Grow Omaha
News Briefs

After 50 years in business, Spirit World will close its Aksarben location at 6680 Center Street in early 2025. The family-owned wine and spirits store will continue serving customers through mid-January. Spirit World's bar will remain open until further notice, and loyalty points must be redeemed by December 24. Gift cards will expire after the closure. – Nicole Buntgen

Google has invested $930 million in Nebraska in 2024. That large capital investment has gone towards projects such as the under-construction Lincoln data center and a new Omaha-area data center near 120th & State Street. The latter is operational. During Monday’s announcement, Google also revealed that it provided a $250,000 grant to the University of Nebraska system for artificial intelligence research. Google has made similar grants to Creighton University and Lincoln Public Schools. - Isaiah Ang

Gambino’s Pizza plans to open a restaurant in the former Lo Sole Mio banquet hall at 3018 South 32nd Avenue. The building has been divided into a handful of spaces since Lo Sole Mio closed. Before moving to North Downtown, Ellie’s Chinchorro Caribbean Bistro had operated in the building. Gambino’s is also working on a new location in Gretna. Gambino’s has 44 locations in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Existing Nebraska locations are in Fremont, Kearney and North Bend.

Lockwood Development of Omaha plans to build a $58 million apartment complex on a 6.45-acre site at 30th Street and 2nd Avenue in Council Bluffs. Plans call for 264 apartments in four, 4-story buildings done in three phases. The entire project is scheduled for completion in December 2027. – Isaiah Ang

Blue Line Coffee will open Green Line Cafe, a new concept at 1540 North Saddle Creek Road in the former Saddle Creek Breakfast Club location. The eatery will serve breakfast, lunch and grab-and-go items. An opening date has yet to be announced. Blue Line’s existing location is in Dundee at 4924 Underwood Avenue. - Nicole Buntgen

Jersey Mike’s Subs is taking over the former Tide Dry Cleaners’ space at 12327 West Center Road, according to Perkins-Critser Construction, which is renovating the space. Interior build-out will begin soon. Tide Dry Cleaners has moved next door.

King of Kings, a Lutheran church in southwest Omaha, will merge with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fremont. Starting this spring, Good Shepherd will officially re-launch as King of Kings Fremont. Founded in 1962, King of King’s main location is at 11615 I Street and has a northwest Omaha campus at 15656 Fort Street. The congregation has more than 3,000 members.

Charred Burger + Bar plans to open a third metro location in the former Blackstone Meatball space at 18101 Chicago Street. That's just southwest of 180th & West Dodge Road. Both Blackstone Meatball locations closed earlier this fall. Charred Burger + Bar has existing locations in Sterling Ridge southeast of 132nd Street and Southport West near Cabela's in La Vista as well as one in Lincoln.

Wienerschnitzel, the popular California-based hotdog chain, is now hiring for its first Nebraska/Iowa location. The space is under construction in MH Landing northeast of 72nd & Grover Street. Wienerschnitzel will share the building with Salty Dog, which has an existing location in Council Bluffs. Both Salty Dog and Wienerschnitzel are expected to open by the end of the year.

Blue Moon Nails, located at 2720 South 123rd Court in Westwood Plaza, has rebranded from Nail Nirvana Beauty Spa under new ownership. Originally opened as Nail Nirvana in July, the salon transitioned and reopened under its new name in late September. - Nicole Buntgen

For the first time since July 2023, Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index rose above growth neutral, according to the November survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. November’s overall reading climbed to 50.2 from October’s very weak 35.2. It was the highest reading since July of last year. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with 50.0 representing growth neutral.

Evodia Fragrances will host a ribbon-cutting and grand opening for its first storefront on December 7 inside Modern Work Suites & Studios at 8790 F St, Suite 222. The Omaha-based company specializes in personalized fragrances, custom scents, and consultations to create aromas that evoke memory, mood, and connection. - Nicole Buntgen

Romance BBQ, a Texas-style barbecue concept, has opened at Inner Rail Food Hall at 1911 South 67th Street in Aksarben Village. The menu features house-made offerings like smoked brisket, Glizzy Sandwiches, kimchi and a “by the pound” selection. – Nicole Buntgen

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the biggest travel periods of the year. The Omaha Airport Authority expects approximately 185,800 travelers to go through Eppley Airfield during the next week, approximately 2.7 percent more than last year. Eppley’s three busiest days this Thanksgiving season are expected to be, in order: Sunday, December 1; Tuesday, November 26; and Wednesday, November 27.

Ziggi’s Coffee opened its first Omaha location today at 5:00 a.m. at 5102 South 201st Street. The 865 sq. ft. coffee shop is owned by first-time franchisee Lindsay Kroger. Denver-based Ziggi’s Coffee has 101 locations in 20 states including existing ones in Lincoln and Fairbury, Neb.

Church’s Texas Chicken plans to open a second metro area location at 2310 North 90th Street, where a former Godfather’s Pizza was recently demolished. Church’s will build a 1,700 sq. ft., free-standing building with a drive-thru. Church’s currently operates a location at 4042 North 168th Street in northwest Omaha.

The City of Council Bluffs opened the 1.2-acre Valley View Dog Park last week at 1300 Franklin Avenue. The park includes two secure, off-leash areas – one for large dogs (about 0.9 acres), and a smaller, 0.25-acre area for small breeds. Daily hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Rathskeller Bier Haus, a popular German-inspired restaurant located at 4524 Farnam Street, may soon reopen under new ownership after closing in October 2023. A recent post on the restaurant's Facebook page hinted at the announcement, with further details promised on November 30. - Nicole Buntgen

A multifamily apartment building and a hotel may soon grace the southeast corner of 132nd & Pacific Street corner at Sterling Ridge. Developers hope to amend an existing development agreement to build a 5-story, 145-room hotel right on the corner. A 6-story, 250-unit apartment building is planned next to the hotel. Four stories of residential units will be built on a 2-story podium with parking garage space and ground floor retail. The apartment building will have 12,000 sq. ft. of retail and 14,000 sq. ft. of restaurant space. An attached parking analysis indicates that the restaurant user will be the national steakhouse chain Ruth’s Chris. – Isaiah Ang

The Council Bluffs City Council this week accepted a proposal from Broadmoor Development for River’s Edge, Block 1. The 1.72-acre parcel is located east of the Pavilion and has remained vacant while surrounding lots have been developed. The city has been trying, unsuccessfully, to land a project that would have an assessment of at least $32 million. This most recent Request for Proposal was the third. Broadmoor’s $24.5 million project was the only proposal. Broadmoor plans to build a 91-unit, 5-story apartment building. The building will have two levels of indoor parking – one underground. Broadmoor has already completed 229 apartment units at River’s Edge, with an additional 48 under construction. Completion is planned for spring 2028. – Isaiah Ang