Weekly Market Report – June 8, 2023

Burger Detour, a locally owned burger restaurant, has started construction on a second location before the first location is open. The first location will be at 183rd & West Maple Road and will open soon. The second location will be southeast of 204th & Pacific Street.

Clean Eatz is opening today at Regency Landing northeast of Interstate 680 & Pacific Street, according to ACCESS Commercial. Clean Eatz offers a cafe menu with indoor and patio seating, grab ‘n go’s, meal plans, and catering.

Construction has started on a new Runza restaurant building southwest of 204th & Q Street in the Coventry development between Starbuck’s and Rusty Taco.

Stokes Grill & Wine Bar has reopened after a major renovation of its building at 13615 California Street.

Baked After Dark is back after closing its Benson location earlier this year. The locally owned bakery reopened last month at 15330 Weir Street inside Her Company, a cooperative of women-owned businesses.

Ollie & Hobbs has opened its One Pacific Place location. The casual restaurant’s original location in Papillion remains open at 310 East Gold Coast Road.

ACE Hardware is opening a new store on the southeast corner of 276th Street & U.S. Highway 275 in Valley.

The Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce is planning ribbon cutting celebrations on June 23rd for Light House Café & Coffee at 119 West Mission in Bellevue and at La Paz Mexican Fare & Cantina at 230 West Lincoln Street in Papillion.

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

Review: At Mercer & Sons, the best ingredients push simple toward special

By Sarah Baker Hansen

I’ll be honest here: I knew before I ever set foot inside Mercer & Sons Delicatessen, the new deli, takeout spot and high-end grocery store from the owners of La Buvette, in the Old Market, that I was going to like it.

I did not realize just how much I was actually going to love the absolutely charming interior. Shelves packed with things like imported mustard, fancy crackers, and spices. A rotating case filled with slices of carrot cake and fresh berry tarts, and another case full of the kind of cheese, salads and dips that made me want to host a party, immediately.

It also doesn’t hurt that the selection of sandwiches and soups I tried were so affordably priced and also so appetizing that I can’t wait to visit again.

The owners have been working on opening the deli for some time now, and after a full renovation, the new space compliments La Buvette in its look and feel — brick walls, creaky floors, lots of art. It also marks a return to the grocery store-style roots of La Buvette. The back of the restaurant used to house many more shelves full of specialty groceries that, over the years, have been replaced with more tables for customer seating. Mercer & Sons brings those shelves back, and gives them new life.

Inside, the deli is similar in size to La Buvette, but it is solely takeaway. Note that if you plan on eating lunch from the counter, you’ll need to find a spot to sit. I might recommend walking over to the new Leahy mall, where there’s plenty of tables and chairs and lots of people watching.

A handwritten menu at the front lets visitors know that day’s sandwich and soup selections. There’s fresh bread, cheese, salads, smoked salmon, meats and dips that could also make a lunch, or a lovely evening charcuterie board, were one so inclined.

I ordered two sandwiches and two soups one recent day, and strolled around the space while the staff made my food to go. Things escalated quickly.

I grabbed a jar of tarragon mustard, a bag of toasted rounds of baguette, a container of hummus and another of cornichon pickles, a container of seasoned marcona almonds, a deli container of cheddar cheese curds and two pastries from the overflowing pastry and cookie basket on the counter.

I carted it all home before unloading the sandwiches and soups and sitting down to try everything. The day I ordered, the kitchen had two soups: Italian sausage and pepper and tomato. I did not expect the latter to be filled with softened green olives, chunks of tomato and onion and a surprisingly deep and briny flavor.

The sausage and pepper soup was just as good, and though both were tomato-based, their flavor profiles were different. The sausage and pepper was hotter, with different notes of black pepper and fennel.

The homemade soups are $4.95 each, which puts them two dollars below a cup of soup at Panera. It’s an impressively low price for such high-quality ingredients and tasty finishes.

The sandwiches come served on the house-made breads that La Buvette has long served, but in different varieties: a thick slice of country pate slathered in Dijon mustard comes on crisp-tender homemade focaccia bread. The soft bread paired with the firmer pate is a delightful bite. It feels very French in its simplicity and depth.

The kitchen was debuting its house-made pastrami on rye the day I visited, and it’s a sandwich worth trying. The rye, soft and still slightly warm from the oven, had a crusty exterior and a soft, interior studded with caraway. A curling stack of pastrami, the brisket perfectly rosy pink with a tender finish, gets finished with a tangy whole grain mustard that cuts the richness. I audibly sighed at the first bite; like most of what I tried, it’s simple, but made with the best ingredients available, which pushes it toward exceptional.

I can’t recommend enough selecting a pastry from the big basket by the register: I tried a soft, gooey chocolate chip cookie and a bar that I’ve been cutting slices off of for the past few days. Labeled “diamond crumble,” it’s a shortbread base covered with a layer of dark chocolate and topped with more chocolate, crumbles of shortbread and a few nuts.

The food next door at La Buvette is, in my opinion, better than ever. With the addition of Mercer, a lunchtime neighbor and a return to its grocery store roots, the experience of the two restaurants together is as surprising and delicious as ever.

Mercer & Sons Delicatessen
509 S. 11th St.

402-344-8012

Hours:
Mon-Sat: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Omaha’s Fortune 500 Companies

Fortune released its 69th annual Fortune 500 list ranking the biggest American corporations by revenue this week. The companies that landed a spot on the list account for two-thirds of U.S. GDP with $18 trillion in revenue.

Familiar names top the list: Walmart secured the top spot for the 11th year in a row and, for the eighth time in nine years, Apple was the most profitable U.S. company, with a record $99.8 billion in earnings in 2022.

Once again, Omaha fared well this year especially for a city of only 500,000 people in a metro area of only 1 million. Four Omaha-based companies made the list: Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific, Peter Kiewit Sons’ and Mutual of Omaha. An additional three made the Fortune 1000: Valmont Industries, Green Plains and Werner Enterprises. Omaha is home to 100 percent of Nebraska’s Fortune 1000 companies.

Here are the local Fortune 1000 companies by rank including revenues:

#7 Berkshire Hathaway $302.1 billion

#159 Union Pacific $24.88 billion

#307 Peter Kiewit Son’s $13.67 billion

#328 Mutual of Omaha $12.53 billion

#711 Valmont Industries $4.35 billion

#793 Green Plains $3.67 billion

#854 Werner Enterprises $3.29 billion

With four Fortune 500 headquarters, here’s how Omaha compares to other regional cities:

Chicago – 13
Minneapolis – 6
Denver – 5
Omaha – 4
Milwaukee – 4
St. Louis – 4
Oklahoma City – 3
Tulsa – 3
Kansas City – 2
Des Moines – 1

This section is sponsored by RENZE. For over 128 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 partner with you to help create your vision. Check out our recent work at Fontenelle Forest HERE!

In a recent interview with WOWT, Carmen Tapio, president & CEO of North End Teleservices discussed the company’s future headquarters scheduled to open in a couple years at 24th & Lake Street: “It is the largest private investment ever made in North Omaha…That $65 million to $80 million includes our primary phase one building, which is the mixed-use retail. In addition to that, we are building 80 to 100 apartments that are on the site plan. And across the street, we have plans for single-family homes.”

The Consulate of Guatemala will occupy a 9,332 sq. ft., second-floor office space at 1010 North 96th Street, according to Deb Graeve-Morrisson and Chris Falcone of NAI NP Dodge, who represented both parties in the lease.

We have new details about the Genesis Health Club news we reported last week. The privately owned, Kansas-based fitness chain will move its Midtown Crossing location across the street into the 75,000 sq. ft. former Alamo Drafthouse Cinema space. The much larger space will allow Genesis to provide more equipment and “luxury finishes.” Genesis has entered into a contract to purchase the building instead of renting.

In a recent article about growth and development in and around the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Omaha World-Herald reported that the campus has added about 1 million sq. ft. over each of the past several decades and now stands at 10 million sq. ft. including parking garages. More is on the way. Construction has started on the 170,000 sq. ft. Catalyst project.

The article also mentioned that UNMC has purchased the Metro Credit Union building at 414 Saddle Creek Road. The credit union will move to a to-be-constructed building on the northwest corner of Farnam Street & Saddle Creek Road. The administration tower planned for the southwest corner of that intersection is still not finalized, but it will be known as the Campus Operations & Research Excellence or “CORE” facility.

Grow Omaha Snippets are brought to you by Omaha Car Care with four metro area locations – 131st & Dodge, 58th & Center, 85th & L and 144th & Harrison.

Omaha Car Care “We’ll be along for the ride.”

Prestige Wealth, LLC has announced the firm’s new office location in Spring Ridge Plaza near 180th & Pacific Street, next to the Good Life Sports Bar & Grill. Prestige Wealth is an Omaha-based, independent, financial planning firm that provides clients with “the financial confidence to live their best life.”

Jay and Angelia Froscheiser, owners of three Club Pilates studios in Omaha, have signed a lease for a Papillion location at Midlands Place near 84th & Highway 370. Opening is planned for late summer.

Union Pacific Railroad reached an agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen to provide paid sick leave to the approximately 5,600 locomotive engineers employed by the railroad. Under the agreement, BLET members will have up to seven paid days to use in the event of illness. Five days will be considered paid sick days with the ability to convert two additional paid leave days for use as paid sick time. The agreement is effective August 1st.

Werner Enterprises has been named a 2023 Top Green Fleet by Heavy Duty Trucking. The recognition highlights Omaha-based Werner’s commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by innovating its operations, fleet and technology.

HDR is expanding its presence in Southern California, establishing an architecture studio in San Diego, following the Omaha-based firm’s award-winning design success in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

In a recent study by Mutual of Omaha, 57 percent admitted they don’t have enough in savings to cover significant unexpected expenses, while 51 percent said they have little money left at the end of each month. Among respondents whose financial status is considered “low due to their spending and savings habits,” 56 percent say they always or frequently feel stressed, and 53 percent say they regularly feel anxious.

For business travel it is a no brainer to require travelers who drive to destinations of 400 miles or more to rent a car rather than use their personal vehicle, according to Steve Glenn of Lincoln-based Executive Travel. “The IRS currently allows 65.5 cents a mile for reimbursement when using a car for business. That 400-mile trip costs the company $262. Renting a car for $60 a day for two days plus $60 in gas will cost $180. Plus you don’t put all those extra miles on your car. The same can be true for personal or vacation trips.”

This section is sponsored by FranNet of The Heartland, the local, trusted franchise experts. They are “in the business of helping you get into business!”

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Some companies have created a new position: “Entrepreneur in Residence.”

This tends to be a temporary position that, according to HubSpot, “primarily identifies market opportunities and creates new startups. Often filled by an experienced entrepreneur, an entrepreneur in residence can also help a company research markets, identify problems, create solutions, and commercialize ideas.”

According to a CNBC article by Dr. Cortney Warren, using these phrases shows you are more emotionally secure than most people:

“Let me think about that before I respond.”

“I’m not comfortable with that.”

“I will work on that.”

“This matters to me.”

Sign of a Recession? During an investors call, Costco CFO Richard Galanti said more customers have switched lately from beef products to less expensive chicken and pork products. Galanti said he has historically noticed this trend as the beginning of recessions.

SALES

Too many sales managers have devolved into “desk jockeys,” says sales author Mike Weinberg. That means they spend too much time staring at spreadsheets and CRM screens instead of directly coaching their salespeople. “Frontline sales leaders are cheating themselves of what should be one of the most satisfying and results-driving parts of their job — helping their people get people at doing their own jobs,” Weinberg said.

According to Spotio, 91 percent of customers say they would be willing to give referrals but only 11 percent of salespeople ask for them.

Here’s a sales question you might want to try courtesy of HubSpot – “Would you be willing to meet us at our price if it means great service?” Because better products/services tend to cost more, you can use this question to get a feel for this prospect’s desire for top-level service (assuming you are willing and able to provide it).

WISDOM

“The love of power is so alluring that few have ever been able to resist its bewitching influence.” – New Hampshire State Convention in 1781

Founded in 2006 right in the heart of Omaha’s Dundee community, Dundee Bank is all about local ownership, friendly customer service, and supporting the needs of our beloved community. With nearly 100% of your deposits going right back into our neighborhoods, Dundee Bank is committed to fueling growth, enabling loans, and fostering stability for you and your neighbors. So why not open an account at Dundee Bank and discover what it means to truly support local?

49th Annual Omaha Summer Arts Festival from June 9th to 11th: The Summer Arts Festival is back at Aksarben Village! This weekend is packed with fun for everyone. Local galleries and artists will be showcasing their talents, adding a unique flair to the event. You’ll be able to enjoy the free concerts, performed on not just one, but TWO stages, enhancing the lively atmosphere. Indulge in an array of delectable food options, ranging from traditional festival favorites to mouthwatering entrees and appetizers from local restaurants and food trucks. This event is perfect for kicking off your summer with family and friends!

Omaha Summer Picture Gala on June 10th: Come together over beer, wine, food, and raffle prizes to support a new Nebraska film, “Under The Rug.” The project’s message is simple: “We must seek the truth when dealing with trauma, although hard conversations may arise, it is vital to pursue healing and the protection of all people.” The project features an entire Nebraska cast and crew and will highlight the beauty of the state. Experience the beauty of healing trauma through art while supporting local creatives!

Tuesdays on the Green on June 13th: Join others for an exciting weekly event, Tuesdays at the Granary Green! Taking place every Tuesday through July, this special gathering promises a delightful blend of music, food, drinks, and endless enjoyment. Game On Omaha will also be there and you’ll have the opportunity to compete with others in a game of bocce. Come out for a night of friendly competition or a memorable evening sharing food and drinks with friends!

Wednesday Night Workouts on June 14th: Get ready to sweat it out at Turner Park in Midtown Crossing with the Wednesday Night Workout Series! This free and open to the public event, sponsored by Methodist Health System, is the perfect way to break up your week with a high-energy outdoor workout. Led by licensed instructors from Genesis Health Clubs, each week offers a new and exciting workout type, including popular favorites like Zumba, Pound, Mixxed Fit, and Group Fight. With a variety of workout styles to choose from, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Networking and interview with local tech VP of Marketing Jamie Bell on June 15th: If you’re interested in scaling your business and learning the in’s and out’s of marketing, you won’t want to miss this exciting event featuring Jamie Bell, local tech VP of Marketing. Jamie will share some of her background as a marketer and growth strategies for startups while also diving into the importance of internal marketing. The discussion will highlight why internal marketing is so important to the growth of a company and how to get it right. This event is an opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals in Omaha!

This Upcoming Events section is sponsored by Eagle Mortgage Company, is a locally owned and full-service mortgage company in Omaha.

Eagle Mortgage can help you realize your dream of owning a home.

Drew Kamp, president & CEO of The Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce has resigned after three years on the job. Barry Cleaveland will serve as interim director until the board of directors finds a permanent replacement.

NP Dodge Real Estate has welcomed new residential sales associates including Christopher Ansell, Michelle Morehouse and Monte Wilson.

Bankers Trust has hired Steve Lindsay as senior vice president of business development in the Omaha office. Lindsay has more than 27 years of financial leadership experience and holds an M.B.A. degree from Creighton University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University.

Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed K.C. Belitz as director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Belitz, 54, is the former head of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

Retire SMART has named Erik Blankmeyer as managing director of its new private wealth division. He previously worked as vice president of institutional sales at TD Ameritrade and vice president at Advisors Excel Wealth Management.

Emily Glenn has been named the new dean of the McGoogan Health Sciences Library at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, pending NU Board of Regents approval and effective July 1st. She had been serving as interim director since September.

WoodmenLife has appointed Thomas Sherer as regional director of its Arkansas/Oklahoma region and Trae Gonzalez as regional director of the Texas West region.

Jennifer Hamann, executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer, and Eric Gehringer, executive vice president – operations, of Union Pacific Corporation will address the 2023 Wells Fargo Industrials Conference at 8 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, June 13th.

The “People in the News” section is sponsored by Baird Holm LLP. Baird Holm’s dedicated team of real estate lawyers has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law, including purchases, sales, zoning and land use, leasing, and dispute resolution. Click HERE for more information.

For the past 37 years, my morning routine has consisted of retrieving the Wall Street Journal, opening it on the kitchen table and basking in the wisdom wafting from its pages. Recently, as I began this routine, I heard small voice – probably Mr. Market – whispering in my ear: “Pay attention to China!”

Until recently, the Chinese government’s goal was to grow their economy in order to keep its vast middle class population content. But following the pandemic, they made a dramatic left turn and are now focusing on world domination and increasing controls over the Chinese economy and social life.

In response to this change in policy, American companies are rethinking their relationship with China. Prior to the pandemic, China was our largest trading partner. We relied heavily on them for consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and computer chips. In return, they were significant purchasers of our agricultural products and high-end consumer goods.

To hang a little meat on the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton outlined above, consider the following; Apple is one of the American companies at the center of this game of musical chairs and will play a pivotal role in determining who is standing when the music stops. With its multi trillion-dollar market cap, Apple yanks both the NASDAQ and S&P 500 around. Big Tim’s kind of between a rock and a hard space because only 12% of all of the chips that go into the high-tech consumer goods are made in the U.S.

At the same time, China is a big consumer of these products, so any modification of this relationship is going to require some serious chainsaw juggling.

It was recently announced that Apple has expanded its relationship with Broadcom, one of the major players in the chips market. Part of this new tango was initiated by China’s saber rattling towards Taiwan where Apple‘s current major chip supplier resides. As long as China keeps escalating it’s rhetoric towards Taiwan, Apple has to walk on egg shells.

The next song in the musical chairs game is Apple‘s announcement that it’s increasing its presence in India, both on the production side and on the consumer side. Apple just opened its first major store in New Delhi. And lo and behold, the ribbon cutter was big Tim himself. He didn’t fly all the way half around the world just because he likes curry.

The cue ball has been stuck, and the billiard balls are just beginning to fly. Where the balls will stop nobody knows, but there are reasons to be optimistic about the eventual outcome. In the meantime, sleep with one eye open and “forget the needle, buy the haystack,”

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

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

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

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

Support the Grow “O” Mission

Don’t keep this newsletter to yourself. Forward it to your friends, clients and co-workers. You want to know the real reason we produce this report? It’s to remind Omahans about the vibrant, prosperous and growing city they call home. The more Omaha residents believe in their city, the more successful we’ll all be. Spread the news!

Know of someone else who wants to receive this newsletter? Have them send their name and email address to news@growomaha.com!