Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Thirty-three percent of U.S. adults, ages 18 to 34, live with their parents, according to Visual Capitalist. In Nebraska, it’s 20 percent. Only three states – North Dakota (12%), Wyoming (16%) and South Dakota (18%) – are lower. The highest states are New Jersey (44%), Connecticut (41%), California (39%) and Maryland (39%). Here are some states closer to home: Iowa (22%); Kansas (23%); and Missouri (27%). 

The Nebraska Department of Transportation has started a project to widen a 1.49-mile stretch of Interstate 680 between Frances Street on the south and West Dodge Road on the north. Completion is planned for this November. The project will add an extra lane in both directions and make it possible to expand the I-680 & West Dodge Road interchange starting in 2028.

Perfume Palace has opened a second location within Westroads Mall. The first location is on the mall’s upper level near the H&M store. The second one is now open on the level one across from Victoria’s Secret and PINK.  Perfume Palace has several stores in Florida and a handful of them in the Midwest.

Jerk Makin Shack, a food truck inspired by traditional Jamaican cooking, plans to launch this month. The truck will operate throughout the metro area at local events, food truck gatherings and private catering opportunities. Locally owned by Shava Jackson, Jerk Makin Shack specializes in authentic Caribbean flavors, featuring jerk chicken, jerk pork, oxtails, Jamaican beef patties and coco bread.

Parkway Development Company plans to squeeze a 5-story, 34-unit apartment building onto a .48-acre site at 7630 Pacific Street. The property used to have a single-family residential building. The new apartment building will have 34 stalls in a first-floor parking garage. The Omaha Planning Board approved a planned unit redevelopment overlay and rezoning to accommodate the project. Parkway Development previously built the Swivel Apartments near 72nd & Dodge Street and the Centerline by 72nd & Center Street. - Isaiah Ang

Omaha Chef David Utterback of Yoshitomo and Ota has been named one of five finalists for Best Chef: Midwest in the 2026 James Beard Awards, marking his second consecutive year as a finalist. Winners will be announced June 15 in Chicago.  - Nicole Buntgen

Local entrepreneurs Josh and Courtney Kenney have acquired the Omaha area locations of Penn Station East Coast Subs through their investment company, JCK Capital. Penn Station is known for grilled-to-order subs, hand-cut fries and freshly squeezed lemonade. The restaurants are located at 168th & West Center Road, 80th & Dodge Street and in Bellevue. The Kenneys are evaluating opportunities to add a fourth restaurant in Gretna within the next two years.

Omaha by Design will host Open Omaha again this year on Saturday, August 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open Omaha is a one-day, all-access, city-wide open house. Featured venues are invited to show off their space to the public. Omaha by Design is now accepting venue applications HERE. Last year’s event garnered more than 10,000 venue visits.

The Breakfast Club will open soon at 2121 South 67th Street in Aksarben Village, in the former Jones Bros. Cupcakes space. The Des Moines, Iowa-based breakfast concept has restaurants in Des Moines, West Des Moines and Ankeny and is currently hiring staff in Omaha. – Nicole Buntgen

Indian Creek Golf Course will open The Sand Room Monday, April 6th, on the lower level of its clubhouse near 202nd & West Maple Road. The lounge will offer food, drinks and golf simulators. The Sand Room has a “moody, speakeasy feel” and is available for walk-ins. The public golf course is open to anyone. The new lounge is part of a completely renovated clubhouse that will also include The Approach, a restaurant opening in late April on the upper level.

The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, moved above growth neutral for March to its highest level since March 2025.The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, increased to a solid 55.6 from 54.7 in February and a much weaker 49.6 in January, according to Dr. Ernie Goss, director of Creighton’s Economic Forecasting Group.

Heart Ministry Center plans to open a grocery store on a vacant lot southeast of 26th & Lake Street. Plans call for a 24,670 sq. ft. building that would house a full-service grocery store that would function as a “social enterprise,” providing jobs and affordable groceries and supplies to a neighborhood of nearly 50,000 people. The proposed project goes before the Omaha Planning Board today.

The Amazing Pizza Machine is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this month. The indoor entertainment center and restaurant is located along Millard Avenue at 13955 S Plaza. The Amazing Pizza Machine offers more than 75 items on its buffet plus go carts, bumper cars, rides and other attractions.

M&M Beef and Steak, a new food truck, has opened for business in the Blackstone District, serving cheesesteak and Italian beef. The truck is stationed outside Jay’s Beer Garden at 3724 Farnam Street and is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. M&M is locally owned by Brian Magarro and Joel Marsh, who also owns Noli’s Pizzeria.

Legacy Collective will celebrate its grand opening and ribbon cutting tomorrow – April 1 – at 9 a.m. in Regency Landing at 10730 Pacific Street. Legacy Collective is Omaha’s first exclusive women-only membership club. According to a press release, “members will enjoy curated experiences, networking opportunities and amenities tailored to elevate both personal and professional growth.”

A fast growing agtech startup from Lincoln plans to open an Omaha office in the Millwork Commons District. According to a building permit, Marble Technologies will occupy a 7,400 sq. ft. space in the Mastercraft Building at 1111 North 13th Street. The Mastercraft was one of the first anchors of the burgeoning Millwork Commons District, providing flexible office and light industrial space for more than 60 businesses and organizations. – Isaiah Ang

The Council Bluffs City Council approved a land purchase from the Iowa Department of Roads to build a destination playground near River’s Edge. The site is south of the Interstate 480 overpass, just west of the River Park by Broadmoor apartment complex. Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact will pay the $70,000 price tag. The property will be owned by the city. Broadmoor will donate the remaining needed land. It’s part of River’s Edge phase V, which also includes a dog park and a plaza highlighting donor contributions. – Isaiah Ang

Dingman’s Collision Center plans to open a Gretna location on March 30 at 20227 Husker Drive in a recently constructed, 20,600 sq. ft. building just north of 202nd & Highway 370. Dingman’s has four existing locations at 120th & West Maple Road, 144th & Industrial Road, Midtown Omaha and downtown Papillion.

Omaha’s Lauritzen Gardens placed third in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards contest for “Best Botanical Garden.” Nominees for the category were submitted by a panel of experts, and Lauritzen Gardens was selected as one of 20 finalists from a national pool of garden nominations. Public voting narrowed the field to the top 10, with voting open from February 9 through March 9. In its second year as a nominee, the garden improved to a third-place finish after ranking fifth in 2025.

As the MidAmerican Energy Adventure Tower, skywalk and pier at River’s Edge near completion, the City of Council Bluffs amended the license agreement between Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact and The Approach, LLC. The tower will have a climbing wall, roller glide and other amenities. The Approach agreed to work with non-profit organizations to help provide access to low-income families by having access days and free passes distributed through the Council Bluffs and Omaha public libraries. – Isaiah Ang