The March 19th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Chipotle Mexican Grill plans to build its first Council Bluffs restaurant on the northeast corner of 30th & West Broadway. The project would require the demolition of an existing building. Chipotle plans to build a 2,385 sq. ft. building with a drive-thru “Chipotlane.” The restaurant would have indoor seating for 40 customers plus a patio with 20 outdoor seats. Chipotle has 13 existing metro area locations.

Tasty Pizza is taking over a building at 3001 South 32nd Avenue formerly occupied by The Mio. Before it was The Mio, the building was famously home to Lo Sole Mio for 30 years. Tasty Pizza has installed exterior signage on the building, but an opening date has not been announced. Tasty Pizza’s current locations are at 1418 South 60th Street and downtown Blair.

Construction is underway on a 7 Brew Coffee location at 2901 West Broadway in Council Bluffs. Crews were pouring concrete for the drive-thru lane today. The site was once home to a U.S. Bank branch building, which was previously demolished. Arkansas-based 7 Brew Coffee opened a west Omaha location earlier this year near 182nd & West Maple Road.

Exotic Snack Guys has opened its first Nebraska store inside Westroads Mall on the upper level across from Raising Caine’s. The retailer has stores in 17 states in the eastern half of the country primarily in the Great Lakes region. Exotic Snacks says it has the “wildest selection of international chips, rare drinks, exclusive candies & snacks you’ve only seen online.”

The Flight Deck Tap & Grill at 2929 California Plaza in the Atlas Apartments building is listed for sale. The ownership is retiring, according to Jeff Lampe, a partner in the business. The 5,000 sq. ft. restaurant and sports bar opened in 2018 and is located on the western edge of Creighton University’s campus.

Pure Hockey is moving to west Omaha this summer. Currently located at 5413 South 72nd Street, the hockey equipment retailer will relocate to 14949 Evans Plaza in West Greyhawk near 144th & West Maple Road. Pure Hockey has more than 85 stores throughout the country with the Omaha location being the exclusive storefront in Nebraska.

Westlake Ace Hardware will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting April 16 for its Papillion store at 7949 Towne Center Parkway in Shadow Lake Towne Center, in the former Best Buy space. The nearest existing locations are in Ralston and Bellevue.

Les Schwab Tire Center’s first Omaha location is on the horizon. The company recently applied for a building permit at 4103 South 205th Street, which is just southwest of 204th & F Street. The 8,300 sq. ft. building will have a retail showroom and six service bays. Les Schwab plans to open a store in Papillion’s Tower District, northwest of 84th & Highway 370.

FAT Brands, the parent company of Twin Hospitality Group, Inc., may be sold as it moves to offload assets following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed in January. Twin Hospitality operates Twin Peaks restaurants, which officially returned to Omaha in February at Village Pointe West.

Beauty First will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting April 28 at 8540 South 71st Street in The Shoppes at Market Pointe. The locally owned retailer, founded in 1989, has three Omaha locations and two in Lincoln.

Inky Disco Collective plans to open in early April at 12100 West Center Road, Suite 906, in Bel Air Plaza. The tattoo shop will be the brick-and-mortar location for a local artist, who has been tattooing since 2023. Inky Disco Collective will be staffed by an all-women team and will display artwork from the local community.

Prime IV Hydration & Wellness will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting April 17 at 7474 Towne Center Parkway in Shadow Lake Towne Center. The IV therapy and wellness spa’s nearest existing location is in Sioux Falls.

Burger King has permanently closed at 13750 West Maple Road. It is one of several metro-area Burger Kings restaurants that have closed in the past few months.

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

Eppley Airfield’s Expanded Terminal Adds Amenities While Reducing Anxiety

Eppley Airfield’s $950 million terminal expansion and modernization project will increase capacity, but it’s also designed to lower passengers’ anxiety.

When the reconstruction project was being designed back in 2019, the Omaha Airport Authority wanted the terminal layout to be “intuitive,” meaning passengers would naturally know where to go even if there wasn’t any wayfinding signage.

“Eppley has always been known for its convenience,” said Dave Roth, CEO of the Omaha Airport Authority. “We want this terminal to be crisp, clean and efficient.”

Roth said the airport authority doesn’t necessarily want the new terminal to be flashy, rather the goal is for it to be “functional while still looking very classy.”

That intuitive and efficient design was obvious during Grow Omaha’s tour of the under-construction terminal this week. Elevators are immediately visible inside the front entrance, TSA security is just steps from the main escalators and departing passengers are separated from arriving passengers to avoid bottlenecks.

The project expands the terminal from 375,000 sq. ft. to 646,000 sq. ft. It centralizes TSA security, expands the number of gates from 19 to 22 and adds international flight capacity. The upgraded terminal will have 19 restaurant and retail businesses to serve passengers.

Some of the existing building has been demolished, while other parts are being renovated and incorporated into the new project.

“There’s not one inch of this building, were not touching in this project,” said Steve McCoy, Eppley’s Chief Strategy & Technology Officer.

It’s a Herculean effort. About 550 people are working in the construction site each day. That number will increase as the project progresses. And work is being done under challenging conditions – Despite the construction, Eppley must still serve millions of passengers each year.

Several aspects of the project stood out as noteworthy during Grow Omaha’s construction tour:

• Ticketing will move to the second floor. Baggage carousels will remain on the ground floor.
• A third skywalk from the garage to the terminal will be added between the original two. It will connect from the premier parking level right to the second-floor central pavilion. Travelers will only have to walk 75 steps from the garage to the front of the TSA checkpoint.
• Speaking of TSA, security and screening will be consolidated into one, centralized checkpoint in the central pavilion. The checkpoint will have nine TSA lanes with the capacity to add a 10th if needed. For the first time, Eppley will have CLEAR in addition to TSA PreCheck. CLEAR has been described as being similar to a fast pass at a Disney World ride.
• The central pavilion is massive with 33-foot ceilings and a floor space big enough to hold an entire football field including the endzones. In addition to housing the roomy TSA area, the central pavilion will act as a grand hall as well as a shopping mall/food court area. Part of the pavilion’s ceiling will be clad in wood to give the area a “Midwestern look.” Work is currently underway on the terrazzo floors. Colors and patterns throughout the airport are designed “age well” and not be too trendy.
• Plans call for large art installations in the central pavilion. A 16-foot sculpture in the food court area will convey tall prairie grass in the wind. Art at the front entrance will mimic birds flying. “The whole art program encapsulates the beauty of Nebraska’s prairie landscapes,” Roth said.
• The terminal splits into north and south concourses on either side of the central pavilion. Just to the south of the pavilion will be Eppley’s first passenger lounge to be operated by Escape Lounges. Members will enter on the main floor and take either stairs or an elevator upstairs. The lounge features large windows looking down at the airfield operations. The lounge will have a bar, dedicated restrooms, a buffet bar and lots of seating.
• Each gate will have expanded space for passengers waiting to board planes. Omaha’s current gate-waiting areas average 1,500 sq. ft. The new terminal provides 2,600 sq. ft. per gate.
• The number of restrooms is being tripled. The largest women’s restroom will have 28 stalls. The terminal will also feature five mother’s rooms and five family restrooms. There will also be service-animal relief areas.
• The airport authority is investing $40 million into the baggage-handling facility alone. That will allow more bags to flow through the facility in a shorter period of time. The baggage facility will have 1.25 miles of conveyor belts and much more room for TSA bag screening. The public-facing baggage carousel area will be 50 feet deeper than the current facility so passengers won’t feel so crowded. There will continue to be six carousels, but they’ll be longer. Two of them will have international flight capability.

While the terminal project won’t be 100 percent complete until 2028, the traveling public will start using the central pavilion and many of the new concourse gates in early 2027. The final part of project will be the international gates on the far north end.

“By the summer of ’27, it’ll be a totally different travel experience at Eppley,” Roth said.

And what if Eppley’s passenger loads keep growing in future years? The good news is that future expansion is programmed into the design. The concourse can be extended significantly both north and south. The recently completed utility plant has plenty of access capacity, so as Omaha continues to grow, Eppley is positioned to grow right alongside it.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Omaha Mayor John Ewing addressed concerns this week from business owners affected by streetcar construction. The city is taking immediate steps to lessen the impact including improved on-site safety and cleanliness, plus $1 garage-parking sessions for route-business’ employees and customers. Improved communication efforts include text message notifications, digital updates on road closures and a marketing campaign to help customers find businesses along the route.

Ewing said we are now “in the thick of the heaviest construction, but conditions will improve later this spring.” Most of the work underway now is focused on underground utilities, some of which are nearly 140 years old. Construction is on track, and in some cases, ahead of schedule. Ewing said the city has “accelerated the utility work to help move the construction timelines up. The mainline work, unlike utility work, is less disruptive, more predictable and easier to navigate.”

Construction is underway on a row of six town homes on the southwest corner of 29th & Jackson Street in the urban core. The 9,500 sq. ft., previously vacant lot is located just north of a Supermercado Nuestra Familia and along the west side of Interstate 480. The for-sale units are expected to be completed by the end of this year. Plans call for a large exterior mural on the building’s east side.

Scooter’s Coffee held its annual conference at CHI Health Center Omaha earlier this week. More than 1,500 attendees generated 2,812 room nights, according to Visit Omaha. Sixty percent of the attendees traveled from outside the metro area. The highlight was “The Scooter’s Coffee Cup,” in which baristas showcased their artistry and speed to compete for “Barista of the Year.”

Loveland Elementary is holding “One Last Look,” an open house before most of the building is demolished to make way for a $23 million reconstruction project. The District 66 school is located at 909 South 76th Street. The open house takes place March 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. The original, Tudor-style part of the building will be preserved. The remainder will come down, making way for a 50,000 sq. ft., modern school, according to BVH Architecture, which designed the building. The current facility is only 34,500 sq. ft.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park have once again earned #1 rankings in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This year’s recognition includes: Best Best Zoo – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (Fourth consecutive win); Best Zoo Membership – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (Second consecutive win); Best Zoo Exhibit – Desert Dome (Seventh consecutive win for Best Zoo Exhibit and third for Desert Dome); and Best Safari Park – Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park (Sixth consecutive win).

The indoor waterpark at Holiday Inn Omaha Downtown could reopen this week pending inspection by the Douglas County Health Department. The park was previously shut down after remaining open for more than two months despite a closure order. Requirements to reopen include quarterly inspections, third-party oversight and weekly chemical reports.

The Nebraska Unicameral gave first-round approval to L.B. 1261, which would allow private companies to build large-scale power plants and partner with Nebraska’s public power system, according to the Omaha World-Herald. If passed, the bill would make it easier to build data centers in Nebraska. Last week, Flatwater Free Press reported that Google plans to build a massive data center in southeast Nebraska that have its own onsite power plant. The data center could come online in 2029 and would use 1,000 to 3,000 megawatts.

Omaha Performing Arts held a ribbon cutting this morning for the $108 million Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement, the latest addition to the Dick & Mary Holland Campus downtown. The 103,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility will serve more than 100,000 students, teachers and community members each year, providing space for rehearsals, workshops, classes and community events.

The Council Bluffs STEM charter school project hit a major road bump. During last week’s meeting, the Council Bluffs City Council did not approve a resolution to sell land at River’s Edge to the school district for development of the STEM high school. After hearing lengthy testimony from both proponents and opponents of the Riverfront project, the council did not have additional discussion or questions.

One council member moved to approve the resolution, but there was no second vote, killing the resolution. The $35 million STEM school would be a district-run charter school, offering free admission to Council Bluffs students. The Council Bluffs Community School District was planning to open the school for the 2027-2028 academic year. A architect’s rendering had shown a 3-story school building overlooking the Riverfront.

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Dodge Cares, Inc., a foundation related to the NP Dodge Company, donated $101,850 to 15 nonprofit organizations last week. The contribution marks the largest annual giving total in Dodge Care’s 23-year history and brings the foundation’s total contributions to more than $1.1 million. Dodge Cares is supported by donations from NP Dodge agents, employees and the general public with NP Dodge providing matching funds annually up to $250 per agent and employee.

Bank of America will hold a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration Tuesday, March 24th at 4:30 p.m. for its latest Omaha branch office at 4358 Dodge Street. The Midtown site had been the location of a KFC restaurant, which was demolished to make way for bank construction.

SEi is the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Business of the Month for March. Founded in Omaha in 1969 by Sid Meridith, SEi has grown steadily over more than five decades into one of the top 100 security companies in America. Core services include life safety through fire alarms and fire alarm monitoring, along with electronic access control, intrusion alarms and comprehensive video surveillance for homes and facilities.

BHMI, an Omaha-based software company, is celebrating its 40-year anniversary. Founded in 1986 by Jack T. Baldwin, Lynne J. Baldwin and Michael E. Meeks as Baldwin Hackett & Meeks, Inc. BHMI provides software solutions for the back-office processing of electronic payment transactions.

U-Haul Co. of Iowa, Inc. announced that Perfect Stay Inn at 802 Veterans Memorial Highway in Council Bluffs has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer. The motel is one of more than 22,000 dealers across the United States and Canada, generating supplemental income through U-Haul affiliations.

Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index, a monthly survey of rural bank CEOs in the surrounding 10-state region, dropped below growth neutral for March to its lowest level since October 2025. The region’s overall reading for March plummeted to 40.9 from February’s 47.9. This marks the 13th time since January 2025 that the index has moved below the growth neutral threshold. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.

Nebraska reached an all-time high in venture capital investment in 2025, according to Invest Nebraska’s annual venture capital report. Total venture capital funding in 2025 to Nebraska startups totaled $527.9 million. A large bulk of last year’s tally came from $415 million in venture capital funding to CompanyCam, a Lincoln based company. Silicon Prairie News outlined the top 10 venture capital rounds secured in 2025 with three companies from Omaha: Bluestem Biosciences ($16 million); Upwell ($10.47 million); and Workshop ($7 million).

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Omaha has officially joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, a national network of cities working to make their communities more livable for people of all ages. Age Friendly Omaha is asking for responses from residents over 45 years old for a city-wide survey which will inform Omaha’s first-ever, 5-year Age-Friendly Action Plan.

Community Alliance, an Omaha nonprofit which helps individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, has received a three-year CARF International accreditation — the highest level possible — by an independent, nonprofit health and human services accreditor. To achieve the accreditation by CARF International, Community Alliance went through a rigorous peer-review process, demonstrating to a team of five surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable and of the highest quality.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands is kicking off its signature fundraising event of the year, Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Community members are invited to gather a team of five-to-six friends, family members or coworkers, register their team and work together toward a shared fundraising goal. Teams will then celebrate their impact at Spare Time Omaha with free bowling, pizza and drinks. Bowling sessions run April 21–24. This year’s theme is “Prom Night,” encouraging supporters to dress up in anything from formal wear to fun, creative outfits. Proceeds directly support BBBS’s youth mentoring programs.

Child Saving Institute’s largest annual fundraiser, Cabaret, returns on Friday, April 10 at 6 p.m. at the CHI Health Center. Guests enjoy fine dining, cocktails, a silent auction, raffle opportunities and entertainment from comedian Dustin Nickerson, all while supporting the 3,500 children and families CSI serves annually.

The Omaha-based Salvation Army Western Division announced this week that it is now raising funds to support those impacted by the Nebraska wildfires. They will be focusing first on feeding firefighters on the front lines, then moving to provide assistance to families whose lives and property have been affected by the fires.

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Omaha Market Snapshot: Spring 2026

By Jill Anderson

The Omaha housing market is warming up right along with the weather!

While inventory and activity are shifting a bit month to month, the market continues to show steady demand and opportunity for both buyers and sellers heading into 2026. Let’s take a look at Omaha-area market stats for February provided by the Great Plains Regional Multiple Listing Service.

What’s Happening in the Market?

New listings are staying fairly steady overall. In February, the Omaha area saw 1,044 existing homes listed, which is up 7.5 percent from last year, showing that more homeowners are deciding it’s a good time to sell. However, new construction listings dipped slightly to 219, down 8 percent year over year, suggesting builders may still be pacing inventory.

Meanwhile, pending sales are on the rise, a great sign that buyers are still actively shopping. In February, 778 existing homes went under contract, up 9.3 percent from last year, and new construction pending sales jumped nearly 20 percent.

When it comes to closed sales, activity cooled slightly in February with 608 existing homes closing (down 5.1 percent year over year) and 117 new construction closings, down 8.6 percent. This likely reflects the normal winter slowdown rather than a drop in buyer interest.

What This Means

The Omaha housing market remains active and resilient as we head into the spring season. While closed sales slowed slightly during the winter months, buyer activity is picking up, as shown by the increase in pending sales. At the same time, the number of homes coming onto the market is gradually rising, giving buyers a few more options than they’ve had in recent years. Overall, the market is moving toward a healthy balance—where motivated buyers and well-prepared sellers both have great opportunities in 2026.

Tips for Buyers in 2026

• Get pre-approved early. Homes are still moving quickly in many price ranges, so being ready to write an offer gives you an edge.
• Be open-minded. With inventory gradually improving, you may find opportunities in neighborhoods or home styles you hadn’t considered.

Tips for Sellers in 2026

• Make a great first impression. With more listings hitting the market, professional photos and staging can make your home stand out.
• Price strategically. Buyers are active, but they’re also savvy—pricing your home right from day one attracts the most interest.

Do you have a real estate question? Let’s talk.

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

The Omaha Supernovas defeated the league-leading Indy Ignite in front of a sellout crowd of 16,838 on Saturday, setting a record for the most-attended match in U.S. professional volleyball history. Omaha topped its own record of 13,486 set in 2025. The Supernovas have won two matches in a row to right the ship after the longest losing streak in franchise history, and now sit in third place in league standings at 9-9 overall. Friday night, Omaha will host the Grand Rapids Rise at 7 p.m. for a nationally televised match on CBS Sports Network.

Brooke Nuneviller and Emily Londot were named Major League Volleyball All-Stars on Tuesday, and will represent the Supernovas at the 2026 MLV All-Star Match next Saturday, March 28, in Orlando. All-Star selections were determined through a combination of fan votes, player input and league selection. More than 12,000 votes were cast, marking a league record.

Brooke Nuneviller earned her second-straight MLV All-Star selection and will play for Team Launiere in Orlando. Emily Londot, competing for Team Meskie, became the first player in Supernovas history to be drafted by the team and earn All-Star honors. Londot was selected No. 10 overall by the Supernovas in the 2024 MLV Draft. First serve for the match is set for 11 a.m. on March 28, and will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.

Creighton baseball defeated Omaha in the first of two games in one week on Wednesday night, 8-2. The star of the Bluejays’ victory was Nate McHugh, who went 4-for-5 at the plate and added two RBIs on his fifth-inning two-run homer. Creighton and Omaha will meet again next Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m. Prior to that, Creighton will head to Miami for a weekend series with the Hurricanes. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday.

Omaha baseball swept the Summit League’s weekly awards, with sophomore Tanner Foertsch and junior Hayden Lewis each earning honors. Foertsch was named Summit League Pitcher of the Week after throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out nine against North Dakota State over the weekend. Lewis earned Summit League Peak Performer of the Week, delivering six RBIs against the Bison. This weekend, Omaha will host Summit League foe Northern Colorado with first pitch at 4 p.m. on Friday.

LOVB Nebraska hosted Atlanta on Wednesday in the LOVB Match of the Week, and fell in a competitive three sets, 25-22, 26-24, 25-23. Nebraska now sits in fifth place in league standings with five games remaining in the regular season. The top four teams in the league advance to the LOVB Playoffs, beginning Friday, April 10. LOVB Nebraska will face fourth-place LOVB Austin on the road on Friday at 7 p.m. Friday’s match can be streamed live with a subscription to ESPN+.

Omaha softball is ranked third in the latest D1 Softball Mid-Major Rankings. The Mavericks went 3-1 over the weekend at the Trailblazer Classic in St. George, Utah, where they won a pair of games against BYU and swept Utah Tech. In Friday’s opening game against BYU, Maddia Groff pitched a five-inning no-hitter, allowing just two baserunners while striking out six. Omaha will host North Dakota State this weekend for its first Summit League action of the 2026 season. This weekend’s series will commence at 2 p.m. on Friday.

Creighton softball will host Villanova for a series this weekend, with first pitch at 5 p.m. on Friday. Creighton took game one of last weekend’s slate against Providence, 7-5, before dropping both of Saturday’s games, 8-7 and 6-3. The Bluejays will look to improve in Big East play this weekend before hosting crosstown rival Omaha next Wednesday, March 25.

Union Omaha opened its season Sunday at Spokane, and fell to the Velocity 1-0. Omaha will hold its 2026 home opener this Sunday, March 22, at 4 p.m., welcoming USL League One newcomer Athletic Club Boise for the club’s first game at Morrison Stadium in downtown Omaha. 2026 single-match tickets and ticket packages are now available for purchase through the club’s website.

Creighton men’s basketball fell in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals last Thursday to Seton Hall, 72-61. The Pirates took advantage of multiple extended Creighton scoring droughts, and a timely season-high 16 points in the second half from Omaha native Jacob Dar.

Creighton missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018-19 but did not miss out on postseason basketball entirely. It was announced Monday that Creighton will face Rutgers on April 2 in the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas. That game will tip off at 9:30 p.m. and be televised on FS1. The winner of that game will advance to face the winner of Stanford vs. West Virginia on Saturday, April 4, at 3 p.m. on FOX. The final will be held on April 5 at 4:30 p.m.

The Omaha Storm Chasers announced that they will continue to work with Autism Action Partnership for the 2026 season. AAP is a longtime partner of the Omaha Storm Chasers, providing sensory kits at Werner Park that can be checked out at Fan Services behind Section 122. Behind center field at Werner Park is AAP’s Quiet Zone, a space where individuals and families can go to take a break in a safe, quiet environment.

“We are committed to engaging and providing a path to a more inclusive world, so being able to provide an outlet at Werner Park for those that live with autism, and their families, is something we are proud to do,” Storm Chasers community relations manager Anne Culhane said.

The Storm Chasers begin the 2026 season on Tuesday, March 31, hosting Buffalo for Opening Night at 6:35 p.m.

Upcoming Events

• Omaha softball vs. North Dakota State | March 20 – 22 | 2 p.m. Friday
• Omaha baseball vs. Northern Colorado | March 20 – 22 | 4 p.m. Friday
• Creighton softball vs. Villanova | March 20 – 22 | 5 p.m. Friday
• Creighton baseball vs. Miami | March 20 – 22 | 6 p.m. Friday
• Omaha Supernovas vs. Grand Rapids | Friday, March 20 | 7 p.m.
• LOVB Nebraska at LOVB Austin | Friday, March 20 | 7 p.m.
• Union Omaha vs. AC Boise | Sunday, March 22 | 4 p.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. Omaha | Tuesday, March 24 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha softball vs. Creighton | Wednesday, March 25 | 6 p.m.
• Creighton baseball vs. South Dakota State | Wednesday, March 25 | 6 p.m.
• LOVB Nebraska at LOVB Atlanta | Wednesday, March 25 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Supernovas at San Diego | Wednesday, March 25 | 9 p.m.

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The Paxton Omaha’s Art Deco Landmark

By Patrick Wyman

Located on the southwest corner of 14th & Farnam Street, across from the newly rising Mutual of Omaha headquarters tower, is an Art Deco structure that was once one of the city’s grandest hotels: The Paxton.

It was named after William A. Paxton, who helped raise the money to complete the original Paxton Hotel when it was constructed in 1882. During his distinguished career, Paxton helped found the Omaha and Northwestern Railroad, Paxton & Gallagher wholesale grocery, Paxton & Vierling Iron Works and the South Omaha Stockyards.

Before it was razed in 1927, the original Paxton Hotel hosted notable guests, including Presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson as well as “Buffalo” Bill Cody and William Jennings Bryan, among others. It was also the site of the founding of the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society.

Like the original, the new Paxton Hotel was built by the Kitchen Brothers Hotel Company and operated by Ralph and Dick Kitchen. The 11-story hotel was designed by architect Joseph G. McArthur in the Art Deco style. McArthur’s other projects included the Medical Arts Building at 17th & Dodge Street and the Redick Tower (present-day Hotel Deco) at 15th & Harney Street. Constructed by Selden-Breck, The Paxton was built with brick and concrete and featured a facade of terra cotta and Bedford stone.

Located at 1403 Farnam Street, the 325-room hotel opened in 1929, at which point an editorial in the Omaha World-Herald declared it “the finest hotel of its size in the country, New York not excepted.”

The hotel featured four dining rooms, a ballroom, tearoom, cafeteria, coffee shop, barbershop and elevator, telegraph as well as cable services, and steam-heated dog kennels on the rooftop. The modern hotel was built with conventions in mind, as it could accommodate more than 1,000 people spread across its dining rooms and the ballroom. In addition to guest rooms, the hotel included office space and ground-floor retail. Among its original tenants were Walgreen’s Drug, Leon’s Inc., a local haberdasher chain, Ye Diamond Shoppe and Henderson Florist.

When Ralph Kitchen, who also managed the original hotel, retired in 1930, he sold it to the Oklahoma City-based Huckins Hotel Company in what was referred to as Omaha’s largest real estate deal ever. The hotel was sold again in 1939, this time to the National Hotel Company of Galveston.

The hotel retained its status and became a popular stay for wealthy cattlemen visiting the stockyards as it grew to be the largest in the world. Some of the more notable events included its in-house band, the Paul Moorhead Orchestra, featured in national radio broadcasts starting in the 1930s, the founding of the Nebraska Women’s Press Club in 1946, and hosting the teams participating in the city’s first College World Series in 1950.

The Paxton closed as a hotel in 1964 and served as the home to the Women’s Job Corps until 1969 when it was sold. After suggestions of converting the building to low-income apartments, it reopened as a Mediterranean-themed hotel in 1971, following renovations that included the lobby, ballroom, cocktail lounge and guest rooms.

The building closed for good as a hotel in 1975, at which point it was converted to Paxton Manor, a senior housing facility that included a nondenominational chapel and a second-floor recreation area. By the mid-1990s, it also included facilities for those living with mental illness. Due to financial troubles, the building fell into disrepair, and the facility closed in 2000. Fearing that the building would be razed, many of the fixtures and other items were sold at auction.

Shamrock Development bought the former hotel in 2003, and with the help of Lund-Ross Constructors and RDG, completed a historic renovation. The project consisted of restoring the original two-story lobby and ballroom, cleaning the exterior brick, restoring the original granite and marble walls, and terrazzo tile floors, in addition to repairing the molded ceilings. In the process, Shamrock also recovered many of the original fixtures, including a brass mailbox, lamp, mirror and 23 copper and stipple glass windows.

When it reopened as The Paxton in 2004, the renovated building included commercial space on the ground floor, offices on the second floor, 56 condos and two penthouses. Among its amenities are a fitness room, home theater and rooftop deck. A parking garage was built as part of the project. Located on the main level are three restaurants: Omaha Tap House, 801 Chophouse and Gandolfo’s Deli.

While its days as one of the city’s most glamorous hotels are long past, the careful restoration of The Paxton for use as condos more than 20 years ago ensured that one of Omaha’s finest examples of Art Deco architecture lives on.

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 Omaha Film Festival concluded its 2026 edition on Sunday and announced the awarded winners in independent film, screenplay writing and local Nebraska storytelling across 104 films screened at Aksarben Cinema.

FILM AWARDS

• Best Feature Film — Bonding by Victoria Trofimenko
• Best Documentary — Uvalde Mom by Anayansi Prado
• Best Animated Short Film — 113 Words for You Today by Bo Qing Tang, Xiao Lan Zeng

NEBRASKA FILM AWARDS

• Best Nebraska Short Film — Documentary – Healing Ribbons, One Stitch at a Time by Margaux Towne
• Best Nebraska Short Film – Animated — Bunny and Bear by Christine Burright, Matt Geiler

SCREENPLAY AWARDS

• Best Feature Screenplay — The Pale Ones by Sara Caldwell
• Best Teleplay — The Back End by Daniel Gessner & Kyle Campbell
• Best Short Screenplay — Mistakes by John McGuigan

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS

• Audience Choice Narrative Feature Film — Magic Hour by Jacqueline Christy
• Audience Choice Documentary — Magic & Monsters by Norah Shapiro
• Audience Choice Short Film — Chapter 21 by Katie Stoneburner, Ellen Burling

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Inaugural Ian Snyder Award — Cody Jones

Omaha Performing Arts will feature Bob Dylan on March 21 at 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater as part of his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour.

Noted as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Bob Dylan is best known for pushing the boundaries of American music tradition, even being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his contributions. He continues a tradition of poetic lyricism and defying convention in his latest worldwide tour. Dylan has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. For tickets and more information, visit here.

The Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement will host “Painting Hope: Where Art Meets Medicine” on March 22. Artist and Creighton associate professor of drawing and painting Rachel Mindrup will share powerful portraits from the exhibit Many Faces of Neurofibromatosis. It highlights the lives of people with Neurofibromatosis, aiming to raise awareness and federal funding for research. The event is part of the Voices AMPLIFIED! series, opening on March 22. For tickets and information, visit here.

Omaha Performing Arts will also present SIX at the Orpheum Theater from March 25 through 29 with various times. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII are reimagined into a modern, high-energy pop, girl group competing to see which wife had the hardest life. The SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT Broadway album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and surpassed 6 Million streams in its first month. For tickets and more information, visit here.

Omaha Symphony will perform the music of rock legends, The Who, on Saturday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hollands Performing Arts Center. Maestro Ernest Richardson will lead the orchestra, vocalists and rock musicians for a one-night-only performance. Jeans ‘n Classics will join the orchestra to perform hits from the albums My Generation, Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy, The Who Sell Out, Who’s Next, Quadrophenia, Who Are You and the rock opera Tommy. The Who was a legendary English rock band, recognized and well-known in the 1960s and 70s alongside The Beatles and The Stones. Tickets for Music of The Who start at $26. Visit here for more information.

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

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

By the year 2060, more people will own a humanoid robot than a car, Bank of America predicts, according to an article in Fortune. In 34 years, there will be 3 billion humanoid robots and 62 percent of them will be deployed in people’s homes.

In a recent survey conducted by AI-powered workspace provider Miro, 33 percent of U.S.-based knowledge workers said they frequently attended after-hours meetings in 2025, up from 23 percent in 2024, according to Fast Company.

A growing number of employees are saying “no thanks” to company dining halls and office food service, according to Inc. That gradual transformation of company dining room to ghost town was the major finding in a recent survey by ezCater, a platform providing order-in food solutions to businesses. The responses it received from 1,000 participating employees about eating on the job differed starkly with the views of 602 executives or managers of workplace cafeterias also questioned. Fifty-one percent of employers said they’d already reduced the number of hours their underused cafeterias operate, as culinary offer has outstripped demand.

SALES

Just because you have a “sales presentation” doesn’t mean you do all the talking. Why? Because the “talking” part of sales comprises only part of a good sales presentation. The other part of the process is quiet. Part of the sales presentation meeting should be devoted to building a relationship, listening and determining what matters to your prospect.

If you want to be successful in sales, there’s something far more important than an outgoing personality. It’s the ability to determine exactly what your prospect values. And you start focusing on the prospect’s value right from the very beginning. When you meet with a new prospect, you must listen and truly hear.

Too often we pretend like we’re listening or even think we’re doing a good job of listening, but in reality, we don’t retain what the other person is telling us. Sales pros must listen with intensity.

Tell yourself that the person in front of you will say something at some point in the conversation that can directly lead to a closed deal. You can’t afford to miss it simply because you’re having a second conversation with yourself inside your mind when you need to be focused on the other person.

Our own biases often get in the way of our efforts to figure out what our prospects truly value.

Look, you know your products and services better than the prospects do especially if you’ve been in your current selling role for a long time. Talented, experienced and knowledgeable sales professionals can be vulnerable to assuming what clients value because they’ve seen so many other clients and know so much about the product. Don’t succumb to temptation and start assuming you know everything you need to know about your prospect. I call it the “sin of assumption,” and it just might be the deadliest sin in business.

When we first sit down with a prospect, we engage in small talk or idle chit-chat. That’s a great way to warm up the conversation and make everyone comfortable. But don’t spend too much time on chit-chat. Start asking questions that help you uncover value. The best questions are probing in nature. Start questions with “Why?” “How?” “What if…?” “What would happen if you…?”

Don’t start talking (or pitching) until you are sure you know what your prospect values. If you’re not 100 percent convinced, keep asking probing questions and keep listening intently to the answers. When you do talk, your sales pitch should be customized based on what the prospective client told you during the value discovery process. Portray your products or services in such a way that they satisfy exactly what the prospect wants and needs.

WISDOM

“Don’t call it a goal if you treat it like a wish. A goal has a schedule, a cost and consequences. If none of those exist, it’s just a fantasy.” – Entrepreneurship Facts

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!

Did you know that the total land area of Omaha’s Eppley Airport is 2,650 acres?

Did you know Father Flanagan’s desk was made by the residents of Boys Town and consists of hundreds of thousands of pieces of inlaid wood? The desk took nearly three years to complete and can still be seen in his house today.

Did you know The Princeton Review named Creighton University as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduates?

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

Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends happening March 20th, 2026
Bring the family to a STEM-packed musical inspired by the favorite books and Netflix series featuring Rosie Revere, Iggy Peck and Ada Twist. Follow three curious kids as their big ideas and teamwork help them troubleshoot a field trip that takes an unexpected turn. The story blends songs, imagination and problem-solving in a way that keeps kids engaged and gives grown-ups plenty to enjoy, too. Make it a fun night out and stop by.

Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac happening March 21st, 2026
Hear Fleetwood Mac classics like “Landslide,” “Rhiannon” and “The Chain” reimagined in a candlelit setting at the Alan Levine Theater at JCC Omaha. The Listeso String Quartet delivers a 60-minute, up-close performance that’s equal parts cozy and captivating. Doors open 45 minutes early, and seating is first come-first served within each zone for ages 8 and up. Plan to arrive early and grab tickets.

Mindfulness & Botanical Bookmark Workshop happening March 21st, 2026
Take a breather at Wick & Paper in Millwork Commons with a workshop that blends mindfulness, poetry and botanical creativity. Licensed therapist and poet Ella Young leads grounding meditation and writing prompts. Then J.Diane Creations walks you through making pressed-flower bookmarks. All materials are included, and you don’t need any experience—just bring your curious, calm-ready self. Settle in, make something beautiful and RSVP.

Celebrate Women: A Panel of Empowering Voices happening March 22nd, 2026
Spend your Sunday at an in-person panel and brunch that spotlights the strength, work and real-life stories of women leaders. You’ll hear insights from local pros, including a KETV anchor, a corporate design manager, the founder of Omaha Places & 402 Social, leaders from the Omaha Supernovas and NFM, and the executive director of SHARE Omaha. Your $25 ticket covers the panel plus brunch, coffee, a build-your-own flower bouquet and a welcome gift, with proceeds supporting Girls Inc. Come for the conversation, stay for the connections and grab tickets.

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!

NP Dodge Real Estate has welcomed new residential sales associates including Amanda Eberl and Tanner Brown.

Scoular’s Brian Hansen has been elected to the board of directors of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute). He has nearly two decades of food and ingredient innovation leadership to his role with the organization, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating growth of the ag economy.

WoodmenLife has appointed Nate Smith as vice president & Chief AI Officer, recently established leadership position created to guide the organization’s AI strategy. Smith joined WoodmenLife in 2012 as applications development manager. In his 14-year career, Smith has held several positions, including his most recent role as Chief Data Officer.

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.

Charles Dickens’ classic English novel, A Tale of Two Cities, begins with the line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” According to literary critics, Dickens is telling us about a time of chaos, conflicts and despair, as well as a time of happiness. A time of extreme contradiction, a situation that is a normal part of the human condition. (Raise your hand if you are impressed with my knowledge of classic English literature.)

Last week, I reported on the kerfuffle going on in the Middle East. Unless you have just returned from a distant planet, you have been bombarded by media jibber jabber predicting that Trump’s Middle East excursion will result in exploding gas prices, which will disrupt the supply chain, cause inflation to spiral out of control, and the list of catastrophic events goes on and on. To paraphrase Dickens, a time of chaos, conflict and despair.

If you are an engaged 401k investor, it is the best of times. The average 401k balance is $271,653. During the last 12 months, assuming you were invested in a primary index fund, your account grew 27.6 percent. Then along came the Middle East thingamajig, and according to the talking heads, the market collapsed. In cold, hard numbers, “collapse” translates into a 4.7 percent decline. Segue back to the Dickens “best of time, worst of times” thing and 401k index fund investors gained 23.8 percent over the last 12 months.

If you are a typical 401K investor, money is withheld from your paycheck each month, and the 401k system automatically buys shares of your existing index fund. So, you are buying new shares at 5 percent discount. Or if you go back 12 months, you’re buying them at a 30 percent discount.

There are those 401k participants who are a tad bit risk averse and have chosen a bond fund as their investment vehicle of choice. The past few months have also been decent, but not the best of times. For these folks, their mutual fund, on average, is up 6.3 percent over the last 12 months. And since the beginning of the Gulf incursion, or whatever you wanna call it, their fund has declined by 3.4 percent, and again, additional shares are being purchased at a discounted price.

Your 401k account is the gift that keeps on giving. It is up to you how long and how much it will give. Never bet against the great America economic engine.

For more detail on the subjects briefly discussed above, visit my podcast, Wall Street for Dummies, which can be found on Apple and Spotify.

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

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

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

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

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

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