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Miracle Hills Plaza (NW Corner 114 & Dodge)

Heard the vacant strip center in Miracle Hills is being acquired by a developer for a mixed use redevelopment with office and retail. I was told it would have an urban feel like AV, MTC, LaVista, etc.

Guest wrote:Heard the vacant strip center in Miracle Hills is being acquired by a developer for a mixed use redevelopment with office and retail. I was told it would have an urban feel like AV, MTC, LaVista, etc.

Interesting. I see that the old Cub Foods was purchased by Perkins Properties last August and the building to its east was just purchased by them in May.

This would be a great place for a mixed use development IMO.

Guest wrote:Heard the vacant strip center in Miracle Hills is being acquired by a developer for a mixed use redevelopment with office and retail. I was told it would have an urban feel like AV, MTC, LaVista, etc.

I buy medication for our cat at the Kohl's pharmacy at Miracle Hills. I mentioned how empty that side of Miracle Hills was on the west side. I was told pretty much the same thing.

That would be really interesting. There are a lot of offices and apartments in the area, it would be nice to have a "Downtown" for the area.

I best some office space there would go over pretty well. Right in the middle of the city.

iamjacobm wrote:That would be really interesting. There are a lot of offices and apartments in the area, it would be nice to have a "Downtown" for the area.

I best some office space there would go over pretty well. Right in the middle of the city.

Would be great to get that area pumped back up.

bigredmed wrote:

iamjacobm wrote:That would be really interesting. There are a lot of offices and apartments in the area, it would be nice to have a "Downtown" for the area.

I best some office space there would go over pretty well. Right in the middle of the city.

Would be great to get that area pumped back up.

Really been on a slide since the overpass opened.

I talked to employees of one of the business that used to be located there a while back and they said the owner of the property lived in New York and didn't care about the businesses vacating. Despite the loss of traffic due to the expressway, it is still a highly trafficked area. All of the other corners of this intersection seem to be doing well. This would be a great draw for the area.

iamjacobm wrote:Really been on a slide since the overpass opened.

Crazy thing is, the shopping center on the east side of 114th and been nearly full the entire time and as soon as one business leaves, someone jumps right back in there. All the restaurants over there seem really busy too.

I wonder if its more of a management thing, because the areas south of dodge seem to stay consistently full too.

I know someone who works for World Group, whose offices are in that one story office building in front of the former Cub. They confirmed someone bought the property and intends to tear everything down and build "something."

World Group is moving into a space in the First National Business Park by Biaggi's.

The Miracle Hills Animal Hospital (NW of 114th & Dodge, north of First National, in the same strip mall as Kohll's Drug and others) is closing and services are moving elsewhere. We're told their lease is expiring along with other tenants in that strip mall and there will be demolition and new construction there. Got this from a reputable source but if it belongs under "Rumors" for now, please move it. I don't know if this goes all the way back to where the grocery store used to be, includes out-buildings, etc. No doubt one of you knows all about it.

This is not a rumor, there is a thread about this somewhere, I can't find it on my phone though...

Coyote wrote:This is not a rumor, there is a thread about this somewhere, I can't find it on my phone though...

I agree. I think they might have talked about it on the Grow Omaha Radio Show last year too.

Merged to Existing Topic

Thanks for the follow-up. The dogs won't be too happy that they have to go somewhere else, but it sounds like a good deal for the peoples.

I noticed boston market is boarded up now. All our kfc gravy will now be pure and uncut.

Does anybody know/get/understand the rush street market thing?

This area would be prime for tower condo units to drive more traffic to sandwich-shop row that caters to thebusiness crowd

My wife and I picked up togo from Cilantros off 114th and dodge. I noticed very quickly that this strip mall is completely dead. I remember when I was younger (around 2011) this place wasn't too bad and we used to see blazing pianos at DJ's. Now it is basically dead. Anyone know why? I bet this location was buzzing in the 80s and 90s.

There is a thread on here somewhere of new development coming to this area, so Cubs Foods and bays south of that will be gone soon, that is why those stores are vacant ready to be torn down.

EDIT: Threads Merged

I drove past here today. The renovation to Miracle Hills Plaza looks nearly complete. The parking lot has been completely repaved as well. It's a huge improvement over what was there. I hope they attract a lot of great tenants as a result.

Annnnnd it will sit empty. At best, lease out bays to insurance agents or yoga studios.

It's been said before. The overpass killed 114th st. It's nothing more than daytime business traffic now. Weekends and weeknights it's dead.

The ship sailed 20 years ago when the grocery store left, Boston Market and the Oontz-Oontz scene faded to update the shopping area. Instead, they sat on it and did nothing.

Can we do like a reverse TIF? Like an accelerated property tax for non-residential areas that sit vacant longer than 6mo with an escalator?

I disagree, the shopping center across the street to the east does very well and I'm sure this one will too when the remodeling is finished. It looks way better after the remodel.

Brad wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 10:53 am I disagree, the shopping center across the street to the east does very well and I'm sure this one will too when the remodeling is finished. It looks way better after the remodel.

I agree, that whole area seems to be done fine, on both sides of Dodge.

You are all somewhat right. As a long time tenant in the strip to the East, the property seems to do a good job of finding new tenants, but I have seen many come and go in short order. The lunch crowd and dinner crowd still seem strong, but the place is pretty quiet after 8pm unless there's a big televised sporting event on late at DJ's. (I was told even DJ's was considering permanently closing that location circa pandemic, but grain of salt because it came from an employee.) I'm old enough to remember when 114th was a popular late night area. It is definitely a far cry from that these days. Long way of saying, the area is alright but it ain't what it used to be. Maybe the renovated strip will add some juice to Miracle Hills? We will see.

Longlurker wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 2:02 pm I'm old enough to remember when 114th was a popular late night area.

I seem to remember there being a Lone Star Steakhouse in Miracle Hills Square along with Funny Bone Comedy Club. Am I remembering that correctly?

ChadJK wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 4:59 pm

Longlurker wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 2:02 pm I'm old enough to remember when 114th was a popular late night area.

I seem to remember there being a Lone Star Steakhouse in Miracle Hills Square along with Funny Bone Comedy Club. Am I remembering that correctly?

Yep, Where Sand Point is now. It was Julios for a min, before that Lone Star, and before that Jack and Mary's. Funny Bone was a little further north.

Back in the day, Clancy's was where DJ's Dugout is now. DJ's was across the street to the west.

I feel like this whole area went downhill once the Dodge Expressway was built. I remember this area used to be one of the hottest places to go dancing. It seemed every other bay was a themed dance club. I agree the East side of the area has always been the stronger side. Yes....I remember Clancy's, and Hu Hot, and Cubbies across the street.

What ever happened to the plan of converting Miracle Hills golf course into a park with mixed-use commercial district? I take it the golf course changed their mind to sell.

Dusty wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 6:45 am It seemed every other bay was a themed dance club.

But its not like all those clubs move, its more like the dance club fad faded and they closed.

Dusty wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 6:45 am What ever happened to the plan of converting Miracle Hills golf course into a park with mixed-use commercial district? I take it the golf course changed their mind to sell.

There was never an official proposal to redevelop it. The city decided not to annex it just incase it was ever redeveloped.

Dusty wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 6:45 am I feel like this whole area went downhill once the Dodge Expressway was built. I remember this area used to be one of the hottest places to go dancing. It seemed every other bay was a themed dance club. I agree the East side of the area has always been the stronger side. Yes....I remember Clancy's, and Hu Hot, and Cubbies across the street.

What ever happened to the plan of converting Miracle Hills golf course into a park with mixed-use commercial district? I take it the golf course changed their mind to sell.

I agree with you on this to some extent. A lot of the businesses were opposed to the Expressway as they knew it would remove all the forced traffic they once saw on 114th & Dodge. We knew owners of some of the business over there when it was happening such as Huber Chevy and Club Nico. Huber seemed to survive, which actually shocked me. But I'm glad they did - and then they recently sold it off to Woodhouse. Seems like a tough spot to run a car dealership from, and it's always been a challenge to turn off of 114th on to that road (and then come back out since you can't turn left on to 114th).

As a whole I think a lot of the businesses on the west side were hit hard by the Expressway. And others simply didn't survive. Blockbuster Video, Boston Market...

Needless to say, if it's been remodeled I hope for the best for anyone that is in the area and that it turn into a busy spot!

To prevent confusion:
West side of 114th: Miracle Hills PARK
East side of 114th: Miracle Hills SQUARE

I wonder how many restaurants have been in and out of Miracle Hills Park? I can think of Stokes, Taj, Boston Market, HuHot, Cilantro's, Hong Kong Cafe, DJ's Dugout (wasn't there a dueling piano bar inside DJ's?)...

ChadJK wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 11:27 am I wonder how many restaurants have been in and out of Miracle Hills Park? I can think of Stokes, Taj, Boston Market, HuHot, Cilantro's, Hong Kong Cafe, DJ's Dugout (wasn't there a dueling piano bar inside DJ's?)...

Yes, and before DJ's it was called "The Scorecard". There was also a subway right next door. Wasn't there a crappy chain pizza place in the Taj spot before the Taj?

Brad wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 1:45 pm

ChadJK wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 11:27 am I wonder how many restaurants have been in and out of Miracle Hills Park? I can think of Stokes, Taj, Boston Market, HuHot, Cilantro's, Hong Kong Cafe, DJ's Dugout (wasn't there a dueling piano bar inside DJ's?)...

Yes, and before DJ's it was called "The Scorecard". There was also a subway right next door. Wasn't there a crappy chain pizza place in the Taj spot before the Taj?

Yep, DJ's was Scorecard. (I had some limited success as a teen getting into Bellevue's Scorecard location (25th & Cornhusker at the time) and getting served. )

Now that I think on it, I think there used to be a Cici's Pizza where Taj used to be. It seemed like Cici's inexpensive pizza was all the rage for a little while, but then fizzled away.

Taj had two locations in Miracle Hills Park. The first was at 668 N 114th St (one of the two units with the slanted windows) around 2002 or so and then they moved to down to 654 N 114th St until they closed/sold in 2018. I think Taj changed ownership but kept its name a couple of times in its almost 15+ year run.

ChadJK wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 2:02 pm

Brad wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 1:45 pm

ChadJK wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 11:27 am I wonder how many restaurants have been in and out of Miracle Hills Park? I can think of Stokes, Taj, Boston Market, HuHot, Cilantro's, Hong Kong Cafe, DJ's Dugout (wasn't there a dueling piano bar inside DJ's?)...

Yes, and before DJ's it was called "The Scorecard". There was also a subway right next door. Wasn't there a crappy chain pizza place in the Taj spot before the Taj?

Yep, DJ's was Scorecard. (I had some limited success as a teen getting into Bellevue's Scorecard location (25th & Cornhusker at the time) and getting served. )

Now that I think on it, I think there used to be a Cici's Pizza where Taj used to be. It seemed like Cici's inexpensive pizza was all the rage for a little while, but then fizzled away.

Taj had two locations in Miracle Hills Park. The first was at 668 N 114th St (one of the two units with the slanted windows) around 2002 or so and then they moved to down to 654 N 114th St until they closed/sold in 2018. I think Taj changed ownership but kept its name a couple of times in its almost 15+ year run.

Cici’s survived on each person going there once and then deciding that even at $5 it was overpriced for that slop.

Linkin5 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 3:48 pm

ChadJK wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 2:02 pm

Brad wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 1:45 pm

ChadJK wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 11:27 am I wonder how many restaurants have been in and out of Miracle Hills Park? I can think of Stokes, Taj, Boston Market, HuHot, Cilantro's, Hong Kong Cafe, DJ's Dugout (wasn't there a dueling piano bar inside DJ's?)...

Yes, and before DJ's it was called "The Scorecard". There was also a subway right next door. Wasn't there a crappy chain pizza place in the Taj spot before the Taj?

Yep, DJ's was Scorecard. (I had some limited success as a teen getting into Bellevue's Scorecard location (25th & Cornhusker at the time) and getting served. )

Now that I think on it, I think there used to be a Cici's Pizza where Taj used to be. It seemed like Cici's inexpensive pizza was all the rage for a little while, but then fizzled away.

Taj had two locations in Miracle Hills Park. The first was at 668 N 114th St (one of the two units with the slanted windows) around 2002 or so and then they moved to down to 654 N 114th St until they closed/sold in 2018. I think Taj changed ownership but kept its name a couple of times in its almost 15+ year run.

Cici’s survived on each person going there once and then deciding that even at $5 it was overpriced for that slop.

"Welcome to Cici's....!!!!!" LOL

Brad wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 10:53 am I disagree, the shopping center across the street to the east does very well and I'm sure this one will too when the remodeling is finished. It looks way better after the remodel.

Its all about the ease of making a right turn vs crossing traffic from 114th or dodge. i deal in retail property and "right turn" entrances from the high traffic direction makes a lot of difference.

trust me. 8 light changes deep westbound on dodge pre overpass will make even the strongest pescatarian grind on that darmody prepared filet-o-feesh.

probably explains why mcds is busier than bk.

nico was closed long before the overpass.

i lived in candlewood for 12 years during that time and watched the rise and fall. the overpass construction was a miracle of efficiency.

im still pizzed they bulldozed pizza gut for a hummer dealership. where else am i gunna turn in my book-its?

I started working at Grisanti's around 2002 or 2003 and then my real job has been in the Old Mill/Miracle Hills area since 2006. From my current desk, I can see about 2/3rds of the elevated expressway. Working in that area for 21-22 years now, I believe I have been to every restaurant and most of the bars that were open during that time.

Brad wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:54 pm I started working at Grisanti's around 2002 or 2003 and then my real job has been in the Old Mill/Miracle Hills area since 2006. From my current desk, I can see about 2/3rds of the elevated expressway. Working in that area for 21-22 years now, I believe I have been to every restaurant and most of the bars that were open during that time.

We miss Grisanti’s - It was our personal favorite place, of course the bread and sauce was amazing. Wish someone would bring back their food/concept.

Brad wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:54 pm I started working at Grisanti's around 2002 or 2003 and then my real job has been in the Old Mill/Miracle Hills area since 2006. From my current desk, I can see about 2/3rds of the elevated expressway. Working in that area for 21-22 years now, I believe I have been to every restaurant and most of the bars that were open during that time.

I used to love Grisanti's. Awesome bread. It was disappointing when they closed and a hair place replaced them.

Brad wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:54 pm Working in that area for 21-22 years now, I believe I have been to every restaurant and most of the bars that were open during that time.

What were some of your favorites?

Louie wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 9:43 am

Brad wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:54 pm Working in that area for 21-22 years now, I believe I have been to every restaurant and most of the bars that were open during that time.

What were some of your favorites?

Cunningham’s
Arcadian Grill
Feta’s

I do miss the Taj.

Does anyone remember the Italian restaurant Noah’s, which was open for several years where DJ’s is now? It was very good.
And I miss Hong Kong Cafe.