Grow Omaha
News Briefs

“Missing middle” housing projects continue to gain popularity in east Omaha. A developer plans to raze a single-family home at 2009 South 7th Street to build a triplex residential building. The 8,700 sq. ft. property will accommodate 12 off-street parking spaces. Another developer, RSB Group LLC, plans to build duplexes at 6636 North 31st Avenue, a site in the Miller Park neighborhood. That property is 12,600 square feet and is currently vacant. Each unit will have four bedrooms and be split between the main and second story. They also plan to build a single duplex with 3-bedroom units at 3960 North 36th Avenue, a vacant lot south of the North Omaha High School football field. – Isaiah Ang

Isla del Mar Restaurante has announced plans to open a third location, with the exact address yet to be disclosed. The family-owned Mexican seafood and sushi restaurant currently operates at 5101 South 36th Street and 2502 South 133rd Plaza near 132nd & Center. – Nicole Buntgen

The LOVB Omaha professional volleyball team is kicking off its inaugural season with its first ever match in Houston tonight at 7 p.m. against LOVB Houston. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Riddle’s Jewelry plans to open a store late this summer at Shadow Lake Towne Center in Papillion. The store will occupy a corner bay in the middle of the mall’s small-shop area. Riddle’s has existing locations at Westroads and Oakview Mall.

Edward Jones leased the former Pinnacle Bank space at Southwestern Plaza near 144th & L Street, according to Todd Schneidewind and Maddie Graeve of NAI NP Dodge, who represented the landlord in lease negotiations. The financial advisor will occupy a 2,442 sq. ft. end-cap space and join tenants like Scooter’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Papa John’s Pizza.

The Only Facial, a skincare franchise, will hold a ribbon cutting January 28th for its new studio at 1020 South 74th Plaza. With 10 locations across the Midwest and South, The Only Facial is “redefining self-care with personalized, results-driven treatments for all skin types and ages.”

Condominium development in Omaha is practically non-existent despite a state law enacted a few years ago benefitting condo developers. According to attorney Bob Dailey, a condo expert at McGrath North, a grand total of 11 condo units were created in Omaha in all of 2024. Eight of them were commercial condos, while only three were residential.

Hands of Heartland will open a new location at 7300 Colfax Avenue in north Omaha on February 4. The organization works in Nebraska and Iowa, serving individuals with developmental disabilities through skill development, meaningful connections and community advocacy. Other metro area locations include Bellevue, Council Bluffs and Omaha. – Nicole Buntgen

Everbowl, a craft superfood restaurant chain specializing in açaí bowls and smoothies, plans to open its first Omaha location at 2913 South 168th Street, next to Godfather’s Pizza. It will be the first of three locations in the Omaha area. Opening is set for late February or early March. The California-based chain has nearly 100 locations nationwide. Everbowl’s closest current locations are in West Des Moines, Iowa and Kansas City. – Nicole Buntgen & Isaiah Ang

Ital Vital Living will open a second location this Friday – January 11th – at 7639 Cass Street. The existing location is at 2323 North 24th Street. The business sells fully vegan smoothie bowls, cold-pressed juices and dehydrated snacks. – Grow Omaha staff

inCommon Community Development is seeking a $705,833 T.I.F. loan for its $19 million Poppleton East Project. Located at 2911 Poppleton Street, the project is the first phase of two that will transform a 1.1-acre site southeast of Park Avenue & Poppleton Street into a mixed-use development. More than 120 new apartment units and 4,000 sq. ft. of commercial space will be built on the site. Phase one consists of a 4-story, 51-unit apartment building with indoor parking inside the lower level. Twenty-eight of those units are reserved for residents making at or below 50 percent of the area’s median income. Construction is slated to begin this March and end September 2026. – Isaiah Ang

Casa Jalisco, a family-owned Mexican bar and grill, has opened at 14242 Fort Street in Standing Bear Plaza. The restaurant features a variety of authentic Mexican dishes, including Quesabirria, Camarones Cancun, Molcajete, and a kids’ menu. – Nicole Buntgen

Discount Tire plans to build near 132nd & I Street. Their application for a special use permit indicates that they will build a 7,020 sq. ft. building on a 1.25-acre lot neighboring the Tommy’s Express Car Wash at 4225 South 132nd Street. This will be Discount Tire’s sixth Omaha-area location. – Isaiah Ang

Early Bird will open a new location in the former Paradise Bakery & Café space at Village Pointe Shopping Center in April. The breakfast-and-lunch restaurant has eight locations in Omaha, Lincoln and Des Moines, Iowa. The original location is in the Blackstone District. Early Bird opened a restaurant at 173rd & West Center Road this past fall.

Wienerschnitzel will hold a grand opening this Saturday – January 11th – for its first store in Nebraska or Iowa. It will be located at 3401 South 72nd Street in the MH Landing Development in a building it shares with Salty Dog sports bar. The new Wienerschnitzel will have indoor seating plus a drive-thru lane. Known as “the world’s largest hot dog chain,” Wienerschnitzel was started in California in 1961 and now has locations in 11 states mostly in the west.

Local favorite, Tasty Pizza plans to build a new restaurant in the redeveloping North Saddle Creek neighborhood. An Omaha Planning Board application indicates that Tasty Pizza plans to build a 3,000 sq. ft. restaurant with a u-shaped drive thru lane near 49th & North Saddle Creek Road. The building will have eight onsite parking stalls. Construction will start this summer with completion in the fall of 2026. – Isaiah Ang

A new year brings a new increase in state minimum wage requirements. In 2022, voters passed Initiative 433 that would increase the minimum wage from $9 to $15 by 2026. As of January 1, 2025, the state minimum wage is $13.50 and will increase to $15.00 in 2026. According to the Omaha World Herald, Nebraska has the 18th highest minimum wage in the nation. – Isaiah Ang

The Omaha Planning Board will review plans to redevelop the historic Carnation Ballroom at 2711 North 24th Street. The 6,232 sq. ft. building would be redeveloped for commercial use with up to five divisible spaces for office or retail use. No tenants have been announced. The City of Omaha designated the Carnation Ballroom as a historic landmark in 2023. It was originally a bakery store but became historically significant as a ballroom established by Mildred Brown, founder of the Omaha Star. Completion is anticipated by fall 2027. – Isaiah Ang

Northwest Bank plans to build a bank branch building at 14607 California Street. That’s just northwest of 144th & West Dodge Road. Plans call for a 2-story, 20,300 sq. ft. building on a vacant 1.6-acre lot in front of Beth El Synagogue. The branch will have two drive-thru lanes and 68 parking stalls. – Isaiah Ang

Christian Brothers Automotive is wrapping up construction on a future location at 20111 P Street. Hiring is now underway. The tentative opening date is March 10th. Houston-based Christian Brothers has existing Nebraska franchises in northwest Omaha, Gretna and Papillion.