Grand Island Rumor Mill

Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, DesMoines, and the rest of Nebraska and Iowa

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gisbuxfan
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Post by gisbuxfan »

I have heard a couple of rumors that Olive Garden is not building a new building, but rather moving into an existing building. Any truth to these?
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

I have heard a couple of rumors that Olive Garden is not building a new building, but rather moving into an existing building. Any truth to these?
Haven't heard that before, but I did hear that the opening is now targeted for February. Got that from the same source I've been hearing Olive Garden stuff from all along.

In the meantime, we ate at Shady Bend the other night. Nicely remodeled and the food and service were excellent. It's much roomier than it appears from the outside, seating around 45. It's not gourmet Italian, and the Italian entrees are less than a dozen, but it was very good. the recipes taste pretty original, not the usual Cisco crud. The side salad just blew us away.

Haven't tried Napoli's yet. The story in the paper makes it sound like world class Italian, though. Need to get over there.  

Watch for "Whitey's" to open around the 27th of June. For the non-locals, "Whitey" is Jeff "Whitey" Richardson, local boy made good, who played with the Pirates, Reds and Orioles. Played with Barry Bonds and for Pete Rose. Didn't make much of a dent in the bigs with the bat, was injured early in his career, but he had a successful collegiate and minor league managing career before retiring to stay home with the wife and kids and opening the hugely successful "Balz Sports Bar". He's opening up a second location in a now closed competing sports bar in GI.
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gisbuxfan
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Post by gisbuxfan »

Candleshoe wrote:Haven't tried Napoli's yet. The story in the paper makes it sound like world class Italian, though. Need to get over there.  
Went to Napoli's last week. I do have to say, I tried to keep an open mind considering I spent two weeks in Italy at the end of May. With that said, great food! World class? Maybe not. The atmosphere is great in Napoli's. If you remember Johnny Casino's, it was just too crowded with tables. Napoli's doesn't have as much seating, which makes it more comfortable. The service was also very good! However, I do feel as though there were a couple of missed things to make it a great Italian place. I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

For a little humor at Napoli's, lift up the table cloth to reveal the old tables from Johnny Casino's!
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Post by Candleshoe »

We went to Napoli's this evening.

The entree's were verrrrrry good. Not too pricey... in the $10 to $14 range for most everything on the dinner menu, but the wine list made my debit card want to hide. Everything in my "Florio's special" was perfect... everything tasting really fresh. The breads were warm and tasty. the dinner salad was just run of the mill stuff though. I didn't look under the table cloths... but at least they HAVE table cloths, and linen napkins.

The servers were all so nice and our meal was brought to us by Florio himself.
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Post by Candleshoe »

I'd heard this as a rumor last year, but just got an update that there's a management team in place and a location picked for Texas Roadhouse in GI, somewhere out in front of HyVee.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

So, I am first to admit that I have complained and complained about how few restaurants were in Grand Island up until this last year, but now, my worry shifts the other way. Can Grand Island carry all these new restaurants? In a conversation I had with someone from Omaha the other day, they said that the service they receive in Omaha compared to GI is very different. Customer Service in general at restaurants aren't the greatest here. He thought it was due to the lack of competition here, so maybe the influx of new places might help with that.

No more hour long waits for food!
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

Can Grand Island carry all these new restaurants? In a conversation I had with someone from Omaha the other day, they said that the service they receive in Omaha compared to GI is very different. Customer Service in general at restaurants aren't the greatest here. He thought it was due to the lack of competition here, so maybe the influx of new places might help with that.
Maybe it's the high number of restaurant positions per capita... not enough people who are good at the people skills required for the number of slots available. It's occurred to me that there are a number of places in GI that we haven't visited yet. Especially the ethnic joints. Need to work on that.
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Post by Candleshoe »

latest rumor of a retailer coming to GI...

Bed, Bath & Beyond!


No idea on the location, although I think if they can shoehorn in over by Kohls, it would be a natural. Maybe if there's room by Gordmans? I'd like to see somebody that's a draw move into the old Hobby Lobby. Too good of a spot to continue to decay.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

Bed Bath & Beyond? That would be fantastic! They could easily take over the Furniture Superstore spot that is now empty. This also offers a new place for soon to be married couples to register for gifts bringing instant business. Plus the fact that for some reason, this is the only place that sells trash bags that fit my trash can properly. I'm for it!

Still waiting on Pet Smart. Website still says they are hiring for Grand Island.
wehavetoliveit
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Post by wehavetoliveit »

Anyone know about the dirt work they are doing south of the Verizon store on 281?  Looks like a large area they are grading.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

My thought was it is too big for a restaurant, but might be perfect size for a Pet Smart. I think they are still planning a location in GI.
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Post by briboi2005 »

based on construction plans for the GI olive garden for bidding it is almost 8000 square foot, this is almost three times the size of redlobster so by the time you figure that much size and parking you might be surprised how much space it would take up. Also Bidding for the Olive Garden put an estimated construction bid cost at 1.9 million, Bids closed late july so now would be about the time for construction.

meanwhile texasroadhouse is also being bid out ASAP at a estimated Sq ft of roughly 8k and 2.9 million construction cost!. IF ONLY THE BLUEPRINTS SHOWED THE ADDRESS!! I guess we will know soon enough when the building permits get released for August, hopefully this week
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Post by briboi2005 »

Also looks to me like the small footprint petsmart stores start at 19k-27k sq foot, by the time you figure parking i just dont see it fitting on two 1.5 acre lots (Two 1.5 acre lots are being graded. )
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Post by Candleshoe »

Here's a possibility... and from a tried and true source... look for a Panera Bread somewhere in that neighborhood. Could be the smaller site already, but the confidant said she had no idea of the timetable.
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Post by briboi2005 »

Building permits have been filed by Batis Development Co out of Topeka KS.  That when cross referenced with the potential bidders for GI Olive Garden on the Darden construction website (http://www.darden.com/about/constructio ... on_new.asp)  eliminates Olive Garden From the list :-(

My money is on the Panera
Description of the construction is a two tenant shell


All i know is if its another strip mall im going to cry myself to sleep!
wehavetoliveit
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Post by wehavetoliveit »

how about this for a possibility...

http://theindependent.com/articles/2011 ... 618457.txt

-fourth paragraph down

Breshears said another company concept, Cox Brothers Barbeque, is planned to start its third location this summer on the south side of Verizon, which is next to Freddy’s current location.

http://www.coxbbq.com/
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gisbuxfan
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Post by gisbuxfan »

Candleshoe wrote:Here's a possibility... and from a tried and true source... look for a Panera Bread somewhere in that neighborhood. Could be the smaller site already, but the confidant said she had no idea of the timetable.
I have always heard that Panera Bread would not build outside of a 30-45 minute drive from there bakery. Since fresh bread and pastries are a main source of what they do, does that mean Grand Island will be getting a bakery? If that is the case, I wonder if they are looking to expand to all of the tri-cities?
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Post by Linkin5 »

gisbuxfan wrote:
Candleshoe wrote:Here's a possibility... and from a tried and true source... look for a Panera Bread somewhere in that neighborhood. Could be the smaller site already, but the confidant said she had no idea of the timetable.
I have always heard that Panera Bread would not build outside of a 30-45 minute drive from there bakery. Since fresh bread and pastries are a main source of what they do, does that mean Grand Island will be getting a bakery? If that is the case, I wonder if they are looking to expand to all of the tri-cities?
Every Panera has a bakery in it as far as I knew.
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Post by socaln8v »

I was at Starbucks this morning and there is some heavy equipment activity going on in the lot just north of them next to that line of large evergreen type trees so maybe that is going to be the Panera Bread. Just thought I would share that info.
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Post by wehavetoliveit »

mystery solved

http://www.theindependent.com/articles/ ... 862969.txt


Olive Garden and unnamed business south of Freddys, Texas Roadhouse west of Kohls
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Post by socaln8v »

Yep, I just saw that article in the paper too. Good to finally know what's going where. :)
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Post by socaln8v »

Also, what is going in next to Long John Silvers on S. Locust? Anyone know?
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Post by Candleshoe »

Also, what is going in next to Long John Silvers on S. Locust? Anyone know?
An expansion of the Auto One car lot, I'm afraid.  :roll:
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Post by Candleshoe »

Olive Garden and unnamed business south of Freddys,
Just heard from a local banker last night that the "unnamed business" is going to be Panera Bread.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

Candleshoe wrote:
Olive Garden and unnamed business south of Freddys,
Just heard from a local banker last night that the "unnamed business" is going to be Panera Bread.
Woohoo!!!! :banana:  :clap:  :banger:  :coolwoot:
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Post by Candleshoe »

The South Walmart Supercenter in GI will be adding a Murphy's Oil fuel center. Looks like they often include a teeny tiny walk in store too. Murphy's has locations at around 900 Walmart supercenters in the USA but this will be their first in Nebraska, according to their website. Kansas has one in Topeka, Colorado has one in Aurora, then they're pretty common to the east of the Missouri River. From what I could find on gasbuddy.com, they tend to be the lowest or close to the lowest price in town.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

Each day I pass the intersection of North Rd and 13th St. (On 13th, 1/2 block west of North Rd) Over the last week there has been a considerable amount of trees being uprooted and now various land movers have shown up to what appears to be preparing the land for development.  The lot is between a farmhouse and Westridge Middle School, so I can only assume it would be turning into residential. Any ideas?
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Post by Candleshoe »

I see a lot of new duplexes listed under the building permits for the city building depts homepage on Stonewood Ave, which doesn't show up on the maps of GI. Most of the streets in that subdivision have "wood" in their name though, so I'm guessing it's a new street going in.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

I'd be happy to see more residential put in. Somebody  told me yesterday that for the amount of people in or coming into Grand Island there aren't enough homes. Not sure the validity to that, but if true, that is a good sign of further growth. That would also be a good area for a gas station or a "residential strip mall"
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Post by Candleshoe »

I recall that when the first homes were being built on the NE corner of 13th & North, that a Pump & Pantry was rumored to probably go in on the very corner, that's why the homes were set back the odd way that they are.

Haven't heard a thing about it since.

The underbuilding of the eighties in GI stunted it's growth considerably, driving rents and house prices up to near Omaha prices in the 90's. People were afraid to build west of 281 because of the high water table issues that have since been addressed, not to mention that the economy was kind of iffy back then too. A lot of development happened in the second half of the 90's, especially in the apartment complex inventory. I'm no expert and haven't spoken to any realtors lately, but I think it's probably a bit underbuilt yet. A couple of years ago a realtor friend told me that the number of homes for sale in GI in the sweet spot of 100-150k was way low, while the high end and low end were about where they should be, but nobody was likely to spec build in this economy. I live on a 1950's era block that was 100 owner occupied when we moved in twenty years ago. There are now four rentals on the block and I've never seen any of them sit vacant for longer than a week.

I spoke with a friend who lives in Kearney and she said she has been apartment shopping for most of a year and just now nailed a nice one for an affordable price. Nice apartments don't last long over there, being a college town. Most of the rentals are in really sad condition.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

I have been watching the new Olive Garden and Texas Road House go up.  It looks to me like the Olive Garden will be attached to the new Panera Bread coming to town. I have never seen an Olive Garden that is not a stand alone building. I thought it was strange. Still glad they are coming and looking forward to their opening!
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Post by NovakOmaha »

I assume the state fair has something to do with this.  Any new hotels going up or planned in GI?
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Post by Candleshoe »

The hotel "boom" took place before the opening of the fair last year. GI added another Holiday Inn Express, a Fairfield by Marriott and a good sized Best Western Plus, all in 2010. A total of around 250 rooms I'd guess. Add the Hampton Inn that opened a couple of years earlier. I haven't heard of any more, at least not yet.

The recent restaurant boom is probably more a testament to the near miss on the 50,000 population threshold, combined with the attractiveness of the retail corridor that's been developing along 281 North. Kohls was a good get, which brought new development in a good sized shopping center which includes the new HyVee and Texas Roadhouse, which suddenly made Kearney seem less interesting to a lot of regional shoppers.

The State Fair DOES have some good bonuses for GI, in the shape of big trade and ag shows that are booking the facilities. They just finished up a huge national Angus cattle sale over the weekend that brought folks from all over the world. Some national 4-H events are booked for the next couple of years too.

To finish up the year on a musical note, Mannheim Steamroller has booked two shows at the Heartland Events Center for Saturday, November 19th.
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Post by NovakOmaha »

Isn't the GI-Hastings area around 90k or more?
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Post by Garrett »

NovakOmaha wrote:Isn't the GI-Hastings area around 90k or more?
GI-Hastings is actually about 111k. Add in Kearney and it's 163k. Grand Island is incredibly close to becoming the 3rd Nebraskan Metropolitan Area.
OMA-->CHI-->NYC
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Post by Candleshoe »

I seem to remember something about population in a city's zoning jurisdiction being counted sometime in the next couple of years. Maybe I dreamed that up, but it seems the Census Bureau said something about making those adjustments. If that's the case, then a thousand plus that live within a mile or or so of the city limits could easily put GI over the top.
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Post by btk »

Does anybody know what is going in on Webb road kitty corner to Domino's pizza?  I cannot tell by the shape what it is, but it has a parking lot so it must be some kind of business.
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Post by S33 »

btk wrote:Does anybody know what is going in on Webb road kitty corner to Domino's pizza?  I cannot tell by the shape what it is, but it has a parking lot so it must be some kind of business.
btk from Wichita?  :shock:
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Post by gisbuxfan »

btk wrote:Does anybody know what is going in on Webb road kitty corner to Domino's pizza?  I cannot tell by the shape what it is, but it has a parking lot so it must be some kind of business.
I think its another chiropractor.
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Post by gisbuxfan »

The sign went up at the new building at Webb and Faidley. It is the ActiveCare Chiropractor and Acupuncture from across the street. Nice building! Fox Construction has done a real nice job on that.

Anyways, I'm a little surprised how quickly the Texas Roadhouse is going up compared to the Olive Garden. I wonder if the fact that Texas Roadhouse is next to Starbucks has anything to do with it.
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