The April 23rd Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

The Corner Kick, a local sports bar and cantina, will open its third location at 2295 South 67th Street in Aksarben Village in the former Voodoo Taco space. The new location will feature a patio and weekend breakfast service. Existing locations are in Millard near 144th & Q Streets and in west Omaha near 132nd & West Dodge Road.

Osaka Steakhouse & Sushi Bar Elkhorn will open in mid-2026 at 18118 Evans Street southwest of 180th & West Maple Road. The restaurant, previously planned as Kyoto Sushi & Hibachi, will be owned by Michael Zhu and Amy Chen, who also operate the original Osaka location in La Vista. The 7,000 sq. ft. space will feature an expanded kitchen, hibachi dining and a menu similar to the La Vista restaurant.

Crisp & Green will officially open its second Omaha location tomorrow – April 24 – at 16902 Wright Plaza in the Shops of Legacy. The grand opening will include a free entrée from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a wellness event on April 25. The restaurant’s original Omaha location is at 225 North 80th Street. The brand has more than 45 locations nationwide.

The Peach Cobbler Factory will open its first Omaha location at 2501 South 90th Street in Loveland Shopping Center near 90th & West Center Road. The dessert franchise, founded in 2013, has locations in more than 25 states. The nearest shops are in Oklahoma, including Lawton and Tulsa.

7 Brew Coffee is coming to the 168th & Harrison Street area. A building permit has been filed to construct a 646 sq. ft., prefabricated, drive-thru building at 16901 Polk Street on a currently vacant lot. The Arkansas-based company, which sells coffee, tea and energy drinks, has an existing Omaha location at 182nd & West Maple Road and another under construction in Council Bluffs.

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi has opened in a former IHOP building at 4707 North 72nd Street just north of 72nd & Ames Avenue. The restaurant is part of a franchise that originated in North Dakota and offers an all-you-can-eat, made-to-order menu with sushi, hibachi and appetizers.

Godfather’s Pizza has opened a restaurant at 20462 R Street in the Coventry development southwest of 204th & Q Street. The business opened yesterday, but a grand-opening celebration is scheduled for May 3. The new restaurant replaces the 180th & Q Street Godfather’s, which is now closed. The Coventry store has dining space for 60 customers and a drive-thru, pick-up window.

Helzberg Diamonds may be opening a store in the Oakview area. This week a building permit was filed for remodel of an existing space a 2625 South 140th Street, which is the northeast corner of 140th & West Center Road. The permit indicates that prior office space will be converted to retail space. Helzberg is a national jewelry store based in Kansas City and owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

801 Restaurant Group, LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this month. The Kansas-based company operates 801 Chophouse, a prime steakhouse at 1403 Farnam Street in Omaha that has additional locations in Denver; Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City, St. Louis; Minneapolis; and Tysons Corner, Va. Those restaurants will remain open and operate normally, but the company recently closed 801 on Nicollet in Minneapolis and a seafood restaurant in downtown Denver.

Omaha restaurateur Javier Trujillo has stopped using third-party delivery platforms due to rising costs and paying about $188,000 in fees last year. Customers can still order directly through his restaurants: Javi’s Tacos, Time to Rise and Shine, Frosty Mug, Helados Locos and El Milagro.

The Garment District is moving within Shops of Legacy retail area southwest of 168th & West Center Road. The women’s clothing store will move this Sunday from 16939 Wright Plaza, Suite #123, to the former Deka Lash space at 16950 Wright Plaza. Because it’s a corner space, the move will give Garment District greater visibility.

Construction has started on a Discount Tire store at 4308 South 130 Street. The site is south of a Tommy’s Express Car Wash and west of Millard Lumber. The 9,664 sq. ft. building will have a ground-level showroom and service bays, plus a mezzanine level for tire storage and racking. Discount Tire has six existing Omaha locations.

Degree Wellness has opened at 17229 Evans Street near 172nd & West Maple Road in Whispering Ridge. The wellness center offers services including cryotherapy, infrared saunas, cold plunges, contrast therapy and IV drips. The brand has locations in nearly 20 states.

42 Degrees, a locally owned smoke and vape retailer, has opened a store in a retail strip at 17725 Welch Plaza. The endcap space is part of Hawthorne Court northeast of 180th & Q Street. Founded in 2012, 42 Degrees has nine locations in the Omaha area.

Manhattan’s Coffee Deli & Grill announced that it will close its downtown location Friday, April 24. The restaurant is located at 1802 Farnam Street on the ground floor of a parking garage across the street from the Douglas County Courthouse.

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Salted Edge Blends Waterfront Romance with Bold, Global Flavor

By Chris Corey

Salted Edge opened in October 2023 and sits on the West Shores Lake waterfront in Waterloo. It’s owned by restaurateurs Greg and Ashley Young along with chef Joel Hassanali, the chief managing partner. It’s one of two restaurants developed by their company, Lucky Eleven Hospitality Group. The shorefront view is striking, offering diners breathtaking sunset views as day turns to evening.

Hassanali also serves as executive chef at Pivot Prime, the most recent Lucky Eleven addition. His style brings bold, globally inflected flavors to both restaurants. Where Pivot leans into French-inspired steakhouse cuisine, Salted Edge plays more freely with modern American flavors filtered through his Caribbean roots and wider culinary travels.

Inside, the dining room does a lot of work before the first plate arrives at the table.

The decor is sleek and contemporary with a refined restraint that never feels over polished or cold. Warm wood tones and globe lighting cast a romantic ambiance over modern wooden tabletops and simple, elegant place settings. The open kitchen makes you feel part of the experience, the staff moving with a kind of quiet, confident precision.

The lake view is certainly part of the draw during the day, but sunset transforms the place into a more intimate, romantic setting that’s become a destination for date nights, celebrations and lingering diners by the water.

The menu is as intentional as the decor. It carries touches of a steakhouse, a strong seafood presence and global influences that keep it from becoming predictable. Hassanali said that Salted was meant to bring something different to Omaha, and the menu reflects his own background and travels. Caribbean, Italian and French influences work into a broader American framework of cuisine.

While Hassanali is careful not to say it’s farm-to-table, he did note that it’s “locally sourced as much as possible.”

During our visit, Jennifer and I sampled a couple of cocktails, a seafood appetizer, two entrees and a delectable dessert.

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Planning Board Considers Two Projects

By Kacie Ferrazzo

A major infrastructure project planned for northwest Omaha is designed to bring a decades-old interchange in line with rapid growth in the area, but not without some short-term disruptions for drivers.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is preparing for a significant reconstruction of the Interstate 680 corridor between Fort Street and the Blair High Road interchange. According to NDOT District 2 project delivery engineer Damion Stern, the goal is to transform what was once a rural-style highway into a modern, urbanized roadway built to handle today’s traffic demands.

“The majority of this project is going to compress the area between Fort Street and Blair High Road,” Stern said. “Right now, it’s a four-lane divided highway and we’re going to more or less reconstruct it and urbanize it.”

Plans call for adding a lane in both directions, installing a median barrier, upgrading storm sewer systems and redesigning portions of the interchange. New loop ramps, that are currently not in place, will also be added to improve traffic flow and reduce backups.

The project extends beyond the interstate itself. Blair High Road will be reconstructed from roughly Ida Street near the Walmart intersection north to State Street. That stretch has seen significant growth in recent years, with increased traffic coming from nearby areas like Blair and Bennington, as well as surrounding subdivisions.

“That area has gotten overloaded over the last several years,” Stern said. “We’ll be making improvements to help with flow and access to the interchange.”

One of the most visible changes will occur at Fort Street, where two existing bridges will be replaced with a single, shared bridge spanning the corridor. At the Blair High Road Interchange, however, the existing bridge will remain in place, undergoing modifications rather than a full replacement.

Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2029 and is expected to last two years, though Stern noted that timeline could change.

“There is a chance this is going to slip at least a year, to 2030,” he said, citing other major infrastructure projects in the metro area that could take priority or overlap with this work.

When construction does begin, drivers should prepare for delays. NDOT plans to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction throughout the project, but ramp closures and detours are likely.

“Drivers can envision today the backups that occur on a daily basis,” Stern said. “With construction, it’s going to be worse. There’s going to be some patience that needs to occur over the life of the project.”

The need for the project stems from the age and original design of the interchange, which was built roughly 50 years ago when the surrounding area was far less developed.

“This was really a rural interchange,” Stern said. “The traffic volumes really weren’t there at that time.”

Today, increased demand, especially along Blair High Road, has led to congestion issues, including backups that extend onto interstate ramps. The redesign aims to address those problems by increasing capacity and creating more efficient traffic patterns.

NDOT planners are also looking ahead, designing the project based on projected traffic growth over the next 20 years. However, Stern acknowledged that predicting long-term demand isn’t always exact.

“There are a lot of areas where we could build this and day one it’s congested again,” he said. “Economic drivers, urban development, it can be very difficult to predict.”

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Omaha has been ranked the second-best large city in America for recent college graduates looking to start their careers in 2026. Glassdoor and Redfin published a report last week ranking the nation’s largest cities for recent college graduates based on 13 indicators across three categories: housing affordability, career opportunity and quality of life, according to CNBC.

Regarding Omaha, Chris Martin, senior economist at Glassdoor, said, “One of Omaha’s main draws is its “really diverse labor market. In addition to being a major health-care hub for new grads, it’s also home to Fortune 500 companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Union Pacific. Beyond its range of job opportunities, early-career workers enjoy a high quality of life in Omaha.”

Here are the top 10 cities: 1. Washington, D.C.; 2. Omaha; 3. Boston; 4. Dallas; 5. Chicago; 6. Houston; 7. St. Louis; 8. San Diego; 9. Miami; 10. Austin.

Construction of The Nook Apartments is nearing the later stages. Crews are now working on buildings just northeast of the famous Cascio’s Steakhouse. Centered on 8th & Pine Street, The Nook Apartments stretch over several blocks, taking up much of the land left over from the defunct Grace University. The project will have 250 market-rate apartments and townhomes in a total of 10 new buildings.

Ooh de Lally, the nonprofit restaurant that helps previously incarcerated persons transition to employment, is launching a sober-living house in Dundee on May 1. The house is located on Underwood Avenue just east of the restaurant and can accommodate seven Ooh de Lally participants. The residents will receive the first three months free of charge and then pay $600 per month.

In addition to the building permit we reported last week for Arhaus, additional permits have been filed for retailers at Avenue One, the mixed-use development under way at 192nd & West Dodge Road. The permits are for Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma. These retailers will be located west of Arhaus, closer to the 192nd & West Dodge Road interchange.

Pottery Barn will occupy 12,500 sq. ft., while Williams-Sonoma will have 5,600 sq. ft. in the same one-story building. A permit was also filed for a 12,500 sq. ft. West Elm store in the same one-story building as Arhaus.

Still Poppin Gourmet Popcorn will occupy a new storefront in north Omaha. According to a building permit at 3207 North 30th Street, Still Poppin will open a 1,700 sq. ft. store. Known as Malcolm’s Place, the mixed-use building has 51 apartment units and ground-floor retail. Still Poppin is currently selling out of Big Mama’s Kitchen in the Highlander Accelerator building in the Seventy-Five North development.

Building permits for tenant finishes at Eppley Airfield reveal some of the retailers that will be opening in the expanded terminal next year. There are 19 retailers and restaurants in the concession program, but not all will be in operation when the $1 billion terminal project opens next year. According to recently filed buildings permits, spaces will begin construction for food retailers like The Mill coffee shop and Plum Market.

Additional spaces for specialty retailers will also be under construction soon, including store spaces for Blackstone Supply, iPorte, 50th Street Market and Uniquely Omaha. These retailers and Plum Market will be located in the central pavilion, while The Mill will have a space in the southern end of the terminal. While retail and restaurants will be located primarily on the second floor past security, Plum Market will also have a storefront on the first floor.

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GreenSlate Development has changed its name to GreenSlate Development Partners and announced Scott Dobbe will join the firm as partner and president. Dobbe is currently executive director of Omaha by Design but will step down from that position at the end of May. Founded in 2013 by Jay Lund and Matt Dwyer, GreenSlate has delivered nearly 1,000 residential units in Omaha’s urban core along with more than 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial space.

Scooter’s Coffee announced one of the largest multi-store development agreements in its history. The Omaha-based beverage franchisor will work with Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the nation’s largest Hardee’s franchise owner, to open 31 Scooter’s Coffee locations in North Carolina and Virginia. Scooter’s has more than 900 locations in 32 states.

Conagra Brands is replacing CEO Sean Connolly, the man responsible for moving the company’s global headquarters from Omaha to Chicago in 2015. According to the Wall Street Journal, Conagra is calling the departure “a termination without cause.” Connolly’s last day will be May 31. He will also step down from the board of directors. Conagra’s stock is down more than 40 percent over the last 12 months. Connolly will be replaced by John Brase, 58, who was formerly with J.M. Smucker.

HDR is once again the No. 6 top design firm, according to annual rankings by Engineering News-Record. The list ranks the 500 largest U.S.-based design firms, both publicly and privately held, by design-specific revenue. It marks the 12th consecutive year Omaha-based HDR has placed in the top 10 and the fourth year in a row sitting just outside the Top 5. HDR’s 2025 design revenue was $3.7 billion, up from $3.4 billion the previous year.

Bobwhite Energy Storage, an affiliate of Omaha-based Tenaska, has signed a long-term energy storage agreement with Tennessee Valley Authority for a 225-megawatt/900-megawatt hour storage project in East Tennessee. The project is expected to start construction next year and come online in late 2029.

Crouch Recreation, a playground equipment supplier, and American Lift and Sign, a signage company, have purchased a 22,180 sq. ft. industrial building at 7071 North 87th Street for $4.5 million, according to Trenton Magid and John Meyer of NAI NP Dodge, who represented the seller.

Union Pacific Corporation today reported 2026 first quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.87 per diluted share. Results include merger costs of $36 million, or $0.06 per diluted share. Adjusted 2026 first quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.93 per diluted share compares to 2025 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.70 per diluted share.

Forbes magazine once again recognized Mutual of Omaha as one of “America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2026.” The company ranked #5 overall. The list was created through an independent survey of more than 217,000 U.S.-based employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people nationally. The evaluation was based on personal evaluations, public evaluations, and company culture-related Key Performance Indicators

Werner Enterprises, Inc. is expanding its intermodal presence in Mexico to give local customers more reliable shipping options. Omaha-based Werner is deploying its fleet of 53-foot containers into the Mexican market. There are currently 400 containers in the fleet, with an additional 400 units hitting the network throughout 2026. Werner’s asset intermodal focus will begin in Monterrey and Silao, with the Mexico City market being added in the second half of 2026.

The Greater Omaha Chamber has named Prime Secured as its April 2026 business of the month. Prime Secured builds Information Technology and security solutions “designed to solve complex challenges and provide lasting peace of mind.”

Scoular hosted USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg at the company’s Omaha headquarters earlier this month to discuss biofuels feedstocks and agricultural exports. During the visit, Scoular leaders noted the company’s investment in a dual oilseed crush plant in Goodland, Kan. They also discussed trade issues impacting U.S. agricultural products in key markets.

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Habitat for Humanity’s Pope Leo Village build project kicked off this weekend as more than 50 Habitat for Humanity of Omaha volunteers, staff, homeowners and guests began construction on the first of 20 homes to be built over the next two years at Habitat Omaha’s Bluestem Development near 52nd & Sorensen Parkway. The Pope Leo Villages project is designed to promote volunteerism for young people, and includes 20 Habitat affiliates nationwide. This is the first Pope Leo Village build in Omaha.

Heartland Bike Share launched a Free Rides program on Monday that gives all residents in the HBS service area – which spans from downtown Council Bluffs to Mahoney State Park– unlimited 60-minute rides on any of its 400-plus pedal-assisted e-bikes already in place around the Omaha metro. To access Free Rides, residents 16-and-older can complete a short, one-time application to verify residency, similar to a library card application. Following approval, riders will be able to use the Heartland Bike Share’s Bicycle app at any of its 87 stations to check out an e-bike.

The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement launched My City Greater Omaha with the Greater Omaha Chamber this spring. Its goal is to advance civic engagement and leadership among 25 participants in a free, eight-week program. Participants will learn how civic systems work, build further leadership skills and confidence, and make meaningful connections with other leaders and organizations in the community.

Adaptive Crossroads, which supports individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and seniors, is moving into a new location at 156th and Maple on May 1st.

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Cole Young, Contributing Writer

Creighton baseball completed a season sweep of Omaha with a 15-10 win Wednesday night. The Bluejays jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the third, and Omaha answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to keep the game tight. Creighton then scored nine straight to take a 14-3 lead into the seventh. Omaha scored six straight in the seventh and eighth to put pressure on the Bluejays but ultimately couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 15-10.

Creighton (22-16, 7-2), currently atop the Big East standings, hosts Butler on Friday at 6 p.m. to open a weekend series at Charles Schwab Field. Omaha (13-19, 8-6) will host St. Thomas for a series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. at Tal Anderson Field.

Omaha softball drew a program-record 2,320 fans for Tuesday’s game against No. 1 Nebraska, a sellout crowd that shattered Omaha’s single-game home attendance record. Its previous record was 1,537, set last season against Nebraska. Tuesday’s game was tied 4-4 in the third, but the Huskers used home runs in the next three innings to take control of the game and left Connie Claussen Field with an 11-4 victory.

The Mavericks return to Summit League action Thursday for the start of a two-game series at North Dakota before returning to Omaha for another rivalry matchup against Creighton.  Omaha took the first game against Creighton this season, 3-2, and has won three in a row against the Bluejays dating back to last season’s sweep. Tuesday’s contest will begin at 6 p.m. at the Creighton Softball Stadium.

Omaha swept the Summit League’s Pitcher of the Week honors, announced Tuesday, with Maddia Groff (softball) and Maddox Meyer (baseball) each earning a nod for their performances last week.

Maddia Groff went 2-0 with a save in three outings during last weekend’s sweep over South Dakota State, where the Mavericks closed out a perfect 9-0 home record in Summit League play. In 15 innings, Groff held the Jackrabbits to a .148 average and racked up 23 strikeouts.

In game one of Omaha’s April 19 doubleheader at North Dakota State, Maddox Meyer threw five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. This is Meyer’s second Summit League Pitcher of the Week honor this season.

Creighton also earned multiple weekly conference honors, with Tara Vandewater (softball) and Connor Capece (baseball) taking home Big East Player of the Week, and Audrey Gilman (softball) earning Big East Freshman of the Week.

Vandewater hit 6-for-11 (.545) with two doubles, two home runs and a conference-leading 10 RBI and five runs scored in Creighton’s series sweep of St. John’s. Pitcher Audrey Gilman went 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA against the Red Storm, accumulating eight strikeouts in 14 innings.

Connor Capece led the Bluejays to a weekend road sweep of Villanova, going 7-for-14 (.500) at the plate while adding 10 RBI. Capece recorded a hit in each game last week, extending his hit streak to six games

The Omaha Supernovas swept Orlando and Atlanta on the road, securing two crucial wins in what was a career week for Merritt Beason. She combined for 31 points, 23 kills and 15 digs in the two matches, and posted a career-high .448 hitting percentage in Sunday’s sweep at Atlanta. In Sunday’s match, Omaha hit a franchise-record .413.

Omaha will return to action in its home finale against the Columbus Fury on Friday at 7 p.m. for Fan Appreciation Night and a Stripeout at the CHI Health Center. Omaha (13-13) sits in fourth place in MLV standings with two matches remaining in the regular season, with Grand Rapids (11-14) behind them. Omaha can clinch the franchise’s third consecutive playoff appearance with a win in either three or four sets on Friday.

Union Omaha opens USL Cup play against USL Championship club Indy Eleven at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The 2026 USL Cup is the third edition of the USL’s interleague cup competition, and is a World Cup-style tournament featuring all 42 clubs from the USL Championship and League One. Kicking off Saturday, April 25, clubs will be split into seven regional groups, with each club playing four group stage games in the opening phase of the tournament, which concludes on Saturday, July 11. The seven group winners and one wild card will advance to the knockout stage, beginning August 13.

Creighton baseball shortstop Ben North was one of 50 shortstops in the country named as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award on Wednesday. North leads the Bluejays with a .358 average this season, compiling 49 hits, 35 runs scored and 33 RBI. He has provided a stellar defensive performance in addition to his output at the plate, carrying a .953 fielding percentage. The Brooks Wallace Award honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year.

The Omaha Storm Chasers won last week’s home series against Indianapolis, 4-2, and currently sit in fourth place in the International League’s West Division at 12-9 overall. Omaha is playing a road series this week against the Toledo Mud Hens that is tied 1-1. First pitch for Thursday’s game is at 5:25 p.m.

Omaha will return to Werner Park next Tuesday, April 28, to host the Louisville Bats. That series will open at 12:05 p.m. on Tuesday, and the club will be promoting “Pitch in for the Pantry”, where fans can bring three cans of non-perishable food items in exchange for one berm ticket.

Omaha Hockey’s 2026-27 National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) schedule was revealed Tuesday. Omaha will open conference play on the road with a series at defending national champion Denver on October 30-31, and will return to Baxter Arena the following weekend for its first home conference series against St. Cloud State on November 6-7. The full NCHC schedule can be found on Omaha Athletics’ website.

Upcoming Events

• Omaha Storm Chasers at Toledo | April 21 – 26 | 5:35 p.m. Thursday
• Omaha softball at North Dakota | April 24 – 25 | 6 p.m. Thursday
• Creighton baseball vs. Butler | April 24 – 26 | 6 p.m. Friday
• Omaha baseball vs. St. Thomas | April 24 – 26 | 6 p.m. Friday
• Creighton softball at UConn | April 24 – 26 | 6 p.m. Friday
• Omaha Supernovas vs. Columbus Fury | Friday, April 24 | 7 p.m.
• Union Omaha at Indy Eleven | Saturday, April 25 | 6 p.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. North Dakota State | Tuesday, April 28 | 11 a.m.
• Creighton softball vs. Omaha | Tuesday, April 28 | 6 p.m.

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Historic Library Building Downtown

By Patrick Wyman

While Omaha celebrates the opening of its reimagined Central Public Library uniquely positioned outside of the urban core, let’s take a look back at its first permanent location.

While the Omaha Public Library wasn’t established until 23 years after the city’s founding in 1854, its roots go back to 1857 with the formation of the Omaha Library Association. It failed within three years but found life again in 1872 thanks to three men, among others, whose names are synonymous with Omaha: Byron Reed, Andrew Poppleton, and James Woolworth. They opened a small library on the second floor of the A.J. Simpson Carriage Factory at the southwest corner of 14th & Dodge Street.

It wasn’t until 1877 that the Omaha Public Library was officially established. To do so, the city levied a tax and accepted a gift of 4,500 books from the disbanded Omaha Library Association. Over the course of the next 17 years, the location of the library moved three times.

It found its first permanent home on land donated by Byron Reed. In addition to being a real estate tycoon and one of the richest men in the state, Reed was a civic leader. Upon his passing in 1891, he donated not just the land on which the library was built but also his 17,000-piece collection of books, coins and manuscripts to the city. It was reported as being among the most complete collections in the country.

The Omaha Public Library was designed by renowned architect Thomas Kimball, who studied architecture at MIT and art in Paris before returning stateside. Among his early works in Omaha was the Trans-Mississippi Exposition of 1898, for which his firm, Walker and Kimball, served as architects-in-chief. Following the library, he also designed Burlington Station and St. Cecilia Cathedral.

Kimball was living in Boston when its public library was being constructed. Its design was featured at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He ultimately designed Omaha’s Public Library after it. Among the key features of the Renaissance Revival style building is the elaborate terra cotta detailing, and the lintel just below the cornice that displays the names of important literary figures. The sandstone used to construct it was purchased at a bargain from a quarry near Hot Springs, S.D., though it proved quite difficult to extract.

The 3-story building with a raised basement was built by one of the city’s most significant contractors, John Harte. When it was complete, Kimball said that he “attempted to build a square, honest, sensible building, adapted inside and out to the purpose to which it is to be devoted.”

The library opened at 1823 Harney Street in 1894. It also served as a museum in its early years, housing Reed’s collection in addition to artifacts from the exposition and eventually Native American relics and paintings as well as other items. Within a year of its opening, it became one of just six public libraries in the nation to create a separate children’s section.

As the main library continued to serve the community, its drawbacks became apparent as the building aged and the population continued to increase. While an architectural masterpiece in its own right, Omaha won a satirical contest for being one of the worst libraries in the nation in the 1950s.

A string of successful rare coin robberies led the library to place the collection in a bank vault. The building was also the site of a failed attempt in 1965, when would-be robbers cut a hole in a wall to gain access in an attempt to steal coins from Reed’s extensive collection.

They left empty-handed after hearing the building engineer.

The city had long considered replacing its grand-yet-aging structure, which the Omaha World-Herald referred to as “the fading lady of Harney Street,” and finally did so in 1977 with the opening of the W. Dale Clark Library at the western edge of Central Park Mall.

In 1978, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Wichita, Kansas-based developer Ken Wagnon bought the recently vacated building and partnered with N.P. Dodge to renovate it for use as offices. Wagnon had also renovated Burlington Station, for which Kimball had handled the remodel in 1899. He hired Bahr, Vermeer and Haecker as architects and Foster Western Inc. of Omaha as the contractor.

The building, with its copper roof and 24-inch thick walls, had the benefit of being energy efficient. In addition to its exterior, interior features including the cast-iron staircase, banisters and woodwork were all preserved. The renovation also included the addition of a glass-encased elevator and accent lighting that highlighted the historic features inside. The lighting was handled by Los Angeles-based Peter Jens Jackson, who lit the west wing of the White House.

As a nod to its long life as a library, Wagnon purchased more than 2,000 used books to display on the shelves. When it opened as an office building in 1982, it was renamed Omaha Library Plaza before becoming more widely known as the Historic Library Building. The offices were mostly occupied by lawyers, and since 2018, it has been the home to the Omaha Housing Authority.

Today the Omaha Public Library has 12 branches, including the new Central Public Library at 72nd & Dodge Street and the Downtown Branch at 14th & Jones Street.

While libraries have evolved since the Omaha Public Library was formally established 149 years ago, the opening of its new state-of-the-art facility still serves the same purpose as its original: providing equal access to all citizens, preserving history and offering a third space that is open to all.

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Outdoor shows include:

• George Thorogood and The Destroyers with The Marshall Tucker Band on May 17
• The Black Keys on July 20
• Jefferson Starship with Atlanta Rhythm Section, Pure Prairie League and Firefall on September 24

Several indoor shows at the Astro include:

• Iron & Wine on April 29
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on June 6
• Little River Band with Ozark Mountain Daredevils on June 20
• Wolfgang Van Halen and Mammoth on July 18

More shows continue to be announced.

The Millard Makers Market series begins their monthly craft events on Saturday, April 25th from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Oakview Mall parking lot. This free community event will have more than 70 vendors and businesses to shop, live performing music, snacks and baked goods, games, bounce houses as well as a time to revisit some of the Oakview Mall businesses. Future events will take place on the last Saturday of every month until October.

The series is hosted by Local Makers Collective, a locally-rooted business that brings together unique goods and passionate vendors through thoughtfully curated markets, craft fairs and community-centered events.

The 2026 Spring Platte River Art Show will be taking place this weekend at the Peter Kiewit Lodge at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park April 24 through 26. Meet amazing artists and their works ranging from mixed media, photography, paintings, jewelry, glass, wood work, handcrafted artwork and sculptures. There will be a wine and cheese reception on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Omaha Performing Arts will present MAMMA MIA! at the Orpheum Theater starting April 28 at 7:30 p.m. and running through May 3. This jukebox Broadway musical about a bride-to-be inviting three men who could be her real father to her wedding has been a reigning classic for more than 25 years. People all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the timeless hits of ABBA that make this performance the ultimate feel-good show.

Steelhouse Omaha will present An Evening with John Cusack, featuring a special screening of Say Anything on Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m. at Steelhouse Omaha. John Cusack is a versatile actor, producer and screenwriter known for his roles in the 1980s, especially Say Anything in 1989. There will additionally be a moderated conversation and audience Q&A following the film, as well as behind-the-scenes stories and insights from Cusack.

Omaha Performing Arts just announced My Hero Academia in concert coming to the Orpheum Theater on October 1. Celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the iconic anime series and its thrilling, upbeat music. This is a unique chance to experience the story about a young powerless student attending the biggest hero academy as he pursues his dream to become the number #1 hero. Tickets start at 35$ and go on sale on April 23.

Would your business like to reach thousands of readers, who are interested in Omaha’s Arts & Culture scene? Then sponsor this section! To find out how, contact Grow Omaha’s sales coordinator, Karla Steele at karla@growomaha.com.

Did you know the Omaha industrial real estate market consists of 115 million square feet with another 3 million square feet currently under construction?

Did you know a planned mixed-use development next to Union Omaha’s planned North Downtown soccer stadium would have 500 residential units and 39,000 square feet of retail space? It would represent a $191 million investment.

Did you know Creighton University’s student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1?

This section is sponsored by Lockbox Storage, an affiliate of Omaha-based McGregor Interests Inc. We provide storage solutions for all of your storage needs. Our facilities have full-time managers and bright lighting to provide superior security for your belongings. In addition to space for rent, we also provide packing supplies, protection plans and locks along with complimentary handcarts and dollies. Visit LockBox Storage and let us help you with all your storage needs.

Outdoor Concerts at the Oasis: A Tribute to John Denver — Happening April 29, 2026
Lauritzen Gardens is launching its new Quinn Family Oasis and Amphitheater with this outdoor tribute to John Denver. The concert runs from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and is part of a larger seasonal lineup that blends live music with the garden setting.

Free Elevator Coworking Day | Every Thursday — Happening Thursdays
Elevator’s free Thursday coworking day offers a productive workspace with high-speed fiber internet, meeting rooms, free coffee and a built-in community of entrepreneurs. It runs weekly from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Elevator Co-Warehousing in Omaha’s Old Market. No registration is required.

Gr8er Plains Summit — Happening May 1, 2026
The Gr8er Plains Summit is geared toward active and prospective investors interested in venture-backed companies and features interactive roundtable conversations rather than standard speaker sessions. Topics include why startup investing matters, trend data from the past decade and how to handle early-stage due diligence.

Pitch Black Conference 2026 | Culture. Capital. Change. — Happening May 2, 2026
Pitch Black is a Midwest entrepreneurship conference built to support diverse communities through speakers, a business expo and a pitch competition. Entrepreneurs can compete for up to $15,000 in seed funding along with more than $65,000 in technical assistance, while also connecting with investors, mentors, and other business resources.

Derby Day — Happening May 2, 2026
Derby Day brings Southern charm to Papillion with live music, casino-style games, standout fashion and horse racing shown on a massive outdoor LED screen. The event also supports the Papillion Community Foundation, making it a festive afternoon out with a community-minded purpose.

This section is sponsored by Eagle Mortgage, a locally owned, full-service mortgage company helping you with Conventional, VA, FHA and USDA loans in both Nebraska and Iowa. Learn how Eagle Mortgage helps people afford the home of their dreams by clicking HERE!

NAI NP Dodge has added Ava LeGrand-Swanson as a licensed commercial real estate salesperson. She graduated from Kansas State University in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She was an athlete on the volleyball team and was the starting setter and captain of the 2025 team that made the NCAA tournament. She was 2nd Team All-Big 12 and 1st Team All-Region in 2025 as well as an Academic All-Big 12 honoree in 2023, 2024 and 2025. LeGrand-Swanson’s real estate experience includes working for Back 9 Development in Manhattan, Kan.

NP Dodge Real Estate has welcomed three residential sales associates to the team, including Amanda Nohava, Colby Dostal and Rashonna Watkis.

Following its April 1 acquisition of Omaha’s American National Bank, Wisconsin-based Associated Bank has named longtime Omaha banking leader Jason Hansen as Nebraska and Western Iowa market president. Hansen joined American National in 2000 and most recently served as its president prior to the acquisition.

Scoular announced that Grain Division vice president and general manager Phil Van Court has been promoted to company president, effective June 1. David Faith currently has a dual role as president and chairman of the board. As part of structured succession planning, some of his responsibilities will transition to Van Court. Moving forward, and for the foreseeable future, Faith will continue to focus on Scoular’s corporate governance as chairman.

Mutual of Omaha has appointed Carolyn Estrada as Chief Accounting Officer. Previously, she served as vice president and Chief Accounting Officer at OneAmerica Financial Partners and held senior leadership roles at CNO Financial Group. Earlier in her career, she spent more than a decade with Deloitte & Touche in the firm’s insurance practice. Estrada is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University.

The Greater Omaha Chamber is a catalyst and connector, advocating for businesses small and large. Learn, share and grow with more than 12,000 professionals from 3,000 member businesses across Greater Omaha. Click HERE to see our latest events.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Here’s a job that’s on the rise: tailors. Most tailors working in the United States are approaching retirement age, so there’s a big need, according to the Wall Street Journal. It’s a job that seems to be AI-proof. The only problem is that it takes years to master the craft.

It’s not uncommon for participants to interrupt Microsoft Teams meetings by accidentally hitting the “raise hand” feature. Causing the disruption can be kind of embarrassing. According to The Verge, Microsoft is redesigning the meeting software, which will move the raise hand button from the main toolbar and allow users to personalize the controls displayed there.

The Two-Second Pause Rule – When a high-stakes moment occurs—such as a disagreement during negotiations, a sharp objection, competitor mention, or deal crisis—pause for two seconds before speaking. According to Sales Gravy, this creates a cognitive buffer, shifting you from reactive to controlled.

SALES

During sales training sessions, we tend to focus on “hard skills,” critically important things like prospecting, qualifying, overcoming objections and closing techniques. But there are many “soft skills” that help you become a top producer, and one of them is “emotional intelligence.”

According to business strategist Abhi Golhar, here are some ways you can increase your emotional intelligence:

• Use an assertive communication style, not a passive or aggressive one. It’s okay to be in charge of a conversation while still being respectful of the other person.
• Respond instead of reacting to conflict. The emotionally intelligent person remains calm and attempts to use reason more than raw emotion.
• Use active listening skills. When I think of active listening, I think of being “fully present” in a conversation.
• Be self-motivated. Emotionally intelligent people set goals.
• Practice ways to maintain a positive attitude and understand how your moods affect other people.
• Practice self-awareness by paying attention to your emotions and how they’re perceived by others.
• Take criticism well and not in a defensive manner.
• Emotionally intelligent people know how to empathize. They understand that empathy is a trait that shows emotional strength, not weakness. Empathy helps them to relate to others on a basic human level.
• Emotionally intelligent people have excellent leadership skills. They have high standards for themselves and set an example for others to follow. They take initiative and have great decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Emotionally intelligent people are approachable. They smile and give off a positive presence. They utilize appropriate social skills. They have effective interpersonal skills and know how to communicate clearly both verbally or nonverbally.

Savvy sales pros realize that emotion is always part of every deal. Emotion is ALWAYS present. It’s present in every prospecting call, every demo, every pitch, every objection and every close.

WISDOM

“The four most expensive words in the English language are ‘This time it’s different.’” – John Templeton

Building Omaha is a partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) & the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Together, we provide the highest level of trained electricians for residential, low-voltage, or commercial construction projects. Visit buildingomaha.org to learn more. Earn while you learn and apply for our Apprenticeship Program by clicking HERE!

The financial gurus of Wall Street tell us that as we age, we need to decrease our exposure to stocks and increase our exposure to bonds. They feel so strongly about this that they have created a product, which they will happily sell to us, that does this automatically. They are called a target-dated funds, also known as a lifecycle funds.

Target-dated funds are actively managed mutual funds that begin with a high percentage of stocks and a lower percentage of bonds. Over time, they sell down the stock portion and increase the bond portion.

They are called target-date funds, because the bond portion of the portfolio is targeted to achieve its maximum level when the owner reaches retirement age.

Most target-dated funds are held in 401(k) accounts. One reason might be that in many 401(k) plans, if the owner fails to pick a fund, their money is defaulted to the age-appropriate target-dated fund. Another explanation for the high concentration of target-dated funds in 401(k) is that they have the highest payout to the broker who recommends them.

The maintenance fees charged by mainstream target-dated funds range anywhere from 1.5 percent to as much as 2.5 percent, whereas the typical generic stock or bond fund has an expense ratio of .85 percent. Then compare those fees with the fees charged by index funds, which can be as low as .01 percent. A 1 percent difference may not sound like much, but for a 401(k) owner with a $250,000 account balance, that’s $2,500 a year and $25,000 a decade.

There are target dated funds that have a 2.25 percent management fee, while the bonds in the portfolio are paying 1.75 percent, giving the owners of target-dated funds a double whammy.

The whole premise for target-dated funds is the widely-held belief that bonds are safer than stocks. Webster tells us that an old wives’ tale is an epithet used to indicate that a supposed truth is a superstition or untrue.

Warren Buffet (and many others) feel that the notion that bonds are safer than stocks is an old wives’ tale. For the first two decades of the 21st century, inflation hovered in the 1.5 percent range. Then, in late 2020, inflation spiked into the double-digit range. During periods of inflation, the purchasing power of the face value of bonds declines. Thus, when a bond matures, the dollars paid to the owner will buy a smaller number of goods and services than they did when the initial investment was made.

Inflation is much more kind to stocks, because it increases the value of the nation’s capital goods.

If your number-one priority for your 401k dollars is a minimum amount of volatility, then a target-date fund might be your best choice. If, however, you prefer to put more money in your pocket and less money in Wall Street’s pocket, I suggest you look elsewhere.

Grow Omaha’s Wall Street section is now available for sponsorship. Nearly 25,000 people subscribe to this newsletter, and as a group, they are influential, affluent and highly educated. That makes this section particularly popular! For advertising information, contact Karla Steele, Sales Coordinator, at karla@growomaha.com

Quantum Fiber in Omaha, Nebraska, is super-fast, reliable internet. We did away with data caps, bundles, and pricing gimmicks because you don’t want them. Instead, you get game-changing customer service, transparent pricing, and a powerful app for freedom, simplicity, and control over your internet. Quantum Fiber is what internet service looks like when it’s built for the world of you.

The Grow Omaha radio show broadcasts live every Saturday morning at 9:00, but now you can watch videos of each episode instead of just listening.

Grow Omaha’s brand-new website features video footage shot inside the radio studio during each week’s show!

Videos include News of the Week, Lightning Round, guest interviews, and “Grow Omaha Uncut,” a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during commercial breaks.

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