Grow Omaha
News Briefs

First State Bank Nebraska has opened in the DLR building at 6457 Frances Street in Aksarben Village. The Lincoln-based bank has 19 locations in southeast Nebraska. Other branches in close proximity to Omaha are in Plattsmouth and Yutan.

The Steve Madden Store at Nebraska Crossing plans to close permanently this week – Friday, December 20. The New York-based footwear and accessories retailer has approximately 255 stores. The Nebraska Crossing location is the only Steve Madden store in the region.

Modern Love, the vegan restaurant at 3157 Farnam Street in Midtown Crossing, is closing permanently on Sunday, December 29th. The restaurant announced last month that it planned to shut down in summer 2025. No reason was provided for the accelerated closing timeline. Modern Love has been at the location for about 10 years.

New tenants plan to open in the retail strip at 17205 Evans Street on of the south side Maple. The Loft Pilates filed a permit to finish a 1,900 sq. ft. space in the building. Scissors & Scotch, a high-end men’s grooming shop, also plans to open in the building. Finally, construction is underway of Talus Spirits and Sustenance which will open its second location in 4,000 sq. ft. space in the building. The original Talus opened in Papillion in 2022. – Isaiah Ang

A mixed-use development could be in the works for the northeast corner of 72nd & Dodge Street, Mayor Jean Stothert said today. A group recently purchased the current Petco building and is planning major changes for the site. Details have not yet been announced. The $900 million Crossroads project is expected to break ground this spring on the northwest corner. The $158 million Omaha Central Library is under construction on the southwest corner.

Heartwood Preserve will welcome a new nail salon at 248 North 144th Street. That building is currently occupied and bookended by Little King and First Watch. The permit filed for a new tenant finish for Heartwood Nail Spa indicates the new tenant will occupy 2,200 sq. ft. – Isaiah Ang

All Makes, the Omaha-based office furniture and equipment company, is moving it Lincoln showroom from 3333 O Street to the “Telegraph District” near 21st & N Street. The move should take place in May. In addition to Omaha and Lincoln, All Makes has showrooms in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as Kearney, Columbus and North Platte, Neb.

Progress may be on the horizon for the long-vacant former Famous Dave’s site southwest of 120th & L Street. Burger Detour has been advertising a location there, but no apparent site work has started since the Famous Dave’s was demolished a few years ago. Last week, Burger Detour filed a permit for a 2,200 sq. ft. building on the site. Burger Detour is a locally owned hamburger concept with two current locations at 18308 Evans Street and 1220 South 203rd Street. – Isaiah Ang

Frontier Airlines, the Denver-based bare-bones carrier, is suspending more than 40 routes indefinitely, according to SimpleFlying.com. One of those routes is Omaha to Dallas-Fort Worth. In addition to DFW, Frontier offers nonstop flights from Omaha to Denver and Orlando. Frontier is a minor player at Eppley Airfield as it carries only 2.5 percent of total Omaha passengers.

Carollo Engineers, a water/wastewater engineering firm, relocated its Omaha office from Miracle Hills to the Carson 2 Building in Heartwood Preserve southwest of 144th & West Dodge Road. The firm is leasing space from Felsburg Holt & Ullevig, which also recently relocated to the building. California-based Carollo has locations across the country. The new office will allow the firm to add new engineers, project managers and BIM designers.

More than 100 students received free Chromebook computers last week at The Ashton building in Millwork Commons thanks to AT&T, Human I-T and AIM Institute. Recipients were part of AIM’s Youth Academy Upward Bound, a partnership serving “first-generation/under-resourced,” college-bound students from Bryan High School, Papillion La Vista High School, Papillion La Vista South High School and Thomas Jefferson High School. The donation occurred after the Upward Bound/Talent Search Winter College and Career Fair.

Fore Seasons Golf Simulator & Sports Bar will officially open its doors December 18 in a 4,500 sq. ft. space at 19150 Pacific Street, according to owners Matt Lentz and Craigan Metcalf. The venue boasts six state-of-the-art golf simulators, a 5,000 sq. ft. outdoor patio and a sports bar with 16 televisions. Fore seasons allows customers to golf more than 285 simulated PGA courses.

Nebraska is the second-most secure state for remote workers in 2025, according to Indusface, which uncovered which states are the most secure by analyzing factors such as the number of scams per 10,000 residents, the cost of scams and the average internet speed. North Dakota was number one. Iowa was number five.

The former Red Lobster restaurant building at 3040 Dial Drive in Council Bluffs’ Lake Manawa Power Centre is being renovated into an IHOP restaurant. Hiring is now underway.

Burning Bridges Food Truck will open its brick-and-mortar location on December 13 at 14544 West Center Road in the former Sinful Burger space in Harvey Oaks Plaza. Current menu items include gluten-free offerings like fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, twister fries and pickle chips. - Nicole Buntgen

FNBO plans to sell its 53-year-old, "Main Bank" building at 1620 Dodge Street to NuStyle Development, which would renovate it into apartments. Many Omahans are wondering how the sale would affect the Omaha Press Club, which has long occupied the 22nd floor. "The Board of Directors of the Omaha Press Club have been in communication with officials from NuStyle, and both parties are interested in maintaining the club in its current location," said Robert Meyers, president of the Omaha Press Club. "Our discussions have been very productive, and we look forward to continuing to work with the new owners and reaching an amicable conclusion."

Back Nine Golf is expected to open soon at 7775 Olson Drive in Papillion’s Shadow Lake Towne Center. The indoor simulated golf business has an existing Omaha store at 10730 Pacific Street in Regency Landing. The St. George, Utah-based company has locations in 10 states.

Cornerstone Housing Group plans to develop a 13.8-acre greenfield site in Council Bluffs into a 280-unit apartment complex. The site is located on the southeast side of Power Drive & 35th Avenue, just south of Sam’s Club at Metro Crossing Shopping Center. The complex will boast four 4-story buildings, a clubhouse with community space and business center, an outdoor pool and sport courts. Construction is planned to begin in Spring of 2025 with completion anticipated by the end of 2027. - Isaiah Ang

CRAFTEA, an apothecary and tea shop, has opened at 1217 Leavenworth Street just south of the Bemis Center in Omaha’s Old Market district. The woman-owned business specializes in nature-inspired products that promote wellness and holistic living. Offerings include drinkware, stationery, gift bags, jewelry and self-care items. - Nicole Buntgen

Santoro Restaurant officially announced a February opening date at 8601 West Dodge Road in Indian Hills Plaza. The restaurant is owned by Jesus Rivera, who ran the former Rivera’s Mexican Food near 120th & Blondo Street. The 2,409 sq. ft. space will include an outdoor patio. - Nicole Buntgen