Grow Omaha
News Briefs

Uptown Java held a grand opening last Thursday in the former Fala’s Coffeehouse space at 2627 North 205th Street. The Olde Towne Elkhorn coffee shop is operated by Fresh Hope for Mental Health founders Pastor Brad & Donna Hoefs, with all profits going to support the ministry.

The City Omaha Council approved an agreement with Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority to accommodate the building of the streetcar vehicle maintenance facility. The amendment reduces the land leased by MECA from the city on the Lot A surface parking lot, south of the CHI Health Arena. The facility will be located next to an existing OPPD substation just north of the I-480 overpass. Site plans show three separate rail entrances and an outdoor spur along the side of the 2-story building. – Isaiah Ang

Cabin Coffee is opening its first Nebraska location at 99th & Portal Road in Papillion. The drive-thru coffee chain is based in Clear Lake, Iowa and currently has 23 locations in seven states. The closest existing locations are in Winterset, Iowa and Savannah, Mo. Opening is planned for January.

Greenbelly has abruptly closed its doors at 210 North 114th Street, just southwest of 114th & Dodge. The family-owned restaurant, which opened in Omaha in 2008, had previously operated additional locations in Elkhorn and Aksarben. – Nicole Buntgen

Dario’s Brasserie, Dundee’s beloved French eatery that closed in 2022 after 16 years, will return for a one-night pop-up tomorrow, October 31st. Classics like cheeseburgers, mussels and French onion soup will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. at Avoli Osteria, a northern Italian spot under the same ownership at 5013 Underwood Avenue. Reservations are recommended. – Nicole Buntgen

Heartwood Preserve plans to transform Heartwood Park into a holiday ice-skating rink along with festive attractions as part of Winterland at Heartwood Preserve in celebration of the holidays. Heartwood Park is located just west of Boys Town. The ice-skating rink, which will open to the public on November 29, will offer free, 90-minute ice-skating sessions and free skate rental courtesy of Applied Underwriters. The skating rink will be open daily through January 5.

Mission Ave BBQ at 900 West Mission Avenue in Bellevue plans to close permanently this Saturday – November 2nd. The restaurant was only open about a year and a half.

Today is the last day of business for Untamed Kitchen at 1421 Farnam Street.  The healthy food restaurant opened in October of 2023. The owner plans to reopen next year in a yet-to-be determined location.

Taste of India has relocated to 3562 Farnam Street in the former Farnam House Brewing Company space near 36th & Farnam in Blackstone, according to Sage Capital Real Estate Investments. The restaurant previously operated from a very small building at 3572 Leavenworth Street near 36th & Leavenworth. – Nicole Buntgen

Exterior signage has been installed for Ziggi’s Coffee Drive Thru’s first metro-area location near 201st & Q Street. Omaha-based Perkins-Critser Construction is the contractor. Ziggi’s will open for business on November 22nd. Colorado-based Ziggi’s has locations nationwide including one in Lincoln and one in Fairbury, Neb.

As part of its Safe Streets for All project, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency has released early survey results, showing the greatest safety concerns for metro area residents: 65 percent of safety concerns are reported to be at intersections; 57 percent of participants report feeling unsafe as a driver while 29 percent report feeling unsafe as a pedestrian; 56 percent report feeling unsafe due to speeding.

The Light House Cafe at 119 West Mission Avenue in Olde Towne Bellevue is expanding and adding a full-service coffee shop. The business will double in size, taking over the three bays next door. The Light House Coffee Shop features local Bellevue-roasted Reboot Roasting Bean, a variety of coffees and teas plus light-fare foods and pastries. Opening is planned during the holiday season.

Prehistoric Putt will open its new location in the former Nobbies building this Friday, November 1st, at 2500 South 120th Street in Bel Air Plaza. Its current Omaha location at 11134 Q Street will remain open until October 31st. The indoor miniature golf course has other locations in Independence, Mo. and in Lincoln. The owner also operates The Fat Putter, Medieval Putt, and Capitol Arcade. – Nicole Buntgen

Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse is closing its Village Pointe location this Thursday – October 31st. That’s two months before the current lease expires. The restaurant is located north of Kona Grill and west of the brand-new Nordstrom Rack. There are no plans to reopen a Johnny’s anywhere else in the Omaha area. Heart of America Group, the Moline, Illinois-based parent company, does plan to open a Burger Shed restaurant next year southwest of 180th & West Maple Road.

The Terrace, a social enterprise café located at 4201 River’s Edge Parkway in Council Bluffs, will permanently close on November 1. No reason for the closure was provided. The café opened in the summer of 2023 just east of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain independence and learn life skills. – Nicole Buntgen

Muki Lounge has opened in the former Sports Hall space at 3852 Farnam Street in the Blackstone District. The bar is next door to Lucky Tiger Izakaya.

In his annual Presidential Town Hall program last month, Creighton University president Fr. Daniel Hendrickson said Trader Joe’s grocery store may be built on or near the university’s North Downtown campus. A Creightonian article says, “Hendrickson also noted that an on-campus Trader Joe’s is in the works.” No other details were provided. Creighton is currently building a sophomore residence hall as well as new baseball and softball fields along the south side of Cuming Street.

It’s All About the Signs recently opened a pop-up store inside Oak View Mall at 3001 South 144th Street for its second consecutive year. The Omaha-based business, which launched in 2010, primarily sells products at car shows across 11 states. Items include posters, tins, wood signs, and lighted and non-lighted metal signs for homes, garages, and man caves. – Nicole Buntgen

Hay Jay Coffee has reopened in a new location at 8001 North 157th Street, just southwest of 156th & State Street. The original location had been at 1416 North Saddle Creek but it closed earlier this year. The shop serves products from Hardy Coffee Company, Sweet Magnolias bake shop and The Tea Smith. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place this morning.

The City of Omaha has opened a new parking garage inside the 37 West Farnam building at 37th & Farnam Street. The 9-story building includes a city-owned, open-to-the-public garage on the first four levels and apartments on the top five levels. The building has street-level retail space. While the parking garage is open, the retail and residential space is still under construction.