoning application this week for a property southwest of 38th & Dewey. The property had older student housing and surface parking. The old housing has been demolished, making way for a new student and staff housing project. UNMC plans to build 300 residential units at the site. – Isaiah Ang

ALDI Plans to Build Store at 192nd & Highway 370

ALDI is heading to the Gretna Landing development just northwest of 192nd & Highway 370 at 19311 Oakmont Drive. The supermarket chain’s location will be south of the future Fleet Farm superstore and west of the largest Hy-Vee in the country, which opened in June 2023. ALDI has seven area locations and is currently hiring for a full-time assistant store manager at its new store. – Nicole Buntgen

Bakery Opens La Vista Retail Outlet

Happy Mango Bakery recently opened in La Vista at 9635 Giles Road, near Ref’s Sports Bar at 96th & Giles. The family-owned bakery offers ready-made treats, custom desserts, and classroom space for decorating classes. Supplies and packaging are provided, with classes ranging from creating monster cupcakes to decorating focaccia to learning cake fundamentals. – Nicole Buntgen

Pandora Jewelry Preparing to Open Village Pointe Store

Pandora plans to open a jewelry store soon at Village Pointe Shopping Center. The future store is under development between Lululemon and Kendra Scott. Pandora designs, manufactures, and markets hand-finished and contemporary jewelry made from high-quality materials. – Grow Omaha staff

Cigar Bar Coming to La Vista City Centre

Interior build-out is now underway inside a 4,158 sq. ft. retail bay at 8216 City Centre Drive in La Vista. The tenant will be Oasis Cigar Lounge. The space is adjacent to The Astro Theater and Astro Amphitheater. – Grow Omaha staff

City Offers a Different Kind of Storm Clean-Up

To assist residents with disposal of spoiled perishable food, the City of Omaha’s ‘Under the Sink’ facility will offer a limited opportunity for disposal. The facility is located at 4001 Sout 120th Street. A dumpster at this location will be available through Saturday, August 10 for food disposal. All food must be in clear or white bags, no dark bags will be accepted. The dumpster will be emptied daily.

Downtown Coffee & Cereal Bar Closing August 18th

After two years in operation, CTRL Coffee & Cereal Bar will close its downtown Omaha location on August 18th due to slower traffic during the school year. Owners Nick and Jenny Maestas, who also own Muchachos, announced they will open a new CTRL location in southwest Lincoln. – Nicole Buntgen

Omaha Mayor Comments on Kellogg’s Closing

Mayor Jean Stothert said the announcement that Kellogg’s will close its Omaha plant came as a shock and that the Michigan-based cereal manufacturer notified her at 7:42 this morning with an email to the mayor’s hotline. “After more than 75 years in Omaha, Kellogg’s will leave a big void. Our first concern will be the Kellogg’s employees, and assisting them transition to new employment as Kellogg’s prepares to reduce production next year and close in 2026,” Stothert said.

Kellogg’s Plans to Close Omaha Plant

WOWT reported this morning that Kellogg’s will close its Omaha plant at 9601 F Street by the end of 2026. The Michigan-based cereal maker currently manufactures 27 products at the Omaha plant, which has been in operation for more than 60 years. Approximately 600 people work on site.

New Sushi Restaurant Opens Tomorrow

Ajisai Sushi plans to open tomorrow in the former Best Bison space at 163 North 78th Street. The restaurant will offer “all-you-can-eat sushi.” – Grow Omaha staff

Special Healthcare Program Graduates 58 Students

The Nebraska Area Health Education Center Scholars Program, based at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, recently graduated 58 students. The two-year program, part of a national initiative, prepares health professions students to serve in rural and urban underserved areas of the state. During the program, students engage with a variety of health professionals, community leaders and potential employers to better understand the communities they will serve.

Papillion Law Firm Opens New Office

Adams & Sullivan, P.C., LLO, recently held a ribbon cutting last week for its new office at 1413 South Washington Street in Papillion. The firm has four attorneys and focuses on estate planning, family & employment law, real estate and personal injury. – Grow Omaha staff

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Leasing Underway at UNMC’s Catalyst Building

Leasing is now underway on the 170,000 sq. ft. Catalyst building on the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s west campus on the west side of Saddle Creek Road, according to Cushman & Wakefield Lund Company. The Catalyst is a former steel factory that has been converted into space for offices, events and retail uses. Tenants secured so far include Unemed, UNeTech Institute, Valid, Bio Nebraska and Big Grove brewery.

City Plans to Build Parking Garage in Millwork Commons

The City of Omaha plans to build a 600-stall parking garage at Millwork Commons. The city council approved a resolution on consent agenda to allow for the project to be delivered by a construction manager at risk. The parking garage will be located just east of the Ashton building on a parcel bounded by 11th, 12th and Nicholas streets and Millwork Avenue. The estimated cost is $25 to $30 million. – Isaiah Ang

Sensory Suite Spot Opening Next Week

Sensory Suite Spot, Omaha’s first ability-inclusive hair salon, recently opened at 14216 Pierce Plaza just off 144th & Pacific Street in west Omaha. The salon suite caters to all abilities, with hair stylists specializing in sensory cuts. A ribbon cutting will take place on August 27th. – Nicole Buntgen

Indoor Play Park Now Open Near 180th & Harrison

Playful Pines indoor play park opened July 20th at 7051 South 181st Street. That’s just southwest of 180th & Harrison Street. The locally owned business offers two-hour, limited capacity play sessions for children age 7 and younger. Parents can sign up for a play session at PlayfulPines.com.

Dessert Shop Opens in Benson

Snowy Sundaes, a family-owned dessert shop, opened last week in Benson at 6015 Maple Street next to Ted & Wally’s. The shop specializes in Bingsu, a Korean-style shaved ice, and also offers bubble tea, takoyaki (a Japanese octopus snack), croffles (a croissant-waffle hybrid), and specialty “ice-cool” hotpot desserts available for dine-in. - Nicole Buntgen

Storm Debris Curbside Collection Now 37% Complete

The City of Omaha Public Works department estimates curbside collection of storm debris is now at about 37 percent complete. That's up from 22 percent last Monday. Al Veys Field at 6606 South 60th Street, will be open indefinitely for debris drop-off seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The other park locations have closed.

Upscale Cocktail Bar Opens in NW Omaha

The Dandy Lion, an upscale bar and lounge, opened earlier this month at 15475 Ruggles Street northeast of 156th & West Maple Road and next to Porky Butts. The business renovated the former Retro Rewind space and opens daily at noon. – Nicole Buntgen

Pedestrian Bridge Opens Over the Platte River

The $2.6 million Platte River pedestrian bridge opened in early August connecting Sarpy County and Cass County. The bridge runs adjacent to Highway 34/75 and connects Allied Road on the north side of the river near Falconwood Park to Beach Road on the south. The bridge trail is only pedestrian/bike crossing over the Platte River aside from the Lied Platte River Bridge nearly 16 miles west. – Isaiah Ang

Midtown Coffee Shop Prepares to Move West

Hay Jay Coffee, a drive-thru coffee shop, closed its Midtown location at 1416 North Saddle Creek Road yesterday. The business is moving to Bennington at 8001 North 157th Street Suite 101, where it will introduce an updated concept featuring a full coffee and café restaurant. An official opening date has yet to be announced. – Nicole Buntgen

What’s Under Construction at 216th & Capehart?

United Republic Bank started construction in mid-July on a branch office building at 12751 South 216th Plaza in Gretna. That’s on the northwest corner of Highway 6/31 & Capehart Road. When the building is complete next spring, it will be the bank’s second location. The main office is at 180th & Burke Street west of Village Pointe. Turner Construction is the general contractor, TACKarchitects did the design.