The January 15th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

The Peach Cobbler Factory will soon open its first Nebraska location in Omaha. A local franchisee is currently searching for locations, most likely in the Aksarben area or in northwest Omaha. Restaurants typically range from 1,300 to 1,600 sq. ft. The Peach Cobbler Factory is a dessert specialty restaurant that serves cobblers, ice creams, shakes, cinnamon rolls, banana puddings, sweet peach tea and similar items. Based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., the chain has 170 locations nationwide. The closest existing locations are in St. Louis and Tulsa, Okla.

Piato, a modern Mediterranean concept, has opened at Inner Rail Food Hall at 1911 South 67th Street in Aksarben Village. The vendor replaces Zaytuna, the family-owned Mediterranean restaurant that closed its Inner Rail location in December 2025. Online ordering is available. Zaytuna’s location at 7204 Jones Street remains open.

Szechwan Bistro, a Chinese restaurant, will hold its grand opening tomorrow – January 16 – at 9820 South 71st Plaza near 72nd & Cornhusker Road in Papillion. Soft opening took place earlier this week. The restaurant serves Sichuan-style cuisine with dishes like mapo tofu, kung pao chicken and twice-cooked pork, along with vegan options.

Dreamland Lounge, a jazz-inspired lounge and live entertainment space, plans to open in a 1,000 sq. ft. space at 3927 Ames Avenue next to the Southern Spoon restaurant. The soft opening is expected to take place in February with a grand opening scheduled for April. Owned by Sahil Sethi and Katie Raine, Dreamland Lounge will feature live jazz, soul, R&B and contemporary music alongside live art installations, artist showcases, fashion activations, pop-ups, runway moments, comedy nights and curated cultural events.

Don & Millie’s opened on January 14 at 18110 Wright Street in the former Zio’s Pizzeria space near 180th & West Center Road. The employee-owned regional chain now operates six Omaha-area locations and two in Lincoln.

Shoeman’s Liquor & More, a recently opened liquor store in the Blackstone District, is already expanding. Chad Shoeman opened the liquor store in late November at 3737 Farnam Street on the ground floor of the 9-story 37 West Farnam building. Now Shoeman is preparing to launch a bodega-style, urban grocery store immediately to the west in an adjoining bay. The grocery store will open in late March. Shoeman also owns the Red Lion Lounge one block to the west.

m’bellish, a women’s clothing boutique, has opened at 1810 North 120th Street southwest of 120th & Blondo next to Taxi’s Grille & Bar. Owned by Rachel Blum and Patricia Longacre, the business “upcycles gently worn clothing into fun, chic and one-of-a-kind pieces for women.” m’bellish is also home to The Pink Needle Embroidery, a new embroidery and monogramming company, as well as other local vendors including Finch Leather Goods and Drzaic Eye Jewelry.

Plato’s Closet will hold a grand opening on January 22 at 5421 North 90th Street inside Plaza North Shopping Center just north of Fort Street. The weekend-long event will run through January 25 and will include giveaways, a mocktail bar and double rewards points. Its existing location is at 14528 West Center Road inside Harvey Oaks Shopping Center.

O’Reilly Auto Parts plans to open a store in Baker Square Shopping Center. The Springfield, Mo.-based retail chain plans to open inside the former JOANN fabric-and-craft store space at 13415 West Center Road, according to a City of Omaha building permit. O’Reilly has 15 existing Omaha-area stores.

Jones Bros. Cupcakes and Scooter’s Coffee have closed their Westroads Mall locations at 10000 California Street. Jones Bros. Cupcakes closed December 31 but continues to offer catering services. Scooter’s was located for many years near JCPenney and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Omaha-based coffee chain has more than 850 locations nationwide.

ECCO is closing its footwear and accessories store at Nebraska Crossing later this month. The store has operated at the Gretna mall since 2021. Ecco is based in Denmark and has approximately 2,250 stores in more than 100 countries.

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Blue Hawaii Delivers Island Flavor Right Down to Sushi Tacos

By Chris Corey

Blue Hawaii opened at 1301 S. 72nd St. in the Aksarben area in July 2024, a spin-off from one of restaurateur Jian “Peter” Pan’s previous concepts. It’s the kind of place that reinforces a familiar truth: some of the best food can be found in strip malls. Sitting beneath a large Massage Envy sign, flanked by Jersey Mike’s and Wellness Edge, Blue Hawaii delivers Hawaiian cuisine from an unexpected corner of Omaha.

Pan was born in China and moved to Hawaii as a teenager, where he attended high school. It was there that a teacher gave him the English nickname he still answers to today: Peter. He doesn’t have an official culinary pedigree; his background comes from family recipes and years of hands-on work. For years, he worked with family and friends at L&L Hawaiian BBQ, a well-known chain of restaurants that began in Hawaii. Pan worked at several locations across multiple islands, including Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. There, he learned about Hawaiian plate lunches, the art of grilling and sushi-making. He absorbed recipes and techniques passed down from family.

Not long after marrying his wife Maomao, they started a family of their own and in 2018 decided to move to Nebraska.

“It’s a pretty tough decision since we had a lot of connections, spending half my life in Hawaii,” Pan recalled. “It was just crazy expensive, you know, I got a new family and then my wife and I decided to have some restaurants in Nebraska.”

Today, Maomao operates one of their other restaurants, Bobo China.

Pan emphasized that Hawaiian cuisine is not a singular tradition, but a blend of cultures. It’s a true melting pot of food culture developed from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino and other influences. It’s shaped by plantation workers who shared meals and techniques. It’s what defines Hawaiian food, and it’s what he wants to represent authentically in Omaha.

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Local Commercial Real Estate Market Strong at the End of 2025

NAI NP Dodge, the commercial real estate division of N.P. Dodge, produces a report on Omaha’s commercial real estate market each quarter. Below are some highlights from the fourth quarter of 2025.

Office

The 48.5 million sq. ft. Omaha office market ended the 4th quarter of 2025 with a vacancy rate of 7.3 percent, which was down from last quarter. Absorption over the past 12 months was -82,600 sq. ft. Rental rates were up to $25.82. Approximately 1.5 million sq. ft. of office space is under construction at this time, a little less than last quarter.

Retail

Approximately 65.4 million sq. ft. of retail space was considered for this report, which is based on CoStar data. At this time, 483,000 sq. ft. of retail space is under construction, which is up from last quarter. Vacancy went down to 4.3 percent. Rental rates were $18.68 per square foot. The 12-month net absorption was 197,000 sq. ft. at the end of the quarter, down from the previous period.

Industrial

Omaha’s industrial sector continues to be strong. The total market size is 114 million sq. ft. Approximately 2.8 million sq. ft. of industrial space is currently under construction, down substantially from the previous quarter. Industrial vacancy is 2.9 percent, which is the same as last quarter. Rental rates are $8.53, down one penny from last quarter. The 12-month net absorption is 1.2 million sq. ft., which is up from last quarter.

Fourth Quarter Development Highlights

During the fourth quarter, the Avenue One development announced that upscale retailers West Elm, Arhaus, Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn plan to open stores at the 192nd & West Dodge Road site in 2027.

The City of Omaha created a program to incentivize the construction of upscale hotels near major attractions such as the CHI Health Center.

The Union Omaha professional soccer team, in partnership with the City of Omaha, announced plans to develop a $114 million stadium as well as a 20-acre, mixed-use development district northeast of Charles Schwab Field in North Downtown.

Escape Lounges announced that will open Eppley Airfield’s first-ever airport lounge when the $1 billion new terminal opens.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Fidelity Investments plans to open an office in a future building at Heartwood Preserve, the 500-acre, mixed-use development west of Boys Town. Construction has started on a 5,885 sq. ft., free-standing building at 166 North 144th Street. The 1.04-acre lot sits between an existing Starbucks Coffee and First Watch restaurant. Fidelity will have a 15-year lease on the building when it is complete later this year.

The City of Omaha approved a building permit earlier this month for the Bryan Elkhorn Campus, a 14.6-acre outpatient healthcare campus southwest of 204th & West Center Road in the Privada subdivision. Lincoln-based Bryan Health will construct two medical office buildings, totaling 139,538 sq. ft. Bryan Health plans to start serving patients at the site in 2027.

The Only Facial is opening a second Omaha location. According to a building permit, The Only Facial will occupy a spot in the retail strip at 17205 Evans Street in Whispering Ridge in northwest Omaha. The 1,800 sq. ft. retail space will include eight treatment rooms. Based in St. Louis, The Only Facial’s current Omaha location is at 1020 South 74th Plaza.

New Horizon Academy is building a 13,322 sq. ft. daycare center providing care for children ages 6 weeks to 59 months old at 16770 Willit Street. That’s northeast of 168th & State Street in far northwest Omaha. The company is developing other Omaha locations near 192nd & West Dodge Road in Avenue One and at 20618 R Street in the Coventry development. Based in Plymouth, Minn., New Horizon Academy has more than 100 schools in Minnesota, Idaho, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas.

Assemble, a “creative crafting hub,” has leased 2,000 sq. ft. at 1440 South 13th Street, according to Mary Purcell of NAI NP Dodge, who represented the tenant in lease negotiations. The space is on the ground floor of the recently completed Boho Flats building in Little Bohemia.

Omaha Mayor John Ewing issued an executive order intended to lower barriers for Small and Emerging Businesses by providing priority access to city projects estimated to be between $15,000 and $50,000. To participate in the program, companies must be formally authorized by the city. Requirements include a physical working location within the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro Statistical Area and adherence to specified earnings and personal net worth caps.

The Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation is renovating its offices at 10718 North 84th Street. A building permit provides detail regarding the renovation, including a move from traditional office spaces to an open floorplan for the 16,000 sq. ft. building. The foundation was founded in 1990. Walter Scott, Jr. served as the top executive at Peter Kiewit Sons’, Co for nearly two decades. The foundation has helped numerous projects including renovations of the Walter Scott Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo and the building of the 10-story Suzanne & Walter Scott Cancer Research Tower at UNMC.

Visit Omaha has released its 2026 Omaha Visitors Guide, which features top attractions, restaurants, events and neighborhoods to help both visitors and locals explore Omaha. In 2025, nearly 190,000 guides were distributed through hotel brochure racks and visitor services locations. Of that number, more than 4,000 were requested online or by phone, while 540 were downloaded. Free copies are available at https://www.visitomaha.com/about-omaha/visitors-guide/.

Now that actual track construction has started on the future streetcar route, Eric Miller, streetcar operations manager for the City of Omaha, takes a deep-dive look at construction progress near Farnam Street & Turner Boulevard. You can read this week’s transportation column HERE.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has once again been awarded the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a national recognition of the university’s commitment to public service, partnership and impact. UNO is one of just 277 institutions nationwide to have the designation, awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

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Developers created more condominium units in Omaha in 2025 than the previous year, but overall condo development remains extremely light. According to attorney Bob Dailey, a condo expert at McGrath North, 56 condo units were created in 2025 primary conversions in existing buildings. Forty-six of them were residential; 10 were commercial. Though the state of Nebraska enacted a pro-condominium law years ago, no traditional condo buildings have been built in Omaha in recent years.

McGregor Interests, Inc., has completed development of Omaha Contractor Bays’ 30,000 sq. ft. industrial building designed for small- to mid-sized industrial users northwest of 156th & Highway 36 in Bennington. Available suites are 1,250 to 5,000 sq. ft. and are tailored for contractors and tradespeople. Suites have retail storefronts, large overhead doors, high ceilings and customizable floor plans.

Dumpster Dudez of Omaha has launched residential and commercial dumpster rental services in the greater Omaha area, offering waste management solutions for homeowners and businesses. The locally operated company provides 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-yard dumpsters. Founded by Cal Foley and Travis Nelson, Dumpster Dudez supports home renovation cleanouts, construction debris removal and general cleanup projects. The company is now accepting bookings for rentals in 2026.

Travel with Barb, Inc., a company that specializes in student group travel services, has leased 2,463 sq. ft. of office space at 11919 P Street, according to Trenton Magid and Hilke Meyer of NAI NP Dodge, who represented the landlord in lease negotiations.

ProsperSpark, an Omaha-based, business productivity and automation consulting firm, has become a Softr Certified Partner. The partnership strengthens ProsperSpark’s ability to help organizations launch secure client portals, internal tools and workflow systems that reduce manual work and speed up service delivery. Softr is a platform used to build modern web apps—like client portals, dashboards and internal tools.

Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above growth neutral is January, according to the latest monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and energy. The region’s overall reading for January climbed to 52.0, its highest reading since July 2023, and up from December’s 50.1. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.

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Crews demolished a downtown motel this week to make way for a unique project led by nonprofits. Hoppe Development is partnering with a participant of Spark CDI’s co-Development Apprenticeship program, Donell Brown, to build a 73-unit, mixed-income, senior housing community with more than half of the units affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income. The request for proposal to develop the site at 2211 Douglas Street was originally issued by Front Porch Investments in collaboration with Together Omaha.

Omaha-based nonprofit Partners for Livable Omaha completed a year of work on its OurStory Small Houses program, which included piloting an architectural internship program with Actual Architecture Co. and the UNL College of Architecture and hosting a design exhibition, funded by a 2025 AARP Community Challenge grant and others. Last year, construction began on the project’s two aging-ready small homes in the Benson-Country Club area.

The Durham Museum is offering free admission on Monday, January 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The day will feature a range of family-friendly activities and special guests including Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr.

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To honor Jordan and her belief in family, friends and love of the Nebraska volleyball community, LOVB Nebraska has introduced the Kae Community Award, named in honor of Jordan’s mom Kae. A full story on Larson’s retirement and the Kae Community Award can be found on the Grow Omaha website.

Creighton Athletics will name its future athletic facility “The Bill” in honor of the late Bill Scott, a longtime donor to the university. The family of Bill and Ruth Scott made the lead gift to build The Bill, a 50,000 sq. ft. athletics facility for Creighton’s 300-plus student-athletes.

Located at 20th & Burt Street, The Bill will be immediately west of The Ruth (The Ruth Scott Training Center), the practice space for Creighton volleyball and women’s basketball.

The Bill is part of Fly Together, the $300 million, donor-funded project that will transform Creighton’s athletic and recreational corridor with 11 new or upgraded facilities. Construction of the facility began in the summer of 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2027.

The Omaha Supernovas are off to a 2-0 start following a pair of victories last week. Omaha began its 2026 campaign at home, sweeping the San Diego Mojo on Thursday night in front of 9,538 fans. Outside hitter and team captain Sarah Parsons, in her first match with the franchise, set two new franchise records, recording 21 points and 17 kills. Both marks are the most in a three-set match in franchise history.

On Saturday, Omaha took to the road and defeated Columbus, 3-1. Brooke Nuneviller and Sarah Parsons provided 19 kills each to lift the Supernovas over the Fury.

The Supernovas return to Omaha for a three-match homestand, with the Atlanta Vibe up first tomorrow, January 16 at 7 p.m. Friday’s match will be broadcast on News Channel Nebraska and 660 AM KCRO.

Sarah Parsons earned Major League Volleyball’s first Player of the Week award in 2026 for her performance in the Supernovas’ undefeated opening week. Parsons paced the Supernovas with 45 points and 36 kills in the pair of wins.

LOVB Nebraska has started 1-1 on the season, playing two matches that have gone all five sets. Nebraska traveled south for a 2025 LOVB Championship rematch against Austin, and took a 2-1 lead before dropping the final two sets.

LOVB Nebraska returned home on Sunday to host Houston and won a thriller in five sets. Set two of the match was won by Nebraska, 37-35.

This weekend features two matches for the club, with the first coming on the road against LOVB Madison at 7 p.m. on Friday. On Sunday, LOVB Nebraska will return to Baxter Arena to host LOVB Atlanta at 5 p.m.

Creighton men’s basketball scored an improbable comeback victory over Georgetown Tuesday night, stealing an 86-83 overtime victory over the Hoyas. The Bluejays were down 76-69 with under two minutes to play before going on a 7-0 run that ended with an Austin Swartz 3-pointer with 17.8 seconds remaining. Georgetown almost ended the game on a buzzer-beater, but Langston Love’s layup was determined to have still been in his hand at the buzzer following review.

Creighton now sits in fourth place in Big East standings at 5-2 in conference play. On Friday, the Bluejays travel to Rhode Island to face Providence at 5:30 p.m. Friday’s matchup will be broadcast on FS1.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha women’s basketball vs. St. Thomas | Thursday, Jan. 15 | 6:30 p.m.
• Creighton men’s basketball at Providence | Friday, Jan. 16 | 5:30 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey at Miami (Ohio) | Friday, Jan. 16 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha Queens FC vs. Iowa | Friday, Jan. 16 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha Supernovas vs. Atlanta | Friday, Jan. 16 | 7 p.m.
• LOVB Nebraska at Madison | Friday, Jan. 16 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Lancers vs. Des Moines | Friday, Jan. 16 | 7:05 p.m.
• Omaha Kings FC at Iowa | Friday, Jan. 16 | 8 p.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball at Providence | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 12 p.m.
• Omaha women’s basketball at Oral Roberts | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 2 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey at Miami (Ohio) | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 5 p.m.
• Omaha Queens FC vs. Iowa | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 5 p.m.
• Omaha Lancers vs. Tri-City (Neb.) | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 6:05 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball at Oral Roberts | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Kings FC at Minnesota | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Supernovas vs. Orlando | Sunday, Jan. 18 | 3 p.m.
• LOVB Nebraska vs. Atlanta | Sunday, Jan. 18 | 5 p.m.
• Creighton women’s basketball vs. Xavier | Tuesday, Jan. 20 | 6 p.m.
• Creighton men’s basketball vs. Xavier | Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha men’s basketball vs. South Dakota | Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 7 p.m.

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The 1200 Landmark Center in Downtown

By Patrick Wyman

The construction of US West’s 1200 Landmark Center in 1988 reflected a balance between preservation and development in Omaha. While one historic building was saved, another—among the city’s oldest—was lost as part of a project that was promoted as the largest office development ever undertaken in the city. The complex included a 15-story office tower, a five-story data center, and a parking garage.

The company acquired two prime city blocks located between Gene Leahy Mall and the Old Market, spanning Farnam to Harney streets and 11th to 13th streets. While the westernmost block had been cleared years earlier and used as a parking lot, several buildings to the east were razed to make way for the project:

• P. E. Iler Block (1108–1112 Harney Street). Constructed in 1881, the first Iler Block housed Willow Springs Distillery. The other storefront was rented to Lee, Fried & Company, a wholesale hardware dealer.
• Omaha Crockery Building (1116–1120 Harney Street). Constructed in 1918 for the wholesale queensware and china company.
• Baker–Corey–McKenzie Building (1120–1124 Harney Street). Constructed in 1919 for Baker Brothers Engraving Company and the Corey-McKenzie Printing Company.
• Smith Building (1113 Farnam Street). Constructed in 1877, it was home to Orchard and Bean, wholesale and retail carpet dealers.
• Dewey and Stone Building (1115–1117 Farnam Street). Constructed in 1876, it was the oldest building downtown and home to one of the city’s earliest and largest furniture dealers.
• Clarke and French Building (1119 Farnam Street). Constructed in 1879 for Hugh G. Clarke and J. B. French, prominent wholesale and retail grocers.

Only one building in the two-block area was retained: the Millard–Kirkendall and Jones Building at 1102 Harney Street. It was spared because it had been recently renovated and was considered “a very important building architecturally in the Old Market,” according to City Planning Director Marty Shukert.

Built by Ezra Millard in 1887, the five-story structure originally housed Kirkendall, Jones & Company, a wholesale boot and shoe company. The brick building with rough-cut stone features a central Richardsonian entrance facing Harney Street. Three large arched windows on the second floor echo the arch of the entrance below and are divided by cast-iron mullions. A rough stone band and brick corbelling crown the top story, while varied window treatments on the third and fourth floors enhance the façade.

By the 1890s, the boot and shoe company reorganized and relocated across the street. The building later housed numerous wholesale firms, including the Omaha Tent & Awning Company and National Auto Supply.

The 21,000 sq. ft. building was listed for sale in 1982. After sitting vacant for several years—including a failed attempt by Applause Video to convert it into headquarters and warehouse space—it was purchased by developer Emil Vohoska, who had recently completed the renovation of the former Windsor Hotel into residential units, only the second such project in The Old Market following Mercer Management’s Howard Hotel.

The upper floors were converted into 13 luxury condominiums known as Lion Place, while the ground floor was leased to Michael Henery. Along with partner Michael Abboud, Henery operated Michael’s II Mexican Restaurant before opening Michael’s Cantina at the Market in 1987. In 1992, he expanded into the basement with the opening of T. Henery’s Pub. After Michael’s closed in 2019, the space became home to Voodoo Taco while the pub remains downstairs.

When US West completed Landmark Center in 1991, its five-story data center permanently blocked 12th Street between Farnam and Harney Streets, severing the visual connection between two of the city’s greatest assets: Gene Leahy Mall and The Old Market. Originally intended to provide a visual link between the new urban park and the evolving market-turned-entertainment district, the United States National Bank arches that were saved and reconstructed in Gene Leahy Mall in 1977 no longer served that purpose.

While the data center and parking garage remain unchanged, four floors of the Landmark Tower were converted in 2021 into a boutique hotel, The Farnam, along with Catalyst Lounge and Dynamite Woodfire Grill. By contrast, the former Millard-Kirkendall and Jones Building remains at its familiar location on the northwest corner of 11th and Harney Streets.

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Cali Commons has a few events coming up:

Buzzed: A Bee Tribute will debut on January 16-18 and January 23-25. The opening reception will be Friday, January 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Buzzed is a tribute to our tiny winged heroes, the bees, who keep the world blooming. This art show swarms with creativity, featuring works from local artists inspired by the beauty, brilliance and ecological magic of bees. Admission is free, and street parking available on 40th Street (north/south of California) and on California east of 40th.

The art event Pinecone Bumble Bees will be hosted on January 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This hands-on art experience will allow participants to explore bee‑inspired artwork and make tiny pollinators using pinecones, wings, and wiggle eyes. Feel free to branch out and create any insect or pollinator that sparks your imagination. This free drop‑in craft activity will be available while supplies last.

Bee Keeping with Mark Welsch of Elmwood Park Honey will be held on January 18 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., celebrating local bees, local blooms and the incredible honey produced in Omaha’s Elmwood Park. Mark Welsch, local beekeeper, will be at Cali Commons for an open discussion on bee keeping, as well as honey for sale. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about how honey is made, this is a chance to connect and learn.

Saint Cecilia Cathedral will present the Saint Cecilia Cathedral Flower Festival January 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and January 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at their Cultural Center & Gallery at 701 North 40th Street. Experience beautiful flowers, soothing music, admirable creations and other artworks, and the architectural design of the building. Admission is free.

Opera Omaha’s Susannah will be featured at the Orpheum Theater on January 30 and February 1, directed by famed soprano Patricia Racette. The renowned soprano has appeared in all of the world’s celebrated opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Paris Opera and Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Now, Racette steps into a different role as she directs Opera Omaha’s upcoming production of Susannah, a title role in which she made her opera debut at age 20.

One of the most performed American operas, the music is undeniably inspired by familiar folk melodies that underscore the opera’s Appalachian setting. Opera Omaha’s production will be one of the first in a yearlong national celebration of composer Carlisle Floyd’s centennial. For further information, visit their Opera Omaha.

Did you know that Elevator, an Omaha-based coworking office business, has expanded to Lincoln, Kansas City, St. Louis and Des Moines, Iowa?

Did you know that Creighton University is of one of only 28 Jesuit universities in the United States?

Did you know, that in 1917, Father Flanagan rented an old boarding house for his first boys’ home? The original staff of two Sisters of Notre Dame left after several weeks because of the huge workload taking care of the boys.

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The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show happening January 17th: North America’s largest interactive comedy true-crime murder mystery dinner theatre show is now playing! Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it! Each ticket includes our signature award-winning true-crime mystery dinner theatre show, along with a full plated dinner, waitstaff gratuity and plenty of surprises during the show.

Lunch & Learn: Smarter Systems for Growing Small Businesses happening January 20th: Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats, but burnout doesn’t have to be part of the job description. Come out for the January Lunch & Learn with Jocelyn Stange, Omaha-based process consultant and efficiency coach, as she shares how to design sustainable systems that reduce chaos, save time and help your business grow with clarity and balance. Jocelyn will walk through a human-first approach to workflow design and show practical ways to create people-centered systems that fit your business, not drain your energy.

Powering the Athlete Economy with Adi Kunalic happening January 22nd: Scale Omaha powered by Nebraska Startup Academy is excited to welcome Adi Kunalic for our first event of 2026. Adi is the COO and Co-Founder of the leader in NIL (name, image, likeness) tech and athlete endorsements, Opendorse. For over a decade, they’ve built a platform connecting athletes, brands and organizations, shaping the athlete influencer space and driving hundreds of millions in transactions. Today, they partner with 200+ colleges and support 150,000 student-athletes in maximizing their NIL potential. Dig into Adi’s experience as a serial entrepreneur, operator, professional athlete and more.

DIY Candle Workshop happening January 22nd: Welcome to the DIY CANDLE WORKSHOP led by Telle & Resa Candle Co. at Wick & Paper Studio! Join in for a fun and creative evening. Learn how to make your own candles from scratch and customize them to your liking. No experience necessary – just bring your vibe and they’ll provide all the materials. Don’t miss out on this hands-on experience to create something special for yourself or as a thoughtful gift for someone else.

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Baird Holm LLP has elected Brian Barmettler, David W. Rasmussen and Adam M. Ripp as partners within the firm. Barmettler is a commercial litigator whose practice encompasses a broad range of industries, including insurance, employee benefits & ERISA, construction, financial transactions, energy and trust and estates. Rasmussen practices primarily in the areas of corporate transactions, governance, structuring, succession planning, estate planning and probate/trust administration. Ripp represents businesses of all sizes in a variety of corporate transactions and general corporate matters.

Green Plains Inc. appointed Ann Reis as Chief Financial Officer. She joins Green Plains from Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, where she served as CFO, Chief Accounting Officer and assistant secretary of the board of directors. She has more than 20 years of experience across agribusiness, energy and financial services, including leadership roles at Lincoln Financial Group and ConAgra Foods.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has appointed University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li as its Omaha Branch board chair. She is currently serving her second three-year term on the Omaha branch’s board of directors.

Habitat for Humanity Omaha’s board of directors has elected Sue Thaden, CEO of Client Resources Inc., as chair. Three additional board members include Rebecca McQuillen, director, UNO Center for Real Estate and Asset Management; Aileen Warren, president & CEO, ICAN; and L. James Wright, Chief Advocacy Officer, Nebraska Credit Union League.

In Memoriam – Nathan Phillips “Sandy” Dodge, IV, passed away January 11th at age 89. After graduating from Harvard University and serving in the U.S. Air Force, Dodge returned to Omaha in 1962 to become the fourth-generation leader of the NP Dodge Company, the oldest real estate company in America still operated by its founding family. He served on the boards of Methodist Hospital, Omaha Public Power District, Omaha Community Playhouse Foundation, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the American States Water Company and many others. Dodge is survived by his wife of 65 years, Kate, three children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His son, Nate Dodge, is the current CEO of the NP Dodge Company.

In Memoriam – Colleen Barstow, co-founder and vice president of ACX Cinemas, died this past weekend after an 18-month battle with cancer. A native of Detroit, Barstow founded an entertainment and hospitality company with her husband, Bill. She was a nationally respected advocate for independent theaters, serving as the treasurer on the executive board of directors of Cinema United and chair of the Independent Theatre Owners Coalition. Barstow served as president of the Omaha Hockey Blue Line Club and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the program. In 2024, she was honored by the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame.

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

Eighty-three percent of organizations say it’s important to develop leaders at all levels, but only 5 percent have fully implemented development at all levels. Disturbingly, 25 percent of organizations say that less than 10 percent of critical leadership positions have ready and willing successors in place.

Healthy teams do not have an inherent fear of conflict. Teams that engage in healthy conflict have great meeting, pull out the ideas of all team members, solve real problems quickly, minimize institutional politics and address critical topics on a regular basis, according to author Patrick Lencioni.

Women’s participation in the labor force appears to be declining, according to Fast Company. In the first half of 2025, about 212,000 women exited the workforce, and there was a marked dip in employment among working mothers. An analysis found that the share of working mothers between the ages of 25 and 44 dropped steadily from January to June, resulting in an overall decrease of nearly three percentage points.

SALES

Sales Fact – High-performing sales organizations are twice as likely to provide ongoing training as low-performing one, according to HubSpot.

Sales Stat – Sales reps with 30 minutes or less of sales coaching per week have win rates of 43 percent, while those who receive at least two hours of coaching per week, have win rates o 56 percent, according to The Center for Sales Strategy.

WISDOM

“If you can’t get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” – George Bernard Shaw

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 American economic engine is the greatest wealth producing machine the world has ever known. At the turn of the 20th century, it produced $4 billion in revenue for the American people. Last year it produced $30 trillion, a 4,000 percent increase. In 1900, a handful of individuals, known as “robber barons,” owned 70 percent of the nation’s assets. In 1950, less than 3 percent of the American population owned stocks. Today, 60 percent of American families own stock and 73 percent of the national wealth.

We can attribute the growth of the American economic engine to our capitalist system and the ingenuity and determination of the American people. The shift in the ownership of its output came about in 1975 with the introduction of the 401k program. The acronym, 401k, comes from a section in the tax code which allows workers to deduct a portion of their wages and invest it in a tax-sheltered account, to be used later, in their retirement years.

In its initial form, a 401k plan was cumbersome and expensive. It began when an employer decided to offer a plan. They contracted with a full-service brokerage firm and a licensed broker. The full-service brokerage firms had in-house plan administration departments that were responsible for the enrolling the employees, monitoring the plans’ assets and filing the necessary tax documents. The broker provided the plan participants with a menu of mutual funds from which they were required to build and manage their own portfolios. The brokers’ compensation came from the mutual funds they placed in the plans’ fund menu. Thus, the potential for a conflict of interest existed.

The 401k program was a 180-degree paradigm shift from the nation’s previous pension retirement format. Under the pension program, the employer was responsible for the investment decisions. The assets remained with the employer and were paid out on a regular schedule to the employee. Under the 401k format, the employer remains partially involved, but the onus is on the employee to make the contributions, manage their own investments, and at the end of the day, the assets of the plan belong to the employee, not the employer. Should the employee leave the employer, they are able roll their dollars into an IRA, where the employee has complete ownership and control.

The magnitude and importance of today’s 401k program is staggering. There are more than 90 million plan participants, who own a total of $12 trillion in assets. In addition to this, there has been another 30 million Americans who have retired and rolled their assets over into IRAs, bringing the total value of the program to more than $35 trillion. This is a figure 15 percent larger than the current Gross Domestic Product. And last year, these assets produced $1.5 trillion in additional wealth, because their owners had the forethought and discipline to forego instant gratification and the dedication to wisely manage their 401k.

Manage your 401k now or flip burgers later.

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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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