The October 9th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Culinary Dropout, a popular restaurant chain from Scottsdale, Arizona, plans to open its first Nebraska location at Village Pointe Shopping Center. According to a City of Omaha building permit, Culinary Dropout will renovate the former Local Beer Patio & Kitchen space on the shopping center’s west end. The space was originally home to Cheeseburger in Paradise. No opening date has been announced. Culinary Dropout currently has 15 locations in nine states. The closest existing locations are in Denver and Indianapolis.

The Hollows, an upscale wine and cocktail bar, opened last month at 5019 Underwood Avenue in Dundee. Located in Pitch Pizzeria’s former party room space, The Hollows features a working fireplace and a meeting room able to accommodate 12 people. The business is operated by Nick Joerz, Shawna Blair and Julius Nero. Hours are 3 p.m. to close on weekdays and 12 noon to close on weekends.

Hiro 88 has temporarily closed its Old Market location at 1308 Jackson Street for a major renovation. The project started last week and is expected to take two months. Hiro 88 has other locations at 3655 North 129th Street and 17664 Welch Plaza.

The Dairy Queen store at 404 North 114 Street is receiving a major refresh. A building permit was filed for removing the second floor/roof, essentially transforming the building from the iconic barn-style to a more conventional single-story, fast-food restaurant. In addition to the structural change, the façade will be updated along with mechanical, electrical and plumbing.

7 Brew Coffee’s first Omaha-area stand has been delivered near 182nd & West Maple Road. The Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee chain has three locations in Lincoln and others coming soon to Fremont and Council Bluffs.

Porky Butts BBQ at 15475 Ruggles Street has officially reopened after shutting down in August due to flood damage. The restaurant is back to its regular hours, Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The owners of Varsity Sports Café & Roman Coin Pizza announced in a Facebook post that they have sold the business. The new owners were not identified, but the post indicated that business would continue in a similar manner. Varsity has locations at 9735 Q Street and 3504 Samson Way in Bellevue.

Arby’s has launched steak nuggets nationwide as a limited-time menu item. The fast food chain describes the nuggets as “tender, juicy, hand-cut bite-sized pieces of steak seasoned with garlic and pepper for a bold, smoky flavor.” Arby’s has more than a dozen Omaha metro locations.

Great Clips will soon open a hair salon at 17330 West Center Road in a retail strip in front of a Baker’s supermarket.

A massage business will open in the retail strip at 13110 Birch Drive in Eagle Run. According to a building permit for installation of new walls for massage rooms, the business will be called A Zen Message. It replaces a dentist office, Heartland Dental, next to Athletico Northwest.

After 18 years in business, Nebraska Brewing Company plans to go out of business. Owners Paul and Kim Kavulak made the closure announcement last week on their company Facebook page. The actual last day has not yet been determined. Nebraska Brewing Company’s brewery and tap room are located at 6950 South 108th Street in La Vista.

Frosty’s Ice Cream & More plans to permanently close its store at 17220 West Center Road on October 15. It could close earlier if inventory runs out faster than anticipated. In a social media post, the ownership cited economic challenges over the past few years as a reason for the closure.

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

Marrow Serves Up Savory Elegance Without Pretense in Gretna

Jared Clarke was watching the Gretna area for a few years, knowing the city needed its first fine dining restaurant amongst a landscape of sports bars, Mexican cantinas and pizza joints. With Gretna’s burgeoning growth and development, Clarke realized it was finally time to launch his next concept—one that would fit right in with the community.

“I’ve been watching Gretna for a few years,” Clarke said. “You could see it coming—the growth, the families, the businesses. But there wasn’t that sit-down, nice restaurant where you could still wear jeans and feel comfortable.”

Enter Marrow.

The restaurant gets its name from menu choices that feature bone marrow—whether it’s the popular Canoe appetizer or the marrow infused in sauces and broths. The concept is “accessible fine dining” in a space that provides high-quality American cuisine that locals could treat as a regular option, not just special occasions.

In addition to Marrow, Clarke owns Railcar Modern American Kitchen, Timber Wood Fire Bistro and Pasta Amore, which he acquired in 2021. His culinary journey began in Lincoln as a biochemistry student at UNL. He began cooking weekly “dinner and movie nights” for friends, which pulled him toward the restaurant industry. His part-time college job at Chili’s eventually turned into a fast-rising culinary journey, where he learned the entire kitchen in six weeks and became a corporate trainer soon after. He’d opened several Chili’s restaurants nationwide before deciding he wanted to do his own thing.

He enrolled in culinary school at Lincoln’s Southeast Community College, a more cost-effective option in lieu of famed institutions such as the Culinary Institute of America. He wanted to make sure this was the right career path. After completing the Southeast program, he returned to UNL to study culinology (food science), to deepen his understanding of cuisine and the technical discipline behind it.

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NU Board of Regents Approves Second Design Phase for Project Health

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents last week approved the second design phase for Project Health, a transformational academic health care facility that will be based on the Omaha campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.

The project, the first phase of the larger Project NExT initiative, will serve as a state-of-the-art clinical learning center to educate and train future health care providers, conduct cutting-edge research and expand access to clinical trials.

“As we look ahead, Project Health will not only transform our medical campus – it will help shape the future of health care for Nebraska,” said NU President Jeffrey P. Gold. “The visible progress already underway is a powerful reminder of the momentum we’ve built – and will continue to build – as we work to deliver on our bold vision for the state.”

The regent action authorizes construction of the shell and core of the facility. This work amounts to about $1.22 billion of the entire $2.19 billion project. Initial design phase approval, granted in April 2025, allowed for site preparation and foundational work to begin.

A planned third phase, which also would require regental approval, would be necessary to complete the project. Funding for the project comes from several sources: philanthropy, the state of Nebraska; the city of Omaha; the university and Nebraska Medicine; and private financing.

In addition to serving as a clinical learning and research environment, Project Health will become the primary in-patient clinical hospital for Nebraska Medicine. When the project is complete, more than 550 beds will be available in the facility.

“UNMC must grow professional learner enrollment by 20 to 25 percent to meet the needs across our state,” said H. Dele Davies, interim chancellor of UNMC. “This will be possible only with significant improvement of our physical environment, as these students will need a modern, cutting-edge space to practice and hone their skills. With 30 percent of the building dedicated for educational purposes, Project Health will truly help UNMC grow Nebraska’s health and medical workforce.”

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Lincoln-based Bryan Health, in partnership with Midwest Independent Physicians Private Practice Association, is establishing the Bryan Elkhorn Campus. The 14.6-acre, outpatient healthcare campus will be located southwest 204th & West Center Road in the Privada subdivision. Phase One will feature two medical office buildings, totaling approximately 137,000 sq. ft., designed to accommodate a broad range of outpatient healthcare services beginning in the spring of 2027.

Visit Omaha, the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau, is exhibiting this week at IMEX America, a trade show for the global meetings and events industry. Visit Omaha has appointments with 100 decision-makers, twice as many as last year. IMEX brings together 15,500 people, including 5,700 buyers and 3,500 exhibitors from around the world. Omaha’s booth highlights the city’s downtown growth and the convention district’s exciting updates.

The Council Bluffs City Council approved a resolution to pick R. Perry Construction of Sioux City for the East Manawa Phase 1 Housing Project. R. Perry WILL build 40 single-family attached units, contained in 10 four-unit buildings. This first phase will contribute to the city’s goal to build more than 900 residential units across 93 acres northeast of Lake Manawa. Phase 1 is partially funded by a $6.8 million grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and will be reserved for low to moderate income individuals and families. The 40 units should be completed by the end of 2026.

Park Omaha held a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday for its recently completed parking garage at 4605 Farnam Street in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s EDGE District. The 7-level, city-owned garage has 753stalls, including four electric vehicle charging stations. The EDGE District is also home to the Catalyst building, which opened earlier this year.

Blackstone Business Improvement District leaders and Omaha Mayor John Ewing cut the ribbon earlier this week for an outdoor event space near 39th & Farnam Street. The Blackstone Alley is literally and alleyway during the day, but it becomes an illuminated event space at night. The $760,000 project was paid for with ARPA funds, TIF Contribution Funding, a Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund Grant and the Blackstone BID.

The String of Pearls – The City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public about one of Omaha’s most unique features: the globe lights that line Abbott Drive between Eppley Airfield and downtown. To gather feedback, the city is asking residents to complete a short survey. You can respond any time before October 20th HERE.

Construction of the first phase of the Crossroads redevelopment is imminent as a building permit was recently filed with the city for construction of the first of several parking garages. According to the permit, the submerged, 179,000 sq. ft. parking garage will be two levels and serve as the podium for the future Gamescape by Cinemark entertainment center. According to the development agreement, the city will build and operate this and other future parking facilities throughout the development.

Gamescape was first announced this past April and is the first and currently only known tenant for the Crossroads development. According to previous site plans, the entertainment center will be approximately 90,000 sq. ft. The concept mixes a movie theater experience with arcade games, bowling, laser tag and other entertainment options. The only other Gamescape in the country is in El Paso, Tex.

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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is now the single largest private holder of U.S. Treasury bills, surpassing even the Federal Reserve’s own holdings, according to Investopedia. As of the end of the first quarter of 2025, Berkshire controlled about $305 billion in Treasury bills, while the Fed’s holdings had dropped to $195 billion.

Degree Wellness is opening in Whispering Ridges near 172nd & West Maple Road. According to a building permit for tenant build-out, the business will open in a retail strip at 17229 Evans Street. The 2,000 sq. ft. space will offer access to sauna and cold plunge therapies among other health and wellness services. Degree Wellness has locations in nearly 20 states, but will the first in our region with no current locations in neighboring states.

Civil engineering firm Olsson has been ranked No. 7 on Building Design+Construction’s 2025 list of top U.S. data center engineering firms. Olsson’s annual data center revenue grew more than 65 percent since last year to $103 million.

Amazon has finally opened its delivery station, which had long stood empty at 72nd & State Street. According to the Omaha World-Herald, a ribbon cutting took place earlier this week. The 140,000 sq. ft. facility employs 200 people. Amazon operates similar facilities in Papillion and Council Bluffs. Papillion is also home to Amazon’s much larger regional distribution center.

AIM Fitness & Nutrition, a private personal training studio, has opened its first Omaha-area location at 11922 Standing Stone Drive in Gretna. Founded in 2018, AIM also operates a Lincoln location focused on nutrition. AIM strives to help clients “gain energy and feel confident in their skin.”

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The Bay held a groundbreaking ceremony last week for its 40,000 sq. ft. youth center at 6120 Military Avenue in Benson. The $20 million project will convert a former indoor parking garage into a cultural hub for youth. The Benson facility is a second location of a Lincoln organization of the same name. When it is complete in early 2027, The Bay, will have classrooms, music venue, creative labs, esports arena and indoor skatepark for all skill levels.

Goodwill Omaha’s Adult Education Program was recently recognized by the state as Nebraska’s first adult high school. The program is open to any Nebraska resident over 21 years of age and provides a pathway to acquiring a high school diploma.

Joslyn Castle & Gardens was awarded $357,480 in federal funding through the Save America’s Treasures Grant Program. The award will support the rehabilitation and preservation of the historic conservatory.

Girls Inc. broke ground on its highly anticipated South Omaha Center construction project at 2108 L Street, behind South High School. Girls Inc. also announced a campaign to raise the final $2.7 million of the $35 million project. The new facility will continue to be known as the Emma Lozier Center. At 36,000 sq. ft., the updated center will be nearly five times larger than the current building and will accommodate 300 girls.

Heartland Bike Share has opened a station at Zorinsky Lake. The shared bikes, which can be checked out via an app, are located in the northwest parking lot off 168th St.

Project Intentional is gearing up for its annual Love Can Store. Starting in November, Love Can Store (formerly the Winter Wonder Land Emporium Store) will serve 345 families, representing 513 adults and 950 children. Each household will receive socks, hygiene items and a $150 check, offering parents the dignity of choice in how best to care for their loved ones. This year, 644 families applied for sponsorship – nearly double the 345 families Project Intentional is currently able to serve.

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One direct quote from an anonymous coach offered high praise for McDermott, noting that “Year in and year out his teams run their offense with precision, pace and high-level execution. Having scouted against him and felt the pressure they put on the defense, it is hard to argue against that. Great after time outs. Great in-game adjustments. And puts players in great spots.”

Omaha Hockey begins its 2025-26 campaign this weekend against another set of Mavericks, No. 20 Minnesota State. Last season the two programs faced off for the first time in nearly 10 years, and Minnesota State swept the weekend series. The puck-drop at Baxter Arena is 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.

Union Omaha continued its impressive lossless streak on Sunday, defeating FC Naples 2-1 to clinch its spot in the USL League One Playoffs. Union Omaha has three regular season matches remaining on the following three Saturdays (Oct. 11, 18 and 25). This Saturday, they travel to Greenville Triumph SC for a 1 p.m. match. Their final two matches will be played at Werner Park.

Omaha men’s basketball, the defending Summit League regular-season and tournament champions, was selected second in the 2025-26 Summit League Preseason Poll, revealed Tuesday at Summit League Media Day. The Mavericks, who received 13 first-place votes, trailed only St. Thomas, the projected No. 1 team in the Summit this season. St. Thomas received 17 first-place votes. Senior guards Tony Osburn and Ja’Sean Glover were named to the Preseason All-Summit First and Second teams, respectively.

Creighton volleyball seniors Ava Martin and Kiara Reinhardt earned a pair of weekly Big East honors after a 2-0 week that kept the No. 13 Bluejays undefeated in conference play. Martin was named Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 5.93 points and 4.86 kills per set. Both marks led the conference over the week. Reinhardt was named Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week, posting nine blocks over two matches. Reinhardt is on a historic pace with her seventh career Big East Defensive Player of the Week honor. Per Associate Athletic Director Rob Anderson, in Creighton program history, only libero Brittany Witt (8) has more. The Bluejays are on the road this weekend, facing Georgetown on Friday at 6 p.m. and Villanova on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Former Creighton softball standout Tara (Oltman) Higgins was named to the DI Softball All-Quarter Century Team last Thursday, Oct. 2. During her time at Creighton, Oltman was a 13-time Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week and set school and league records in wins (118), strikeouts (1,086), innings pitched (1,064) appearances (187), starts (143) and complete games (128). Joining Oltman on the All-Quarter Century Team was former Bluejay assistant coach and Drake star Nicole Newman.

Athletes Unlimited Volleyball continues this weekend at Liberty First Credit Union Arena. Captains Jordan Thompson, Natalia Valentin-Anderson, Morgan Hentz and Claire Hoffman selected their teams for the second week of the 2025 AU Pro Volleyball Championship season during Tuesday morning’s draft.

The four teams begin Week Two tonight, Thursday, Oct. 9. Team Hentz and Team Valentin-Anderson open the doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. before Team Thompson faces off with Team Hoffman in the nightcap at 8 p.m. There will then be two games each Sunday and Monday to round out play in Omaha.

Upcoming Games

• Athletes Unlimited Volleyball | Thursday, Oct. 9 | 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• #13 Creighton volleyball at Georgetown | Friday, Oct. 10 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey vs. #20 Minnesota State | Friday, Oct. 10 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer at Providence | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.
• Omaha volleyball vs. South Dakota | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 12 p.m.
• Union Omaha at Greenville Triumph SC | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 1 p.m.
• Omaha men’s soccer vs. UMass | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 2:30 p.m.
• #13 Creighton volleyball at Villanova | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 6 p.m.
• Creighton men’s soccer vs. Xavier | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha Hockey vs. #20 Minnesota State | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha women’s soccer at South Dakota State | Sunday, Oct. 12 | 1 p.m.
• Athletes Unlimited Volleyball | Sunday, Oct. 12 | 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Athletes Unlimited Volleyball | Monday, Oct. 13 | 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Omaha men’s soccer vs. UTRGV | Tuesday, Oct. 14 | 7 p.m.

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Celebrate Creativity, a partnership of the Omaha Symphony and the Joslyn Art Museum, invites 800 middle school students to explore a variety of artistic disciplines in workshops led by local artists and professionals. This year, students will participate in workshops, such as acting, stage combat, puppetry, singing, sketching and more. Each student had the option to choose which disciplines to explore during their experience. Celebrate Creativity ends each day with an interactive performance by the Omaha Symphony at The Joslyn at 1 p.m. to engage children with the notions of art and orchestral music. Details: Tuesday, October 14 through Thursday, November 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Workshops begin at 9:30 a.m.

Cali Commons is hosting the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs 2025–2026 Traveling Show all October long. The Association of Nebraska Art Clubs unites and supports art clubs across Nebraska—the only organization of its kind in the country. Each year, the association hosts a statewide conference featuring a nationally recognized juror. The top 25 artworks selected travel to galleries across Nebraska. Featuring the top 25 pieces from Nebraska’s statewide competition, this is a must-see for art lovers.

KANEKO’s Soiree is this Friday, October 10th, and tickets are still available. It’s their annual celebration of us: artists and art lovers, dreamers and doers, longtime friends and new faces, gathering in joyful recognition that creativity flourishes in community.

This year brings something special: a preview performance by GRAMMY-nominated composer Andy Akiho and Sandbox Percussion, sharing work composed during their KANEKO residency. The following week, experience the world premiere in full – ambitious programming that only KANEKO makes possible.

Omaha Performing Arts has added four new events to the performance calendar:

BOLO comes to Steelhouse Omaha on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and go on sale Thursday, Oct. 9 at 12 p.m. through steelhouseomaha.com. This event is 18+.

Fortune Feimster brings the Takin’ Care of Biscuits Tour to the Holland Center on Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $41 and go on sale Friday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. through ticketomaha.com.

The Price is Right Live! comes to the Orpheum Theater on Tuesday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $50.25 and go on sale Friday, Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. through ticketomaha.com.

Nebraska State Thespians Festival comes to the Holland Center on Thursday, Jan. 8 through Saturday, Jan. 10. Multiple performances are available and tickets start at $24 and are on sale now through ticketomaha.com.

Did you know Omaha Performing Arts employs approximately 100 full-time and 200 part-time employees? Additionally, the organization has a volunteer corps of 550 people.

Did you know visitors to Omaha spent more than $1.5 billion while they were in town during 2024 alone?

Did you know that nearly half (47%) of all remote workers in Omaha earn $75,000 or more?

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EVERYWHERE: Event Marketing Summit happening October 10th: This summit brings together professionals from regional and national event organizations, bar crawl brands, concert promoters, sports teams, field marketing departments and more to share what’s working, what’s next and how to build smarter, faster and further-reaching event marketing programs. Whether you’re managing dozens of store openings, hundreds of concerts or coordinating marketing for a national brand activation tour, this event is built for you!

Art Factory: After Dark Hot Shops Fundraiser happening October 10th: Step into the Art Factory–your all-access pass to the most colossal Hot Shops night of the year! This isn’t just a fundraiser – it’s a full-on creative takeover. Wander through immersive installations, watch fiery live art in action, and jump in on hands-on art stations where you get to make your own. You will also get a chance to bid in the art auction and hit a dance floor that won’t quit. Snap photos at every turn, fuel up with food, drinks, and Coneflower ice cream, then keep the energy going at the Factory After-Party with beats by DJ Angie Spence. Around every corner, there’s something new, bold, and unforgettable—because at Hot Shops, the art doesn’t just hang on the walls… it happens all around you.

Blueprints for Growth: Product Bets & M&A with Buildertrend’s David Arnold happening October 16th: Scale Omaha powered by the Nebraska Startup Academy welcomes David Arnold, Chief Strategy Officer at Buildertrend, for a candid conversation on his work in the Omaha tech sector for the last 13 years, developing expertise in strategic planning, M&A, and new product incubation. Join others to dig into the decision frameworks behind build/partner/buy, how to pressure-test new product incubation inside a scaled platform and the human side of post-deal integration—plus what founders and operators can learn from corporate development playbooks.

Zootacular Presented by Veridian Credit Union happening on select dates in October: Follow moonlit pathways decorated with twinkling lights and fall décor. Stop at treat stations, watch thrilling fire and magical performances, dance under glowing lights and explore select animal habitats after dark. Food and drinks available at Plaza Café, Sea Turtle Café and seasonal pop-up bars. Admission tickets and Ghouly Iglooze reservations are open now at the Omaha Zoo website!

Millwork Moves: Yoga in the Dock recurring weekly on Tuesdays: Happening on select Tuesdays, Millwork Commons is hosting Yoga in the Dock with Lotus House of Yoga! This event is free and taught by a certified yoga instructor. Simply bring a mat, a water bottle and show up to enjoy flowing movement with the community.

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Scoular today announced the appointment of four officers: Ankush Bhandari, Vice President, Economic Analysis; Jennifer Brewton, Vice President, Human Resources; Tim Manning, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel; and Billy Shortal, Vice President, General Manager, Eastern Rail Grains.

The Gretna Area Chamber of Commerce has hired Missy Hardersen Clark as its director. She has a background in marketing and event planning.

Northwest Bank has added Jacques Smith as a commercial banker. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry. In addition to his banking career, Smith served for 23 years in the Nebraska Army National Guard, including overseas deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Foster Group has added Missy Roh as an advisor in Omaha. She is a Certified Public Accountant with prior experience in accounting. Foster Group is a financial advising firm with offices in Omaha and Des Moines, Iowa.

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LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Have you heard of “rust-out?” According to Fast Company, it’s type of burnout that comes from not using your unique skills and talents at work, lacking learning opportunities, and ultimately, dreading the repetitive tasks at work that sap your creativity.

Work-Life Balance – The weekend seems to be disappearing in Silicon Valley, according to The Hustle. Why? The “996 culture” might be to blame. Nine-nine-six refers to the schedule of working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. The concept originated in China circa 2010 and entered Silicon Valley’s vernacular a few years back. It seems to have strengthened its grip on San Francisco in recent months, with job listings that describe brutally long workweek expectations becoming commonplace.

If you want to be an authentic leader, develop self-awareness, cultivate emotional intelligence, be true to your values, practice transparency, encourage diverse perspectives, lead with empathy and commit to continuous growth, according to Forbes.

SALES

Book Recommendation – I had the honor of previewing my friend Lee Salz’s just-released book, The First Meeting Differentiator. It is outstanding! If you’re a sales professional in any capacity, this is not just another sales book. It’s a masterclass in turning first meetings into opportunities you actually win. I highly recommend getting your own copy. Check it out HERE.

When deciding how to allocate their time, sales professionals should focus on tasks that directly drive results, says sales author Mark Hunter: “Too many salespeople spend far too much time doing anything but the work they need to do to be productive. They know what work they need to do, and when really pushed, they know why they should be doing it. But they simply choose not to do it.”

WISDOM

“They talk about my drinking, but never my thirst.” – Scottish proverb

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It is purported, but not documented, that Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” This is not my first rodeo. In fact, it is the 62nd rodeo of my ongoing Wall Street journey. As I read a recent Wall Street Journal article, Twain’s purported comment flashed before my bloodshot eyes. The article documented the stock market’s three-year meteoric rise and made a big bruhaha about the market hitting its 42nd all-time high this year. During periods like this, all of the Wall Street brainiacs go bananas and start justifying where we are, and urging everybody to jump on the train before it leaves the station.

Let me quote the article that caused me to hear a rhyme. “With the S&P 500 at record highs and valuations approaching levels last seen in the dot.com bubble, strategists are rethinking what normal looks like for today’s market. One Bank of America analyst wrote, “Perhaps we should anchor today’s multiples as the new normal rather than expecting mean reversion to a bygone area.” That shift in thinking reflects a broader recalibration across Wall Street, driven by accelerating artificial intelligence adoption and its accompanying revenue growth.”

As I read on, my mind flew back to a similar sounding situation I experienced during my early years as a wet-behind-the-ears broker back in the 1970s. During that era, Wall Street fawned over a group companies they dubbed, “The Nifty Fifty.” This was a group of stocks that were considered solid buy-and-hold, forever growth stocks, also known as “blue chip stocks.” All 50 companies had solid earnings growth and extremely high P/E ratios. Many had P/E ratios in excess of 70, which is five times the norm of 15.

All 50 stocks were household names and Buffett favorites. Included were stalwarts such as American Express, Coca-Cola, Eastman Kodak, General Electric and IBM. If you take a look at that list now, you will find about a third of them no longer exist. Companies like Schlitz Brewing, Sears and Roebuck, Simplicity Patterns, Louisiana Land and Exploration have all gone belly up. The Nifty Fifty heyday lasted for approximately eight years. But, like all good stock hysterias, they succumbed to reality, and most crashed and fell back to more normal P/E ratios.

There is a difference between a prediction and an observation. A predication says, “I have analyzed all the data and based upon the facts, THIS WILL HAPPEN.” An observation says, “I have experienced situations like this in the past, and it is possible something like this COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.”

The above comments are an observation, not a prediction. But one thing I can say for certain is that, at the end of every straight away is always a curve.

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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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