The June 12th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Three businesses have signed leases to occupy the retail development under construction northeast of 180th & West Maple Road. Kros Strain Brewing plans to open a food-and-beverage concept. Locally owned L’Vinci Nails will open a salon. Smoothie King will open its fifth metro area shop. No completion or opening dates have been announced at this time.

Bora Bora Juice plans to open its first Nebraska franchise – and one of the first in America – June 17th at 13110 Birch Drive #140. That’s in Eagle Run Plaza southeast of 132nd & West Maple Road. The quick-serve restaurant serves juice, smoothies, coffee, waffles and crepes. Founded in Kuwait, most Bora Bora Juice locations are in the Middle East. Existing U.S. locations so far are limited to New York and Florida.

Mazza Middle Eastern Cuisine will soft open June 13-14 at 5 p.m. in the former Sofra Kitchen space at 220 South 31st Avenue in Midtown Crossing. The new Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant will offer 50 percent off its opening menu, including items like chicken and steak kebabs and falafel.

Primary Coffee Co. soft-opened this week at 10695 Portal Road, next to Reality Church, which launched the concept. The independently-run shop serves coffee exclusively from local roaster Archetype Coffee. A grand opening is set for June 17, with half-priced drinks offered both weeks.

Roll-Em-Up Taquitos will open its first Nebraska or Iowa location at 12448 Southport Parkway in La Vista, between Charred Burger and Dirty Dough. The California-based franchise, launched in 2019, serves street-style taquitos, taco burgers, churro donuts and street corn.

The Light House Café & Coffee will hold an official ribbon cutting celebration June 17th at 12 noon for its recently opened shop at 119 West Mission Avenue in Bellevue.

Qdoba Mexican Eats plans to open an Elkhorn-area location July 7th in the former Oklahoma Joe’s barbeque space at 1405 South 204th Street. Oklahoma Joe’s closed the restaurant several months ago but continues to operate a store at Aksarben Village. Qdoba has 10 existing Omaha-area locations.

The Spice & Tea Exchange will celebrate its official ribbon cutting and grand opening Friday, June 20 at 4:30 p.m. The store recently opened at Village Pointe Shopping Center.

Leela & Lavender, a women’s fashion boutique, plans to open in mid-July at Regency Shopping Mall. The 3,995 sq. ft. store will occupy the former White House Black Market space next to Lululemon and across from Anthropologie. Based in Fargo, N.D., Leela & Lavender has six existing locations in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Sephora, a national make-up and beauty store, is renovating the former Eddie Bauer space at One Pacific Place. The exterior signage was just installed and grand opening is scheduled for June 13. The 5,300 sq. ft. standalone store will be the second of its kind in Omaha – other stores are located within Kohl’s department stores. Sephora’s other standalone store is at Village Pointe.

BT Party Cove, a private event venue in downtown Springfield, unexpectedly closed just days after its June 6 opening. The announcement was made on June 11 on the business’s official Facebook page. The venue operated at 166 South 2nd Street.

Michaels has acquired JOANN’s private-label brands and intellectual property following the closure of all JOANN stores, including its Omaha location on West Center Road. The 600-plus products—like fabrics, sewing machines and yarn—will appear in Michaels stores and online later this year.

The “Restaurant & Retail Updates” section is sponsored by Anderson Convenience Market, featuring Quality AMOCO Fuels and serving Omaha since 1952, and proud to announce the return of Quality Amoco Fuels. Look for changes this Summer at Anderson Convenience Market – 8 Omaha area locations!

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

How Important Is Omaha Among the World’s Major Cities?

Omaha is the 54th “most important” city in North America and the 49th most important in the United States. That’s according to the mid-2025 report of the Global City Importance Model as reported by Justin O’Beirne.

The model scores urban areas according to their relative importance globally. It uses 40 regularly updated data sources across four dimensions (economic, political, cultural, and demographic) to calculate importance, with economic output and international geopolitical influence comprising the largest scoring factors.

The 10 most important cities in the world are 1. New York, 2. Washington, 3. Beijing, 4. London, 5. Tokyo, 6. Shanghai, 7. Paris, 8. Los Angeles, 9. San Francisco, 10. Shenzhen-Guangzhou-Dongg.

The 10 most important cities in North America are 1. New York, 2. Washington, 3. Los Angeles, 4. San Francisco Bay Area, 5. Chicago, 6. Boston, 7. Toronto, 8. Houston, 9, Dallas-Fort Worth, 10. Atlanta.

The model categorizes cities into several tiers. Omaha is in tier 3C, which is a city of “high importance regionally.” Tier 1 cities are “global cities,” while Tier 2 is “major city.” Tier 4 is “sub-regional city.”

The five cities ranked immediately higher than Omaha are Edmonton; Memphis; Oklahoma City; Louisville; and Buffalo.

The five cities ranked just below Omaha are Honolulu, Greensboro-Winston-Salem; Birmingham; Akron-Canton; and Rochester, N.Y.

Here are some other cities in our region with their North American rankings including Omaha:

#17 Minneapolis – St. Paul
#19 Denver
#25 St. Louis
#36 Kansas City
#54 Omaha
#63 Tulsa
#70 Des Moines, Iowa
#78 Colorado Springs
#81 Madison, Wis.
#88 Lincoln
#98 Wichita, Kan.
#129 Fort Collins, Colo.
#134 Springfield, Mo.
#136 Quad Cities area (Iowa and Illinois)
#144 Topeka, Kan.

Here are the most important cities in a few select regions of the world:

Europe = London
European Union = Paris
East Asia = Beijing
Latin America = São Paulo
Middle East = Istanbul
South Asia = Mumbai
Oceana = Sydney
Sub-Saharan Africa = Johannesburg
Russia & Central Asia = Moscow

This section is sponsored by RENZE. Click HERE to see our new addition of Taylor Gautsche and Window Optics powered by RENZE, which is now part of our RENZE family of brands. For over 130 years, we have been providing our clients with innovative solutions for interior corporate and retail branding, as well as unique exhibits and graphics for tradeshows and events. With leading-edge equipment and quality craftspeople working out of our 90,000 sq. ft. facility, we like helping brands grow. See our recent work HERE.

Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

The State Office Building at 1313 Farnam Street is officially for sale. CBRE listed the property and is seeking potential buyers. In May, Nebraska Examiner reported that the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services was considering selling the property for potential redevelopment. The department acknowledged that it is in an area of high interest along the future streetcar route adjacent to Gene Leahy Mall. The 180,000 sq. ft. building comes with 400-space parking garage just south, across Harney Street.

Heritage Omaha is collaborating with Project for Public Spaces to study the potential for a year-round, public market at The Riverfront. Public markets provide space for community building, entrepreneurship and for residents to access fresh produce and locally produced food, goods and art. Heritage Omaha is a local non-profit that spurred the development of the Riverfront Parks, Kiewit Luminarium, Central Public Library and other venues. Project for Public Spaces is a non-profit that helps communities plan and design public spaces. Heritage is gathering public input at the project’s website, www.omahariverfrontmarket.org.

Union Pacific’s newest commemorative locomotive is on display in North Downtown Omaha. The Lincoln Locomotive, #1616, honors Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. It’s on display during the College World Series through June 22nd at Union Pacific’s Home Plate just outside Charles Schwab Field. President Lincoln founded Union Pacific in 1862 when he signed the Pacific Railway Act, approving construction of the transcontinental railroad.

The City of Omaha is selling a small recreational building at 3802 North 24th Street on the northwest corner of 24th & Manderson Street. The 576 sq. ft. building would be renovated for co-officing space for three organizations that promote and maintain urban farms and seek to address food insecurity: Black Chick Farm, Omaha Sunflower Cooperative and Healing Roots African Diaspora Healing Roots Garden. Planning documents indicate that the organizations will also provide urban farm training, process seeds and hold neighborhood farmers’ markets.

Woodbury Corp. will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, June 16th at 2 p.m. for Gamescape by Cinemak, an entertainment venue that will be the first occupant of the new Crossroads development at 72nd & Dodge Street. The Crossroads’ new logo and branding will be unveiled at during the event.

During the College World Series, several Omaha attractions are running special events, according to Visit Omaha. Kiewit Luminarium is teaming up with NASA to offer space-themed, family-friendly exhibits June 12 through 15. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will host Late Night at the Zoo: Family Edition with a baseball theme on Friday, June 20.

The Bay is planning an Omaha location in Benson. The Lincoln non-profit offers free or pay-as-you-can services for youth to participate in skateboarding, art, fashion, music, workforce training and career exploration. The Lincoln location is inside a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse converted to an indoor skate park with community and office space.

The Omaha location would be an adaptive reuse of a 3-story, 34,110 sq. ft. warehouse at 6120 Military Avenue. The first floor will have an indoor skate park with street skating elements and a vert. The second and third floors will feature multiple classrooms, office space, a performance stage, fashion room, sound production studio and an esports room. The project site is currently under consideration for rezoning from general industrial to neighborhood business district.

The Military Avenue & Hamilton Street intersection is coming alive with development. On the northeast corner, the Papio NRD has started construction of the Beltline Trail entrance. The trail uses an abandoned Missouri Pacific Railroad right-of-way that cuts through North Omaha from this intersection to Adams Park. The trail has been under development since 2021, with the first two phases near Adams Park and the North Omaha Transit center being completed in 2022 and 2023. Phase 4 will connect those two portions and is currently under construction and expected to be complete by October 2025. The new trailhead at Military & Hamilton is Phase 3A of the project and is also anticipated to be completed by October 2025. Future phases will connect the trailhead to the trail at the southwest corner of Adams Park.

Across the street, plans call for the redevelopment of the long-vacant, Johnson Sash and Door building at 1412 Military Avenue. The company closed permanently in 2018. According to a planning department application for rezoning and a Planned Unit Redevelopment Overly District, the structure will be transformed into a mix-used building with ground floor commercial space and eight residential units on the second floor. The first floor will be a commercial bakery, coffee shop and café with an outdoor patio.

Grow Omaha Snippets are brought to you by Baird Holm LLP, the Exclusive Legal Partner of Grow Omaha. Baird Holm’s dedicated team of real estate lawyers has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law, including purchases, sales, construction, zoning and land use, leasing, and dispute resolution. Click HERE for more information.

Greater Omaha Chamber president Heath Mello wrote a Grow Omaha op-ed addressed to Omaha Mayor John Ewing, who was inaugurated earlier this week. You can read the entire text HERE.

Vetter Health Services is expanding its corporate office. The company is planning to build a second building at 20220 Harney Street. The expansion consists of a 2-story, 17,000 sq. ft. building that will accommodate up to 40 new employees. Vetter Health Services manages 35 Vetter Senior Living locations. Outside of Nebraska, Vetter Health Services manages a senior living facility in Springfield, Mo. and Lander, Wyo. The company currently has more than 3,500 employees.

Project Lola, a planned data center in Council Bluffs, will be smaller than originally anticipated, according to KMTV. The Council Bluffs City Council last year approved a 450,000 sq. ft. data center that would be 80 feet tall. That has been reduced to 285,000 sq. ft. and 36 feet tall. The data center will be located just off Kanesville Boulevard between Iowa Western Community College and Interstate 80.

Upside Same-Day Dental Crowns, a dental practice designed for uninsured patients, is opening July 14 northeast of 72nd & Grover Street. The practice only offers crowns, veneers, bridges, inlays and onlays. Upside Same-Day Dental Crowns will be on the second floor of the newly expanded New Image Dentistry building. Both practices are owned by four dentists who are all part of the family – Dr. Bernie Dudzinski and his three sons.

Baird Holm LLP is the only Nebraska law firm to be listed in Band 1 (the highest tier) in the five main categories used by Chambers USA 2025: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, a peer-review survey. The categories are Corporate/Commercial; Healthcare; Labor & Employment; Litigation; and Real Estate. Rankings are assessed on qualities such as technical legal ability, effectiveness, professional conduct, client service and diligence.

Entry-level workers’ confidence in their employers hit an all-time low, according to Glassdoor. Why? The job market is rough for low-level workers, and there’s a “sense of economic doom” in industries that are susceptible to tariffs.

U.S. employers added 139,000 nonfarm jobs last month, higher than the 125,000 jobs economists had estimated but lower than the downwardly revised 147,000 jobs in April, according to 1440 Daily Digest. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 per. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4 percent month over month in May and 3.9 percent year over year; both figures surpassed expectations.

Dean Snyder Construction (DSC), founded in 1958, is a family-and-employee-owned general contractor and design-build firm. We serve the commercial, food and beverage processing, industrial, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and healthcare markets. Our commitment to hard work, direct communication, owner involvement, and exceeding client expectations ensures long-term customer satisfaction. Contact us at www.deansnyder.com

Omaha Girls Rock, an organization which has empowered youth through music education since 2011, has joined The Bay, another youth-focused organization with programming, education opportunities and community centers in Omaha and Lincoln. As part of this transition, Sara Bertuldo, OGR’s longtime operations manager, has joined The Bay’s team as the Workforce Education & OGR Program Manager. Earlier this year, The Bay partnered with the City of Omaha and the Omaha Parks Foundation to revitalize the Benson Community Center, installing a skatepark in the building’s gymnasium.

For the first time ever, the Men’s College World Series will offer Sensory Kits thanks to Autism Action Partnership. Meant to help those with sensory sensitivities enjoy the ballgames, each kit includes items like noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidgets a visual timer and more. The CWS staff will maintain, clean, restock and check out the kits during the tournament.

Flatwater Free Press is kicking off a new panel series tonight (June 12) called Community Conversations. Tonight’s event will be a discussion about access to mental health in Omaha: challenges, success stories and opportunities to improve a vital system. Panelists represent public health, homelessness services, treatment providers in communities of color and families of people with severe and persistent mental illness. The Community Conversations series is sponsored by Omaha Community Foundation.

The PD Well Foundation is a newly established 501(c)3 whose mission is to support and work with Heartland Neurological to provide therapy, wellness, education and community to transform the lives of individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers. PD Well Foundation has established an endowment account that will provide ongoing support and stability for the organization. Donors can choose an unrestricted donation that will go toward the day-to-day operational needs of the organization, or they can make a restricted donation that will go to the endowment/sustainability fund. For more information, visit Heartlandneurological.com.

After coming to Omaha for the Reignite2Unite Development Symposium, the Downing Brothers – twins, firefighters and community-centric property developers featured on HGTV’s “Double Down” – said they plan to return to Omaha and collaborate with the Omaha Municipal Land Bank on a still-to-be-determined affordable housing project.

Does Staging Really Matter?

By Jill ANderson

No matter if it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, you need to be intentional about making sure your house looks its best when you go to sell. And proper staging can be a great way to do just that.

What Is Home Staging?
It’s not about making your house look super trendy or like it belongs in a magazine. It’s about helping it feel welcoming and move-in ready, so it’s easy for buyers to picture themselves living there.

It’s important to understand there’s a range when it comes to staging. It can include everything from simple tweaks to more extensive setups, depending on your needs and budget. But a little bit of time, effort and money invested in this process can really make a difference when you sell.

A study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows staged homes sell faster and for more money than homes that aren’t staged at all. In fact, three in 10 agents report a 1-to=10 percent increase in the home’s value, and nearly half of sellers experienced a faster home sale.

Which Rooms Matter Most?
Odds are you don’t have to stage your whole house to make an impact. According to NAR, here’s where buyers’ agents say staging can make the biggest difference:

• Living room- 37%
• Primary bedroom- 34%
• Kitchen- 23%
• Dining room- 17%
• Yard/outside space- 17%
• Bathroom- 13%
• Children’s bedroom- 9%
• Guest bedroom- 7%

As you can see, agents who talk to buyers regularly agree, the most important spaces to stage are the rooms where buyers will spend the most time, like the living room, primary bedroom and kitchen.

How an Agent Helps You Decide What You Need To Do
Agents hear buyers’ feedback all the time in showings, home tours, walkthroughs, and from other agents. They’ll use those insights to give their opinion on your specific house and what areas may need a little bit of staging help, like if you need to:

• Declutter and depersonalize by removing photos and personal items
• Arrange your furniture to improve the room’s flow and make it feel bigger
• Add plants, move art, or re-arrange other accessories

A lot of buyers can use the agent’s know-how as the only staging advice they need. But, if your home needs more of a transformation, or it’s empty and could benefit from rented furniture, a great agent will be able to determine if bringing in a professional stager might be a good idea, too.

Staging doesn’t have to be over-the-top or expensive. It just needs to help buyers feel at home. And a great agent will help you figure out the level of staging that makes the most sense for your goals.

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 Men’s Basketball tied their best start in Big East play (10-2) since joining the conference last night, beating Providence on the road. The Jays started the season 9-6 but have since erupted for eight straight wins, tying another program record eight straight Big East wins and grabbing sole possession of 2nd place in the conference.

There have been many contributors to the blossoming Bluejays, but Ryan Kalkbrenner is carrying the load averaging 27.3 points and 9.5 rebounds over the past four games. Next is a date with Marquette at the CHI on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Golden Eagles are the last team to figure out Greg McDermott and the Bluejays and are in third place in the BigaThe 75th Men’s College World Series begins Friday, June 13, with Coastal Carolina taking on Arizona in game one. First pitch is at 1 p.m. Oregon State will face Louisville in game two at 6 p.m. Saturday follows the same schedule, with UCLA and Murray State squaring off in game one. Heavyweights Arkansas and LSU will close out the night in game two. A full series preview can be found on the sports page of the Grow Omaha website.

Fans can celebrate the College World Series’ diamond anniversary at the RiverFront tonight. The City of Omaha will host a celebration for the event’s milestone with live music, games and musical performances capped off with a fireworks show. The celebration begins at 6 p.m. and is free to the public

Union Omaha secured its first win in nearly two months Saturday over Forward Madison FC, 1-0. The club is back in action tonight against Greenville Triumph SC at 7 p.m. Tonight, it’s hosting 311 Night, with 311 lead singer, Nebraska native and Union Omaha minority owner Nick Hexum performing an acoustic set post-match. Hexum will sign autographs pre-match. The club has released a co-branded jersey with 311 that is available for preorder on its website.

Creighton baseball pitchers Garrett Langrell and Wilson Magers earned All-America honors this week. Langrell, a closer for the Bluejays, was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America Second Team. He made 26 appearances with 13 saves and 57 strikeouts this season. Langrell is a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, which will be announced tomorrow via a news conference at the College World Series. Big East Freshman of the Year Wilson Magers earned a place on the NCBWA Freshman All-America Second Team. He is one of 34 freshmen college baseball players to earn a spot on the First or Second Team.

Creighton University has officially broken ground on a new baseball practice field that will be completed by June 2026. The field is part of a state-of-the-art project that includes the new Creighton softball stadium and adjacent team facilities. To better prepare the Bluejays for home games, and visiting teams for the College World Series, the baseball practice field will mimic the design of Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Visit the Grow Omaha website for a full report on the new facility.

The Omaha Beef have secured a spot in the National Arena League championship on June 16 in Beaumont, Texas. Omaha is seeking revenge against the Beaumont Renegades, who dealt the Beef their only loss in the past three years earlier this season. The Beef, however, did not have former Husker quarterback Tommy Armstrong, Jr. leading its offensive attack in that game. Armstrong rejoined the Beef for the last two games and went 12-for-14 for 178 yards and scored seven total touchdowns against the Colorado Spartans in the semifinals. He will look to replicate last year’s success in the NAL Championship, where he won Finals MVP in the Beef’s win.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are visiting the Toledo Mud Hens this week. Omaha took games one and two and is back in action tonight at 6:05 p.m. Next week, the team returns to Werner Park for a series against the Durham Bulls.

Upcoming Games
• Omaha Storm Chasers at Toledo | June 10 – June 15 | 6:05 p.m. tonight
• Union Omaha vs. Greenville Triumph SC | Tonight, June 12 | 7 p.m.
• Coastal Carolina vs. Arizona * | Friday, June 13 | 1 p.m.
• Oregon State vs. Louisville * | Friday, June 13 | 6 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Murray State * | Saturday, June 14 | 1 p.m.
• Arkansas vs. LSU * | Saturday, June 14 | 6 p.m.
• Union Omaha at Portland Hearts of Pine | Sunday, June 15 | 5 p.m.
• Omaha Beef vs. Beaumont Renegades | Monday, June 16 | Time TBD

* 2025 Men’s College World SeriesEast at 9-3.

The Omaha Supernovas play at the Indy Ignite tonight at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on the Pro Volleyball Federation’s YouTube channel and broadcast on KCRO 660 AM. Omaha, the defending PVF champions, sit at 4-3 and are tied with Grand Rapids and Atlanta for third place in league standings.

Speaking of the Supernovas, they were recently named as Major League Volleyball’s founding franchise. MLV, a new league backed by more than $100 million, includes founding members Danny White, Jason Derulo and Kerri Walsh Jennings. League play will open January 2026 with a minimum of 10 teams from around the country.

In case you missed it, UNO Hockey beat defending national champions Denver in a shootout last Friday after 16 (yes, you read that right) rounds. It was ruled a tie since both teams failed to score in the 5-minute overtime following regulation, but UNO gained an extra point in the NCHC standings after winning the prolonged shootout. Next up is Minnesota Duluth at 7 p.m. Friday at Baxter Arena for ‘Cowboys and Cowbells’ night.

This April, get ready to hear former Omaha Burke superstar and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts’ name called – early. In multiple mock drafts, he’s projected as a late-first to early-second-round pick and a year-one starter. Watts was a 2024 consensus All-American, a 2023 unanimous All-American, and the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Award winner, crowning him as the top defensive player in CFB. After helping lead the Irish to the CFP Championship game this year as a team captain, he declared for the NFL Draft and will hear his name called April in Green Bay.

Joe Lunardi, ESPN’s lead college basketball analyst put out his most recent NCAA Bracketology on Tuesday and projects Nebraska as the last team in the dance. Lunardi also has the Huskers and UNO in the two “First Four” games in Dayton in the 11 and 16 seed play-in games, respectively. He projects Creighton would have the privilege of meeting up with former point guard Ryan Nembhard and Gonzaga in the South region’s 8/9 game. With just over a month until selection Sunday, don’t expect these matchups to come to fruition. But have your popcorn on standby.

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Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater will be closed from June 12 to 26 for the College World Series. Movies will resume on the 27th.

KANEKO has announced the anticipated return of KANEKO Soiree, happening October 10. It’s a celebration of “the creative spirit that pulses through our community, the bold ideas that challenge how we see the world and the generous hearts that make our mission possible.” Expect lively music, visual art, silent auction, curated food and drink, and an evening shared in celebration of the impact of creativity in our community. Tickets: https://thekaneko.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b275c287d5aa2f46abf0481ad&id=abb93ee5d1&e=4101102e93

The Rose Theater has started its run of Finding Nemo, adapted from the 2003 Disney/Pixar film favorite, which will run until June 29. Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo Theater for Young Audiences is a vibrant, puppetry-filled, musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 movie. This show features spectacular songs written by the creators of Frozen and Coco. Tickets: https://rosetheater.org/shows/finding-nemo/

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts invites all current members to an exclusive exhibition preview for Bemis’s Summer 2025 exhibition, “From the Great Lakes to the Great Plains: The Visible Currents of Climate Change.” This members-only hour takes place just before the public opening reception at 7 p.m. Enjoy complimentary libations and light hors d’oeuvres while connecting with fellow artists, contemporary art enthusiasts and supporters of Bemis.

The Union For Contemporary Art is holding its first Family Night of the year on June 20. Families are invited to make art in The Union’s Youth Studios. Bring your loved ones for fun and creative play. Activities and materials may include clay, sculpture, Legos and more. These events are free and open to the public.

Spaw Collective is a local, woman-owned dog grooming salon opening in 2025. We prioritize safety and comfort, offering traditional grooming services along with fun, safe coloring options. Our shop features a curated retail area with products from local artisans, supporting the community. Committed to quality and care, we aim to create a positive environment where pets feel loved and owners trust us with their furry babies. Spaw Collective is located at 5094 South 108th Street.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

According to Patrick Lencioni, author of The 5 Dysfunctions of A Team, here are some of the characteristics of teams that lack trust: 1. Hide weakness from each other; 2. Don’t seek constructive feedback from colleagues; 3. Don’t volunteer to help others; 4. Jump to conclusions about others’ intentions; 5. Waste energy trying to look good; 6. Hold grudges; 7. Dread going to meetings.

Human minds are blank somewhere between 5 and 20 percent of the time, according to Popular Science. “Mind blanking” is the impression of having no thoughts or not being able to report any thoughts. These blanks may be a way our brains maintain high function for the rest of our waking experience.

When describing a great leader’s traits, vengeance is not one that comes to mind. Yet research from James Kimmel, Jr., suggests that seeking revenge is actually an addictive behavior. To help purge revenge-thinking from your brain, pause and take a moment to evaluate the reasons why you are feeling it.

Doing Good Deeds – A 62-year-old British man recently climbed Mt. Everest to install a defibrillator. A couple weeks later, it saved the life of a young woman whose heart stopped during a climb, according to the BBC. David Sullivan, 62, runs Creating Lifesavers, an organization that raises awareness of CPR and aims to install more defibrillators across England.

SALES

One way to avoid having a prospect hang up on you is to acknowledge their busy schedule according to sales expert Mike Brooks. He recommends this language: “[NAME], if you’re like me you’re busy doing a million things, so I’ll make this brief. Let me just ask you two quick things and if we find that we’re a fit and you’d like to know more than we can talk about it or we can schedule a time when it’s more convenient, is that fair?”

Sales Stat – When referred by other clients, people have a 37 percent higher retention rate, according to HubSpot.

WISDOM

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln

Did you know the Omaha area’s population increased by 12,144 people from 2023 to 2024 for a one-year growth rate of 1.23 percent?

Did you know Omaha had a busy downtown newsstand at 16th & Farnam? Fred Witte (1880-1968) sold newspapers there for 58 years. He sat on his paper boxes, day and night, every day except holidays. One time, a team of horses almost ran over him. (Source: Howard Hamilton)

Did you know Omaha had four companies on the most recent Fortune 500 list and seven companies in the Fortune 1000?

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Garden Party – Images Celebrating All Things Botanic by Ivan Micek recurring daily though June 29th: As an artist, Ivan Micek uses photography as a medium to capture and display what he sees in the world, in ways intended to spark curiosity in the viewer. In this exhibit of original photography and digitally enhanced images, witness and observe the beauty of the botanic world we live in, not only with summer’s bright colors, but with nature’s palette of colors seen in all four seasons.

Papillion Days happening June 11th – 15th: Papillion Days is a time-honored tradition that takes place over Father’s Day weekend each year. Dating back to 1947, Papillion Days is the pinnacle summer celebration in town. An open-air vendor fair, carnival, beer garden and one of the largest parades in the state of Nebraska are just a few of the key components of this event!

The Laugh Crafters – Family Friendly Improv happening on June 13th: Get ready to laugh out loud with The Laugh Crafters, a high-energy group of Big Canvas improvisers, who bring family-friendly fun to the Blackstone district every 2nd Friday. Their short-form improv shows are packed with quick wit, audience interaction, and spontaneous comedy. Each performance is a brand-new adventure guaranteed to keep you smiling. Perfect for all ages, this is an evening of laughter you won’t want to miss!

Louisiana Seafood Festival happening on June 14th & 15th: The Granary Green is turning up the heat with a weekend of Cajun-inspired fun just in time for Father’s Day and the College World Series opening weekend. Guests can indulge in fresh Louisiana crawfish and shrimp boils, complete with classic fixings like corn and potatoes. The event features live music all weekend, a crawfish eating contest, face painting for kids and Hurricane drink specials, with CWS games streaming on a massive 27-foot LED screen. It’s a festive way to celebrate summer with bold flavors, Southern vibes and family-friendly entertainment.

2025 Father’s Day Weekend Car Show happening on June 14th & 15th: Back by popular demand—Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum is hosting their annual Father’s Day Car Show! This year, they’re opening the floor to all show cars – classic, custom, modern or muscle. If it turns heads, it belongs here. Vehicles will be displayed throughout the museum, parked alongside the legendary aircraft and spacecraft for a one-of-a-kind showcase of chrome, craftsmanship and aviation history. There’s no other show quite like this!

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!

The Commercial Real Estate Summit has announced the names of five people, who will be inducted into the Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame this August: Thompson, Dreesen & Dorner’s Bob Dreesen and Doug Dreesen; Michael Matejka of Woods Aitken Law; Nancy Pridal, chairman of Lamp Rynearson; and industrial and commercial real estate CBRE broker David Maenner.

Lamson Dugan & Murray LLP has added attorney Kalli Gloudemans, specializing in civil litigation, insurance defense and worker’s compensation. She received a law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law and is licensed in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.

D.R. Anderson Constructors, an Omaha-based general construction contractor, has hired Ethan Warner as a project manager/estimator. Warner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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.

Who wants to be a millionaire? Answer: Everyone. I am offering a $3.84 reward to anyone who can convince me that, when they were a kid, they wanted to be dirt poor.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reported that Americans are saving more. At the heart of this phenomenon are the nation’s 401(k) plans. In the mid-1970’s Congress passed legislation creating the self-directed 401(k) retirement program. The goal of the legislation was to allow individuals to control their own finances during their golden years.

The initial response was underwhelming. But today, five decades later, the 401(k) program has reached an inflection point. About 70 percent of the private sector workforce now has access to one. Twenty-seven states have mandatory 401(k) enrollment requirements.

Accord to the WSJ article, even though the market took a downturn at the beginning of this year, 401(k) participation rates continue to rise, and the saving rate for the first five months of the year is up to 14.3 percent of income. Of that 14.3 percent of income, 4.8 percent of that is the employer match – That’s FREE MONEY folks!

401(k) participants face two major challenges. First, they must manage their own account, but they are limited to a menu of mutual funds selected by a broker hired by their employer. The financial professional charged with selecting the mutual funds in the fund menu is compensated by the funds they select. As a result of this potential conflict of interest, many fund menus are top heavy with expensive, actively managed mutual funds.

Fortunately, big brother is on the participants’ side. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that employers must provide their employees with reasonably priced mutual fund options. Those who fail to do so, must compensate their employees for the loss in investment returns. After over a decade of litigation, the answer to what is a “reasonable priced mutual fund” is migrating towards index funds.

There are a 140 million Americans who have $26 trillion (that’s trillion with a “T”) invested in self-directed retirement accounts. These dollars are unevenly spread between active 401(k) plans and self-directed IRAs. Just thinking about these dollars has the mavens of Wall Street salivating, because they see this as their golden ticket to a lavish lifestyle. Last year alone, Wall Street took in $250 billion for their participation in the management of these accounts. While as a group, investors paid $250 billion dollars in fees, the load was not evenly distributed. Some paid significant fees and experienced so-so returns. Others paid next to nothing and experienced better-than-average returns.

This begs the question: Is the juice worth the squeeze? If you are a 401(k) participant, I suggest you do your homework and determine how much you are paying someone to squeeze your juice.

Hubbell Realty Company is a full-service development company providing construction, development, homebuilding and management services since 1856. Click HERE for more information.

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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