Grand Island Rumor Mill

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 8:49 am

So, obviously we have quite a bit of activity here in GI. However, I'm not sure if Kearney or Hastings are seeing the same kind of growth. (Minus hospital growth). Personally, I love it! I did just read that the CNRA is also adding a parking structure soon. Great news! Now if they can only get in a Soutwest flight. We'd be set!

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:41 am

EAS bids are due to be reviewed later this month at the airport and the Airport manager suggested there may be some pretty good news.
Keeping fingers crossed. Just looked at Great lakes Air rates for a round trip to Denver with one weeks notice just for fun the other day and it came in at around $700, while the same flight via Kearney was around $450. that kinda bites the big one.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 11:02 am

Why woudl you fly to Denver from Kearney?? Â it's just a few hours drive

NovakOmaha · Post by **NovakOmaha** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 12:18 pm

gisbuxfan wrote:So, obviously we have quite a bit of activity here in GI. However, I'm not sure if Kearney or Hastings are seeing the same kind of growth. (Minus hospital growth). Personally, I love it! I did just read that the CNRA is also adding a parking structure soon. Great news! Now if they can only get in a Soutwest flight. We'd be set!

How about Alegiant going to florida or california? Â L.A., Tampa, Orlando?

THEN JetBlue, Virgin America, and Air France!

socaln8v · Post by **socaln8v** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:20 pm

Sam & Louie's Pizza is going to be in the far north corner of that shopping center (behind Applebee's and Pizza Hut)on Diers Ave. To the west of Woods Bros Realty, right by that little lake with the fountain. It's kinda in the back and hard to see from the street so it's not the best location but good luck to them.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:26 pm

I think Sam and Louie's has real good pizza.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:08 am

Considering this was published by Forbes, I guess it could be considered a rumor. Anyway, congrats on being the 9th fastest growing small town (under 100K) in America.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/12/07/fastes ... de_10.html

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:48 pm

Update on a GI Olive Garden... heard today from a Chamber person that yes, it definitely IS coming, with a vague opening date of "before Summer 2012".

In addition, GI is lined up to get Nebraskas first Longhorn Steakhouse. No time line given, so it's possible they'll enter Nebraska in other markets around the same time.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:32 pm

Candleshoe wrote:Update on a GI Olive Garden... heard today from a Chamber person that yes, it definitely IS coming, with a vague opening date of "before Summer 2012".

In addition, GI is lined up to get Nebraskas first Longhorn Steakhouse. No time line given, so it's possible they'll enter Nebraska in other markets around the same time.

There is a Longhorn Steakhouse just down the street from where I live (unless you mean Nebraska minus Omaha!)

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:46 pm

Well, I was using the company online restaurant locator and it said there weren't any in Omaha. Hmmmmmmm.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:53 am

Erik wrote:
Candleshoe wrote:In addition, GI is lined up to get Nebraskas first Longhorn Steakhouse. No time line given, so it's possible they'll enter Nebraska in other markets around the same time.
There is a Longhorn Steakhouse just down the street from where I live (unless you mean Nebraska minus Omaha!)

There is one Scheduled to Open in Council Bluffs, but none in Omaha, and if you are talking about the "Long Horn" in Fort Calhoun, not the same.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:06 am

Candleshoe wrote:Update on a GI Olive Garden... heard today from a Chamber person that yes, it definitely IS coming, with a vague opening date of "before Summer 2012".

In addition, GI is lined up to get Nebraskas first Longhorn Steakhouse. No time line given, so it's possible they'll enter Nebraska in other markets around the same time.

I'm still real skeptical of this. My heart has been broken at least 3 times on this issue.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:11 am

Brad wrote: Doesn't GI have any GREAT local Italian Restaurants?

I'm sure there's a Fazoli's around there somewhere.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:16 am

S33 wrote:
Brad wrote: Doesn't GI have any GREAT local Italian Restaurants?
I'm sure there's a Fazoli's around there somewhere.

Grand Island's definition of "Great Italian Restaurants" : Fazioli's and Valentino's

Hope that answers your question. This is why we get excited to drive an hour and a half to eat decent italian.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:26 pm

Nothing "great" for Italian anymore. Used to be a nifty place called Nonna's palazzo, which closed a few years back when the owner retired. A high end "family style" eatery inside an old Second Street mansion. Bob Vila even did a feature on the place on his old Restore America show.

Our experience was that the atmosphere was very cool, with tables spaced throughout the still furnished first floor of the mansion, as though you were overflow guests at a large get together. Reservations were encouraged. Capacity was maybe 40 if they arranged things just right.

The food was old style, homemade pasta, and everything was well slathered in olive oil and butter.

A bit pricey for casual dining. I remember a meal running in the mid-teens back in the early 90's.

wehavetoliveit · Post by **wehavetoliveit** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 8:45 pm

Anyone know what is the plan is for the Shady Bend Bar on the East end of town? Â I found this old article, but don't know if that is still the plan.

http://brianbutko.wordpress.com/2008/07 ... od-drinks/

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:56 pm

I was wrong, it was the Lone Star Steakhouse. Â Sorry about that and congrats to GI for another good get this year.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:04 pm

Buffalo Wild Wings goes up in Grand Island
http://www.theindependent.com/articles/ ... 187175.txt

It's official!

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:21 pm

And, this is official as well...

From the GI Independent

No more rumors, Olive Garden is set to open in Grand Island on Dec. 19 this year.

According to Olive Garden Guest Relations, the chain has not released a potential location for the store but will start accepting applications on Nov. 21.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:04 pm

Â :dancing:

Olive Garden!!

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:19 pm

Nothing official, but somebody in the pipeline told me you can expect to see the Olive Garden go up somewhere between the Verizon store and Platte Valley Bank. That's going to turn into a pretty busy access road with all of the new additions between the new hotels, BWW, Freddies and now this, along with the existing draws of Home Depot, Gordmans and Ruby Tuesday. Hard to imagine that that quarter section of land used to be totally farmland only a decade ago.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 8:46 am

There is quite a bit of land there. I think even a couple of years ago the plan was to use that strip for all these "new" restaurants coming into town. The question now is, once the 281 strip is full, where is the next big strip? I'd love to North Rd commercially developed or even Engleman Rd. That is probably a ways down the road.

wehavetoliveit · Post by **wehavetoliveit** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:15 pm

I would like to see some further development at the intersection of South Locust and Hwy 34, even though I live on the other side of town, it seems like the combination of four lane access from the interstate and the events at the HEC/State Fair should make this area more appealing to some type of restaraunt, retail, other development. Â Does GI get a Skeeter Barnes at some point? Â Already in Kearney and Columbus, GI would seem just as, if not more logical than Columbus to expand to

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:50 pm

I agree that 34 and Locust would be the next logical growth area. South Locust still has a few infill areas that have been vacant since the tornados in 80.

I don't see much happening along Engleman... that on the very edge of the western residential areas and I can't imagine anything outside of a Pump & Pantry being attracted to it. North Road would probably be the same story. There's some industrial and manufacturing along North Road near Hwy 30 and everything north of there just looks like it would fill in with residential. North Road and Capital would be a great spot, but it's filled in pretty solid with residential now.

I could maybe see more building going on along the 281 corridor to the Interstate, especially if that sewer extension to the Interstate goes through.

wehavetoliveit · Post by **wehavetoliveit** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 4:47 pm

Speaking of the change that was in the last ten years got me thinking about what changes we could expect to see or hope to see in the next ten years. Â I don't have any facts to back this up, but I think a good and potentially possible development I would like to see would be growth at both the intersections of 281 and 34 along with south locust and 34 followed by a widening of highway 34 to 4 lanes between these 2 areas. Â I would like to see at the least a Target and BBB in one of these areas specifically. Â On a side note without going back and looking I don't know if it was ever mentioned on here. Â Listening to the Grow Omaha program maybe about 6 months ago saturday morning on 1110 KFAB they were interviewing a person, I don't remember his exact title, from the University of Phoenix about their, I guess you would call it "bricks and mortar" location in Omaha and he specifically said they were looking to expand to Lincoln and Grand Island. Â This would seem like a logical fit in one of these two areas as well. Â what do you think, is this crazy? got a chance? Â until then highway 34 could use a resurfacing in this area

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:04 pm

I think the Univ of Phoenix would stand a shot out here in the Tri Cities, but it would be competing with Doane's local GI campus for non traditional students and Bellevue Univ programs at CCC.

The 281 & 34 area was target for a "Lifestyle" shopping mall several years ago. Some developers had an option on a chunk of land, but it withered and died. the Locust and 34 area is zoned right and ready to go for anybody who wants a piece of it. The value of that land went from junk to jewels after the Super Walmart went in. I think you'll see that built up before you see the other.

US 34 could sure stand widening between 281 and Locust, but it would be pretty expensive. The water table is unbelievably high in that stretch. i think if you wear golf shoes with spikes on them at Riverside, you'd probably hit water.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:03 pm

Freddys Â Frozen Custard will open Monday, the 28th.

Meanwhile... Doc and Fritz's Shady Bend will open after intense remodeling as a small Italian cafe/bar. The old Johnny casino/Old Chicago/Country Kitchen northwest of the Conestoga Mall will reopen as a yet unnamed Italian restaurant. A new Japanese restaurant is slated to open soon in the area of Qdoba on Diers Ave and finally, A Cox Bros BBQ (based in Manhattan, KS) will be built next to the new Verizon retail store on 281. This will be their third location as they begin to expand regionally.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:47 am

Candleshoe wrote:Freddys Frozen Custard will open Monday, the 28th.

A friend of mine works at Freddy's, he said that that on Friday, they broke a sales record for all Freddy's stores. They broke it again on Saturday.

I do have warn you though, if you go for the custard, do not order the large unless you plan on sharing it with about 8 people. It's just too much. But it was delicious.

briboi2005 · Post by **briboi2005** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:22 am

Petsmart has posted job openings on there website for all positions in Grand Island at an "Unknown Address" we need it!

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:01 pm

Petsmart has posted job openings on there website for all positions in Grand Island at an "Unknown Address" we need it!

Holy |expletive|! that'd be great! When Sundance closed that left a huge void for pet owners. Wonder if they might use an existing space? there are some midsized vacancies around town that might work nicely, like the old Hobby Lobby on Webb, or dare I say the old Bag n save on Second?

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:27 pm

Candleshoe wrote:Holy |expletive|! that'd be great! When Sundance closed that left a huge void for pet owners. Wonder if they might use an existing space? there are some midsized vacancies around town that might work nicely, like the old Hobby Lobby on Webb, or dare I say the old Bag n save on Second?

Sure enough! I just checked it out. However, the unknown address does list a 68801 zip code placing it down on South Locust area or off of Hwy 30.

briboi2005 · Post by **briboi2005** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:33 pm

Thank you for contacting PetSmart. We are excited that our expansion plans have brought us to Grand Island, NE. We currently do not have a set date for when the Grand Island, NE store will open, however are anticipating a soft opening late 2011. To view upcoming dates for store openings please check out website at: Â http://customer-support.petsmart.com/grand-openings/ If you have any other questions or need additional information, please let us know. Thank you for shopping with PetSmart for all your pet supply needs. Sincerely, JessePetSmart Customer Carewww.petsmart.comPhone: 1-888-839-9638

Looks like we are going to see a lot of changes by the end of this year between this and Olive Garden opening Dec 19

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:24 pm

Thank you for contacting PetSmart. We are excited that our expansion plans have brought us to Grand Island, NE

Most companies would deny anything and everything. I contacted Menards when they were coming to GI to get some marketing info and the marketing director told me flat out that they didn't have Grand island in their short term plans. I replied that somebody has put up four massive walls and a sign saying "Menards coming soon!" and that she might want to call the authorities...

She still said she knew nothing.

I believed her.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:13 pm

Any idea whats going in just north of Internal Med and Grand Island Clinic? Drove by today and they were pouring a foundation to what seems like a decent size building. I suspect something medical, but hadn't heard of anything.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:15 pm

Wow, what's in the water there in GI lately. Â I knew that it was becoming a third major option in the state, but is now happening at a faster pace than I had imagined. Â Between the last three years of population growth and all the new announcements - GI has to have a feeling of opportunity, excitement and a positive feel for its future.

socaln8v · Post by **socaln8v** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:36 pm

I love this site. You guys are so informative. I moved here from Southern California a few years ago and am so happy about these new restaurants and stores coming in. I just wanted to say thank you to all who post on this site, for your info. Have a great day.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:24 am

I moved to Grand Island almost 5 years ago. I came into a thick mist of rumors of incoming retail and restaurant establishments. Many of them I still haven't heard from, but in the last two years we have begun to see many of these realized. So I am excited about the inflow of so many new establishments. I think the key for Grand Island the ability to support these new places along with great management and a good workforce. I think these are all possible, but I've also seen a history of non support, bad management and bad workforce. So we'll see. Unfortunately, to match all the new places coming in, I can also match numbers with all the places that have closed down in the last 5 years. Like, Old Chicago, Johnny Casinos, Silver Creek Coffee, Come and Get It BBQ, Blue Moon Coffee, Pier 1 Imports, Sundance, etc.

One of the primary issues I see is the gap being created by local developers and out of state developers. O'Connor has done a great job on building sites and making things look pretty, but there are at least one or more out of state developers that could care less on how their property looks (ie. Grand Island Mall - Furniture Super Center, Shopko, etc) Thus, we are seeing more and more vacant building which could be easily filled if some time and effort were put into these properties.

So, we'll see what the next five years brings, but I am optimistic on the future growth and development of Grand Island, along with the rest of the Tri City area.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:26 am

Well, the Independent announced this last week that Buffalo Wild Wings will be open by the end of May!

briboi2005 · Post by **briboi2005** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:26 pm

any one have any info on the olive garden? Location ect? I would think they would start the build any time if its supposed to open by December

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Fri May 20, 2011 11:04 am

I thought it was supposed to in front of Home Depot. Closer to the new hotels and BW3. I agree...I'd expect to see some land movers at the very least.

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