The February 19th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

QVOLE, a tequila bar, is taking over the former Beer Can Alley space in the Capitol District downtown. Beer Can Alley closed last month. Interior renovations are now underway inside the second-floor space at 1080 Capitol Avenue. QVOLE is now hiring but no opening date has been announced. The bar’s Facebook page says, “Get ready for high-energy vibes, beautiful aesthetic, premium cocktails and unforgettable nights.”

Construction is now underway on a new restaurant inside the former Local Beer Patio & Kitchen space at Village Pointe Shopping Center. That’s where Culinary Dropout will open its first Nebraska location. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Culinary Dropout has 15 restaurants in nine states. The closest existing locations are in Denver and Indianapolis. Opening is scheduled for this summer.

Talus Spirits & Sustenance will soft-open March 2 at 17205 Evans Street in Whispering Ridge, according to owner Aron Mackevicius. The West Maple corridor restaurant marks the brand’s second location alongside its original Papillion spot.

Oto HiFi Lounge officially opens today in Aksarben Village. Oto is Omaha’s first hi-fi lounge and cocktail bar and is located in a 1,500 sq. ft., ground-floor space in HDR’s headquarters building. Oto doesn’t serve food, but guests can order small bites from Tiny’s Pizza and Nori nearby. Named after the Japanese word for sound, Oto soft-opened last Thursday. The grand opening starts today at 4 p.m.

The former 13th Street Coffee Company space did not stay vacant for long. Brewed Philosophy Café is now open at 519 South 13th Street. The business opened February 14th but still has limited hours as it gets up to speed. Brewed Philosophy Café offers classic coffee/espresso drinks as well as a Latin-inspired menu.

Twin Peaks has officially opened at 313 North 179th Street in Village Pointe West, marking the chain’s return to the Omaha market after its previous location near 173rd & West Center Road closed several years ago.

Construction has started on two quick-serve restaurants on the northwest corner of 204th & Harrison Street in the Coventry Development. Closest to the corner is Hyper Energy Bar. The Iowa-based, drive-thru, beverage chain opened its first Omaha shop near 180th & West Maple Road last year. Just to the north, dirt work is underway on Omaha’s eight Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers restaurant.

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is building a restaurant at 1130 North 203rd Street. That’s southeast of 204th & Veterans Drive just north of Metropolitan Community College’s Elkhorn campus. The building is now mostly enclosed. The restaurant should open by summer. Kansas City-based Hawaiian Bros has locations in 14 states. Existing Nebraska shops are at in Miracle Hills and at Interstate 80 & Highway 370.

Stretch Zone will hold a joint grand reopening and ribbon cutting on February 21 for its two Omaha studios at 16920 Wright Plaza in Legacy and 14450 Eagle Run Drive in Grayhawk. The events follow the health-and-fitness business coming under new local ownership by Leslie Garth.

Dry Spokes will close its brick-and-mortar location at 1901 Leavenworth Street on March 14. The nonalcoholic cocktail bar cited an out-of-state military assignment for one of its co-owners as the reason for the closure. Dry Spokes recently marked its third anniversary.

Sea Thai has permanently closed at 3157 Farnam Street in Midtown Crossing. In a Facebook post, the restaurant said the closure was due to ongoing construction in Midtown related to the streetcar. Sea Thai served Thai cuisine and Cajun-style seafood boils.

Burger King will close its Florence neighborhood restaurant at 7606 North 30th Street on February 23. The closure follows other recent Omaha-area shutdowns, including the Burger King near 175th & West Center Road.

The Family Fare Supermarket at 5110 South 108th Street plans to close permanently on March 6th. The store is located in the Empire Park shopping center northwest of 108th & Q Streets. Family Fare has nine other Omaha-Council Bluffs locations.

Learn more about Anderson Convenience market at www.Anderson1952.com

Eppley’s Billion-Dollar Terminal Expansion Passes Halfway Point

By Isaiah Ang

On time and on budget. That was the message members of ULI Nebraska received at their monthly event this week from Daniel B. Owens, director of planning and engineering at the Omaha Airport authority. The event was hosted at the JetLinx hanger at Eppley Airfield.

Owens reported that the $950 million Terminal Modernization Program reached a major milestone at the end of January, officially reaching 50 percent completion.

The massive project consists of the now completed central utility plant with updated chillers and boilers, the central pavilion and security gates currently under construction and future demolition of and rebuilding of a larger north concourse. Additionally, extensive renovations are ongoing throughout existing structures that will remain, including current remodeling of the south concourse.

Once the under-construction central pavilion opens, the airport will consist of one continuous concourse served by 22 gates; currently the airport has 19 gates. While the number of gates will not increase dramatically, total square footage will increase from 375,000 sq. ft. to 646,000 sq. ft. Waiting areas by gates will nearly double in space, and the airport will add its first private traveler’s lounge under the Escape Lounges brand.

Other improvements include quadrupling the number of elevators, tripling the number of escalators, building larger bathrooms, modernizing the baggage system and introducing dramatically upgraded concessions programming located primarily in the central pavilion and post-security gates.

The central pavilion will feature both national and local purveyors. National and international brands such as Plum, Hudson, Panda Express and Starbucks will serve travelers alongside popular local businesses such as Block 16, Fernando’s, Scooters, The Mill and Runza.

An additional $65 million in funding, including federal grants, have helped build other improvements outside of the terminal project, including the recently completed canopy over the driveway and a third skywalk that will connect the center section of the terminal to the parking garages. The existing skywalks will also be totally renovated with new glass and design elements to match the upgraded terminal.

The central pavilion and much of the concourse are set to open in 2027. Thereafter, demolition and rebuilding of the north concourse will begin with an anticipated completion in 2028.

ULI Nebraska is a satellite of ULI Kansas City District Council. ULI, or Urban Land Institute, is an international cross-disciplinary network of real estate, design and development professionals with an aim to provide policy standards and expertise to help improve land use planning and real estate development practices.

ULI Nebraska will host three events in March that are open to everyone, with discounted fees for members. Events include a presentation on a report completed by local experts on issues and planning regarding affordable housing, an update on emerging trends in real estate, and a project tour of Tenaska Center of Arts Engagement. More information is available at their website, https://kansascity.uli.org/get-involved/nebraska/.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Omaha Public Schools is renovating the Teachers Administrative Center at 3219 Cuming Street. According to a building permit, plans include renovating 8,500 sq. ft. of existing office space for a student and community services center, improvements to the main entry, and an updated reception area and security office.

The ownership of a long-vacant hotel at 10909 M Street and the City of Omaha are nearing a “demolition arrangement,” according to KETV. The city hired a contractor to demolish the eyesore building, but the out-of-state ownership protested. A judge put the demolition on hold until a hearing last week, but the hearing was delayed until March 9. An attorney this week said the ownership is “pleased to announce that it is negotiating a building demolition arrangement with the City, but nothing is final yet.”

Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority held a topping-out ceremony this week to commemorate the placement of the final, highest beam in the CHI Health Center’s $200 million convention center expansion. The 90,000 sq. ft., 2-level addition on the east side features floor-to-ceiling glass walls and expands the number of meeting rooms from 16 to 41. Upon completion, CHI’s convention space will total 420,000 sq. ft. The existing convention center space will receive updates to flooring, woodwork and bathrooms.

Cobalt Credit Union plans to build a branch building in Council Bluffs. According to the Planning Commission agenda this week, Cobalt will build at The Marketplace Council Bluffs located on the southeast corner of I-80 & 24th Street. The branch will be built on a vacant lot directly east of a Culver’s restaurant at 3245 South 24th Street.

Omaha Performing Arts will celebrate the official opening of the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement, starting with a ribbon cutting on March 19th. The $108 million, 4-story, 103,000 sq. ft. building was recently completed at 12th & Douglas Street immediately east of the Holland Performing Arts Center. The public can see inside the building during an open house Sunday, March 22 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

A coalition of local business owners and residents has formed the Streetcar Impact Alliance, an organization focused on the economic and residential health of the Harney and Farnam corridors during the streetcar project. Businesses between 13th and 42nd streets are reporting “significant drops in foot traffic, confusing road closures and a lack of direct financial mitigation from the city,” according to a press release.

“The Alliance was formed to move beyond individual complaints and create a unified voting and economic bloc to negotiate directly with city officials and the Omaha Streetcar Authority,” the press release said. The Alliance will hold its first public meeting on Monday, February 23, and encourages business owners and residents affected by the project to attend.

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Only a few years after selling its newspaper holdings to Lee Enterprises, Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway disclosed that it purchased 5.1 million shares of the New York Times late last year, during Warren Buffett’s last few months as CEO. The purchase was worth $351.7 million.

Fraser Stryker PC LLO has signed a lease to relocate its offices from the Energy Plaza building at 17th & Harney Street to a 4-story building at 1501 Mike Fahey Street in the Builders District. The law firm has been located at Energy Plaza for 65 years. The move will take place this year. The 120,000 sq. ft. recently completed North Downtown building is also home to Noddle Companies’ corporate offices, The Root Coworking, Fly Fitness and a yet-to-be-announced sports bar.

The Hotel Deco at 1504 Harney Street will become part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, joining 192 other independent boutique hotels in 25 countries. The official change could happen as soon as late March, but Hilton’s website says it will be this June. The 89-room hotel will remain open during the transition. Hotel Deco operates in an 11-story, 96-year-old building that was once known as The Redick Tower.

Union Pacific has been rated North America’s best performing railroad for intermodal service in 2025 in the Intermodal Service Scorecard published by the Journal of Commerce.

The Men’s Health Clinic has opened at 557 North 155th Plaza in Pepperwood Village. The clinic offers testosterone replacement therapy, sexual health treatments, hair loss solutions and medically supervised GLP-1 weight loss therapies. According to a press release, patients receive personalized consultations, clear education about their options and ongoing medical monitoring to ensure safety and results.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s 2025 Annual Report to the shareholders will be posted online Saturday, February 28 at approximately 7:00 a.m. Berkshire will also issue an earnings release. The annual report will include Greg Abel’s first annual letter to shareholders as well as information about Berkshire’s financial position and results of operations. The report will also include information regarding Berkshire’s Shareholders Meeting to be held in Omaha on Saturday, May 2.

Forward Physical Therapy + Performance is moving from 12302 Emmet Street to the former Bodysmith Fitness space at 12309 West Maple Road on March 2nd. The practice features doctorate-trained physical therapists with expertise in strength and conditioning.

Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index dropped below growth neutral February, according to the monthly survey of rural bank CEOs in a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and energy. The overall reading for February fell to 47.9 from 52.0 in January. This marks the 12th time since January 2025 that the index has moved below the growth neutral threshold. A score of 50.0 is neutral.

Touching Hearts at Home is the Greater Omaha Chamber’s February business of the month. Since its founding in 2007, the organization has focused on “helping seniors and adults maintain independence, dignity and quality of life – right where they are most comfortable.”

Grow Omaha Business News is brought to you by Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner, Inc. (TD2). Since 1967, TD2 has partnered with municipalities, developers, architects and builders to shape the places where people live, work and connect. TD2 provides comprehensive services in civil, structural and geotechnical engineering as well as land surveying, materials testing and construction observation — all with a focus on client service and community impact. Discover how TD2 is engineering Omaha’s future HERE.

Partners for Livable Omaha, the nonprofit organization which manages the Omaha Mobile Stage, issued a Request for Proposals from qualified parties interested in acquiring the stage and continuing the program. The stage, which unfolds from the back of a truck, currently operates as a mobile, community venue to increase access to the performing arts throughout the Omaha metro.

The Visiting Nurse Association will host its 29th annual Art & Soup fundraiser Sunday, March 8, at the Omaha Design Center. Event attendees are encouraged to purchase art from local artists and bid on auction items while enjoying delicious soups prepared by some of the best chefs in the metro area. All proceeds ensure that VNA nurses continue to provide public health nursing services to more than 1,600 youth and adults in local homeless shelters, group maternity homes and domestic violence shelters.

The vinNEBRASKA Foundation announced that individual tickets are now on sale for the Saturday Night Grand Wine Tasting, Dinner and Auction Saturday, April 11. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a two-hour Grand Wine Tasting, where attendees can sample an impressive selection of wines poured by generous and highly regarded vintners—many of whom return year after year to support this mission.

Following the tasting, guests will enjoy a 3-course dinner. Proceeds from the weekend benefit Completely KIDS, an Omaha-based nonprofit that educates and empowers children, teens and families through after-school and summer programs, food access and family support services. Funds also support the vinNEBRASKA Foundation’s culinary and wine scholarships.

More than 1,100 participants took an icy dip in Lake Zorinsky Saturday for the 21st annual polar plunge event. The fundraiser raised more than $350,000 for Special Olympics Nebraska.

Spring Ahead? Omaha Real Estate Trends for 2026

By Jill Anderson

The Omaha residential real estate market is entering 2026 with steady fundamentals, moderate price growth and improving buyer activity, according to the January Great Plains Regional MLS report.

New Construction: Rising Demand, Stable Pricing

New construction is seeing encouraging signs of momentum. Pending sales increased 13.6 percent year-over-year in January, while new listings rose 5.7 percent.

Although closed sales were down 20 percent compared to last January, homes are selling faster, with days on market decreasing 19.3 percent to 67 days.

Pricing remains steady. The median closed price increased 0.5 percent to $426,367, and the average price rose 2.5 percent to $482,944.

Builders are still receiving strong offers, averaging 100.4 percent of list price.

Inventory levels are essentially unchanged, with a 6.5-month supply—indicating there might be some incentives to ask for.

Existing Homes: Competitive but Moderating

The existing home market remains competitive, though conditions are gradually normalizing. Pending sales increased 3.7 percent compared to January 2025, while new listings rose slightly by 0.6 percent. Closed sales dipped 1.1% year-over-year.

Home values continue to appreciate at a healthy pace. The median closed price climbed 4.6 percent to $298,000, and the average closed price rose nearly 10 percent to $353,607.

Homes are taking a bit longer to sell—30 days on average, up 25 percent from last year—but sellers are still receiving 98.0 percent of list price. Keep in mind, this stat is based off of the last time a home was listed, so if a seller cancels then re-lists the property, this number does not reflect the total days on market. Inventory of existing homes increased 5.8 percent, though months’ supply remains tight at just 1.3 months.

Outlook for 2026

The data suggests that 2026 could shape up to be a year of gradual stabilization and renewed activity. Rising pending sales in both new construction and existing homes point to strengthening buyer confidence early in the year. Inventory is slowly improving, which may help moderate the pace of price growth while still supporting home values.

If mortgage rates remain stable or ease later in the year, Omaha could see stronger closed sales activity heading into the spring and summer markets. New construction appears particularly well-positioned, with improving affordability and balanced supply. Meanwhile, the existing home market is likely to remain competitive, especially in move-in-ready and mid-price ranges.

Overall, Omaha enters 2026 with a healthy, resilient housing market—characterized by steady appreciation, improving inventory and cautious optimism among buyers and sellers alike.

If you would like specific information on your neighborhood or house, or have a real estate question, let’s chat!

Grow Omaha Residential is developed and sponsored by Jill Anderson, President Residential Sales, NP Dodge Real Estate 402.255.5099 or jill.anderson@npdodge.com.

We’re not just real estate. We’re NP Dodge.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

Creighton remains on the road until Saturday’s game at No. 17 St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is at 11 a.m. and will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Omaha softball is off to its best start since transitioning to Division I at 9-0, and is the top-ranked mid-major team in this week’s D1 Softball Mid-Major Rankings for the first time in school history. The Mavericks also received votes in national polls such as the NFCA/GoRout D-I Top 25 Coaches Poll and the D1Softball.com Poll.

Pitcher Maddia Groff struck out 17 batters over 11.2 innings and allowed just one earned run in her two starts. She earned the Summit League’s Peak Pitcher of the Week award for her work. Teammate Bailey Sample was named Peak Performer of the Week after recording nine hits and seven RBIs in the Mavericks’ five games.

Omaha will travel to Troy, Ala. this weekend for five more games, with the first of the weekend coming against Kennesaw State on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

The Omaha Supernovas acquired libero Elena Oglivie in a trade with the Grand Rapids Rise last Friday. Omaha sent libero Morgan Hentz to the Rise and received Oglivie and the Rise’s 2026 first-round pick in the MLV Draft. Oglivie currently leads the MLV with 3.86 digs per set.

The Supernovas are on a two-game losing streak after falling to Dallas and Orlando at home last week and are now in third place in MLV standings at 7-5 overall. Omaha travels to San Diego this weekend to face the Mojo on Sunday at 6 p.m. Sunday’s match will be televised nationally on VICE TV.

LOVB Nebraska was swept by LOVB Atlanta in the second match of the LOVB Classic on Saturday. Nebraska now sits second-to-last at fifth place in league standings at 3-6 overall and will use a long week off to prepare for its next match against last-place LOVB Madison. On Sunday, LOVB Nebraska will host Madison in a nationally televised match on ESPN2, with first serve at 5 p.m.

Creighton baseball graduate student Teddy Deters was named Big East Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Bluejays to a series road win at Saint Mary’s over the weekend. Deters posted a .364 batting average and .500 on-base percentage to help Creighton start the season 2-1.

Creighton will return to California this weekend to play in the Tony Gwynn Legacy tournament, and will play UC San Diego on Friday, University of San Diego on Saturday, and Utah on Sunday. Play will begin on Friday against UCSD at 8 p.m.

Omaha baseball was swept by Arizona State in the first series of its 2026 season over the weekend before picking up a much-needed win against Arizona on Tuesday. Omaha will also play in the Tony Gwynn Legacy tournament this weekend, facing BYU on Thursday and Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday. First pitch against BYU will be tonight at 8 p.m.

The Omaha Kings and Omaha Queens professional arena soccer teams will host Community Celebration Night this Saturday at Baxter Arena, with free admission for teachers and health care workers and discounted tickets for their families. “Our goal has always been to create an environment where the community feels connected to the team,” said head coach Emmanuel Viel. “This night is about celebrating the people who serve others every day and giving families a memorable experience together.”

Saturday’s event will be a doubleheader with the Queens taking on the Kansas City Astras at 4 p.m. and the Kings facing off against the Iowa Raptors at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Events

• Omaha women’s basketball at South Dakota | Thursday, Feb. 19 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha baseball vs. BYU | Thursday, Feb. 19 | 8 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Kennesaw State | Friday, Feb. 20 | 8:30 a.m.
• Creighton softball vs. South Dakota | Friday, Feb. 20 | 12:30 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Furman | Friday, Feb. 20 | 1:30 p.m.
• Omaha baseball vs. Western Michigan | Friday, Feb. 20 | 3 p.m.
• Creighton softball vs. UT Arlington | Friday, Feb. 20 | 5:30 p.m.
• Omaha hockey at Arizona State | Friday, Feb. 20 | 8 p.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. UCSD | Friday, Feb. 20 | 8 p.m.
• Creighton softball vs. Wichita State | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
• Creighton men’s basketball at #17 St. John’s | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 11 a.m.
• Omaha baseball vs. Western Michigan | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 12 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Nicholls | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 1:30 p.m.
• Omaha Queens vs. Kansas City | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 4 p.m.
• Omaha hockey at Arizona State | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Troy | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 6:30 p.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. San Diego | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Kings vs. Iowa | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Kennesaw State | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 9 a.m.
• Creighton softball vs. UT Arlington | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 11:30 a.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. Utah | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 1 p.m.
• LOVB Nebraska vs. LOVB Madison | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 5 p.m.
• Omaha Supernovas at San Diego | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball at South Dakota | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha women’s basketball vs. Oral Roberts | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | 6:30 p.m.
• Creighton men’s basketball vs. DePaul | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | 8 p.m.

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The Christian Specht Building

By Patrick Wyman

One of Omaha’s most well-known historic buildings bears the name Specht. Located across from the Gene Leahy Mall, the building was constructed by Christian Specht for his Western Cornice Works.

Born in Germany in 1847, Christian Specht arrived in Baltimore at the age of 18. From there, he is said to have walked to Cincinnati, where he worked in his uncle’s sheet metal business. Soon afterward, he established Western Cornice Works, a company that manufactured cornices, dormer windows, finials and other decorative architectural elements.

He relocated the business to Omaha in 1880 and built the Specht Building at 1110 Douglas Street in 1884. Designed in the Italian Renaissance style by architects Alfred Dufrene and Louis Mendelssohn, it was one of just three buildings in the city to feature a facade made entirely of cast iron. The cast-iron front was produced by Specht’s own company and served as a striking advertisement for its craftsmanship. The remainder of the building was constructed of pressed brick.

Cast-iron fronts were popular in the mid-1800s because their components could be mass-produced and erected quickly without sacrificing ornate detailing.

These buildings typically had narrow frontages, as cast iron could not span wide distances, but they allowed for open floor plans with tall ceilings and large windows that maximized natural light. The Specht Building features large windows and a central double door flanked by columns and pilasters on the ground floor. The upper two floors contain three windows separated by Corinthian columns, with pilasters at the corners of the building. The cornice was once topped by a parapet that is no longer present.

The building served as the headquarters, showroom and workshop for the Western Cornice Works, which prospered during Omaha’s construction boom of the 1880s, when metal cornices and architectural features were in high demand. Despite this success, the company vacated the building by 1886. By 1894, its owner had moved to Los Angeles, where he founded California Cornice Works, which became one of the largest businesses of its kind on the West Coast.

Afterward, the building was home to a variety of businesses, including the Allen Brothers wholesale grocery; J.J. Wilkinson’s box factory; Allen P. Ely & Company, a dealer in new and used machinery; Carl Furth Supply House, a distributor of Arrow beverages; Piggly Wiggly, the grocery store chain; Nogg Brothers Paper Company; Rubin Distributing, a wholesale company; and Tires, Inc.

A notable incident involved the Schmoller and Mueller Piano Company, which used the poorly suited building to store pianos, phonographs and records. In 1920, a fire weakened the structure, causing the roof and third floor to collapse. Seven firefighters were injured, and one died beneath the rubble, while the blaze left extensive damage.

The building found new life beginning in 1980, when prominent artist Tom Bartek transformed it into his art gallery, Ground Floor Gallery, as well as his studio and residence. Bartek remained at the Specht Building until 1986, after which, the building was purchased by Todd Simon of Omaha Steaks.

Simon, who also owned the nearby Happy Hollow Coffee Building which he used as his personal residence, renovated the Specht Building and converted the upper floors into apartments. Meanwhile, the ground floor commercial space became home to several interior design businesses, including JEM Interior Designs, Davis Design and Julia Russell Designs. Since 2021, it has been home to the Museum of Shadows, which displays more than 5,000 haunted artifacts.

The Specht Building was saved from demolition twice in the last couple of decades. In 2001, there was a proposal to raze two entire city blocks to make way for the Holland Performing Arts Center. In 2015, another proposal called for its demolition to make way for a parking garage. Alongside the Restoration Exchange, now known as Preserve Omaha, the community rallied around the building.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and designated an Omaha Landmark in 1981, the Specht Building stands as a reminder of the past even as its neighbors were replaced by the Holland Performing Arts Center, the Gene Leahy Mall and the Capitol District. Against all odds, the state’s only building with an entirely cast-iron facade still stands.

Since 1917, Bankers Trust has been a leading financial institution for commercial and consumer banking services. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with $7.5 billion in assets, Bankers Trust is the state’s largest privately held community bank. Bankers Trust has operated a loan production office in Omaha since 2008 and opened its first full-service branch in 2025. Visit Bankers Trust at the corner of 192nd and Dodge to see how we can make a difference for all your personal and commercial banking needs.

The Creative Impulse will host a Sharpie Art workshop at the Cuxlr House on February 25 at 6:30 p.m. at 3014 North 24th Street. This workshop pulls inspiration from street art, graphic design and bold typography to explore what you can do with one of the most versatile art tools. Participants will learn techniques focusing on color, contrast and expression all on mixed media paper and a curated set of markers. No previous experience required, just come with an open mind and creative curiosity! Complimentary beverages included. For more information, visit here.

Film Streams presents Dundee Marquee, a monthly event series celebrating a century of iconic cinema starting in late March. Film Streams invites audiences to experience 10 iconic films – such as Life of Pi, Casablanca, The Wiz, Cinema Paradiso, Everything Everywhere All At Once and more – that define the cinematic experience. Dundee Marquee is a continuation of 2025’s Dundee Hundee, a centennial series that celebrated Dundee Theater’s 100th birthday, becoming Omaha’s longest surviving neighborhood cinema. Individual tickets and series packages for Film Stream Members for Dundee Marquee will go on sale Thursday, February 26. General public tickets and packages will go on sale Thursday, March 5.

The Omaha Symphony announced 52 mainstage performances between September 2026 and June 2027 for their 2026/27 season. This season is stacked with incredible performances, including Masterworks, Symphony Joslyn, LIVE with the Omaha Symphony, Family Series, as well as the annual Choral Collaborative program in partnership with area high schools. The Omaha Symphony will also present a variety of community and education-focused programming, as well as concert recordings available to watch for free on its digital platform Omaha Symphony Anywhere as part of a continuous commitment to providing broad access to music lovers in Omaha and around the globe.

Omaha Performing Arts will feature the musical sensation & Juliet at Orpheum Theater from March 3 through March 8. Created by David West Read, who famously wrote for Schitt’s Creek, this hilarious musical flips the script of the iconic love story. It explores the “what if” scenario: what if Juliet didn’t end it after Romeo? She flies off with a fresh start and a second chance at life and love, filled with pop anthems and a fun story. For tickets, visit the website.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Do you get anxious during business networking events? Make a game plan before you go, says Psyche magazine. Begin managing your anxiety by getting ahead of it. Decide how long you’ll stay and set yourself some achievable and measurable goals, such as introducing yourself to two new people or asking at least one question.

The best leaders have mastered the art of “organizational conversation,” which means they interact with their teams in a more personable way, as if it were two people having a conversation, according to Inc. magazine. Leaders who get this know when to stop giving out tasks and start listening to people’s insights and ideas.

Business Travel – More than 500 hotels are listed on “Bring Back Doors,” an online campaign against the disappearance of fully closable, opaque bathroom doors in hotel rooms, according to The Hustle. Increasingly, they’ve been replaced by sliding barn doors, curtains and other solutions that simply aren’t as “private.” Of course, if you’re traveling by yourself, it really isn’t an issue.

SALES

Cold-Calling will always matter. Cold calling isn’t going anywhere. It never has been, and it never will be. So says best-selling sales author Jeb Blount.

Why? Because sales is a human business. People buy from people they trust, and you can’t build trust through automated emails that sound like they were written by AI.

A phone call gives you something email never can: the ability to prove you’re a real human being who’s genuinely there to help, not just to pitch and sell.

When you call someone and say, “Hey, I sent you an email last week with this case study because I saw you talked about this at the Outbound Conference,” you’re showing them you did your homework. You’re not just another robot in their inbox.

Here’s Blount says he loves: “Would I be the worst salesperson in the world if I didn’t also try to call you?” It’s honest, it’s human, and it cuts through the noise.

WISDOM

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” – Epictetus

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Did you know from 2020 to 2024, the Omaha metro grew by 3.3 percent? That’s faster than the state as a whole and roughly on par with similar metro areas like Kansas City.

Did you know Omaha is now the nation’s 55th largest metro area, bigger than Honolulu, New Orleans and Albuquerque?

Did you know that most out-of-town people who visit Omaha come from Kansas City, Sioux Falls, S.D. and Des Moines, Iowa?

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Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress happening February 20th, 2026 Step into Morris’s colorful world in this imaginative play by Juliany Taveras, inspired by Christine Baldacchino’s beloved children’s book. Morris loves puzzles, painting and blasting off as an astronaut—especially while wearing his tangerine dress that makes him think of tigers, the sun and his mom’s hair. When classmates challenge his choices, he leans on his dream-fueled imagination to find his own answers. Bring the family for a vibrant, feel-good story about individuality and all the different “right” ways to play—grab tickets.

Winter Wine Walk, presented by Bloc Fitness happening February 21st, 2026 Take a cozy stroll through Midtown Crossing and sip your way through a relaxed wine walk from 3 to 6 p.m. Pop into participating spots for 2.5-oz pours of several wines at each stop, plus suggested food pairings to match. Pricing varies by location, and the full wine-and-food pairing menu will be posted on MidtownCrossing.com the week of the event. Make an easy afternoon of it with nearby garage parking near 33rd & Farnam Street—stop by.

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show – Omaha, happening February 22nd, 2026 Spend the night at the DoubleTree Hotel Omaha Southwest for an interactive comedy murder mystery served with a full plated dinner. The twist: the culprit blends right in, and the actors do too—no obvious costumes, just a room full of suspects. You’ll compare notes, follow clues and try to crack the case while the story unfolds around you. It’s a fun, social pick for groups, team outings or date night—grab tickets.

Free Elevator Coworking Day | Every Thursday happening February 26th, 2026 Swap your usual setup for Free Coworking Thursday at Elevator, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Settle in with high-speed fiber internet, grab free coffee and take advantage of meeting room access when you need it. You’ll be working alongside founders, freelancers and remote pros, so it’s easy to get focused and meet a few new people along the way. Come try out modern coworking for the day—RSVP.

Beer Floats happening February 26th, 2026 Float Fest at Scriptown Brewing is your excuse for a laid-back, family-friendly treat night from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy classic root beer floats for all ages, plus a creative menu of beer floats for guests 21+. With Coneflower Creamery in the mix, it’s a sweet, easy hang for families, friends and anyone craving a casual night out in Omaha. Swing by and order a float.

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Burlington Capital has promoted Mary Blaney to Chief Financial Officer. Blaney joined the firm in 2017 and will oversee Burlington Capital’s financial operations and strategy. A Certified Public Accountant, Blaney was most recently the company’s vice president of finance.

First Westroads Bank has appointed Matthew DeBoer to its board of directors. DeBoer is global director of transportation architecture at Omaha-based HDR, Inc. He serves on the board of directors for United Way of the Midlands and the Aksarben Foundation. He is also an active member of the American Institute of Architects and has previously served as president of both AIA Nebraska and AIA Omaha.

Bridges Trust has promoted Colter Boice, Dan Podpeskar and Connor Pugno to portfolio manager.

Core Bank has announced that Cesile Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, will serve on the Tech Nebraska Board.

Immanuel has named Julie Kaminski as president and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 20. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the nonprofit senior living provider. Kaminski succeeds Eric Gurley, who is retiring.

In Memoriam – Omaha business leader and philanthropist Michael Yanney has died at age 92. At native of Kearney, Neb., Yanney founded Omaha-based Burlington Capital. With his wife, Gail, he founded Partnership for Kids, a mentoring and scholarship program, in 1986,

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.

When I was a kid, the fast-food menus were short and sweet: burger, fries and a Coke. Once in a while, you might run into an outlier that offered a milkshake. In those days, a similarly short list of choices applied to investors. If you wanted to invest, you went to the office of a Wall Street broker, who told you what stock to buy and when to sell it. No internet trading, no index funds, and the government regulators set the commissions. You had no other choices.

That was then and this is now.

I recently checked the menu of a major fast food chain, and they had 19 variations of hamburgers, six different types of fries and onion rings, and 37 brands of soft drinks. The same menu expansion has occurred in the investment world. We now have full-service brokers, wealth managers, financial planners, robo- advisors, discount brokers, online investing, mutual funds, index funds, hedge funds, exchange traded funds and free trading with no account minimums. There are also a few thousand ways to combine any of the above into a personalized solution.

The expanded menu of investment choices is the good news but also the bad news. Some people are born shoppers and head straight to the burger they want. Others take days deciding what to have for lunch. The same applies to today’s investors. Some gravitate immediately to an investment approach. For so many others, the expanded menu makes their search for an investment solution an arduous one.

The $64,000 question is: How do you decide which investment program works for you? The process begins with identifying your personal situation and outlining what you expect from your investments. Issues such as your age, the size of your account, your level of investment experience and even your level of interest in investing all enter into the equation.

Today’s investors have the ability to build a customized investment package that fits their finances and personality. There is no one-size-fits-all in investing – neither is one approach sacred and the other a heathen.

The most important thing is that investors feel comfortable with the plans they choose. Remember that entering a program does not mean you are locked in to it for a lifetime! Like all parts of your financial situation, it’s important to monitor your investment plan and modify it as your life situation changes.

It’s also important to keep an eye on the financial service industry as it develops additional and innovative products and services. It may be the industry’s situations that changes instead of yours.

For the latest on industry changes to the index fund menu, visit my podcast, Wall Street for Dummies on Apple and Spotify.

Flawless Finish is a locally owned and fully insured janitorial company committed to providing high-quality, affordable cleaning services throughout the Omaha area. We take pride in delivering reliable, professional results tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Whether it’s a restaurant, office, or any other commercial space, our team works efficiently and thoroughly to maintain a spotless environment without breaking the budget. As a trusted name in the community, we prioritize customer satisfaction, consistent communication, and dependable service you can count on.

Learn more HERE!

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.

Support the Grow “O” Mission

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