Mega Saver (SEC 72 & Dodge Street)

[Louie]

Someone showed up to the forum with a west O axe to grind.

There aren't many in "magical West O land"... the one on 168th & Harrison is a quality establishment... rents U-Haul trucks and has an attached restaurant at the north end that I "think" is closed? Well, it's at least closed the majority of the time. I think it's been about 10 different concepts.

Regardless of where they are throughout the area, I'm personally not a fan. But to each their own. People need burner phones.

Now that they're dumping one in the heart of the city I'm looking forward to seeing it on a postcard someday (if they still print postcards). Can't get a better landmark to showcase.

There will be beautiful angles of the new library with a megasaver in the glass reflection.

[djc311]

Someone showed up to the forum with a west O axe to grind.

There aren't many in "magical West O land"... the one on 168th & Harrison is a quality establishment... rents U-Haul trucks and has an attached restaurant at the north end that I "think" is closed? Well, it's at least closed the majority of the time. I think it's been about 10 different concepts.

Regardless of where they are throughout the area, I'm personally not a fan. But to each their own. People need burner phones.

Now that they're dumping one in the heart of the city I'm looking forward to seeing it on a postcard someday (if they still print postcards). Can't get a better landmark to showcase.

There will be beautiful angles of the new library with a megasaver in the glass reflection.

It will be amazing - and I bet this is exactly what's needed to finally kickstart the construction at Crossroads!

[nebugeater]

Someone showed up to the forum with a west O axe to grind.

There aren't many in "magical West O land"... the one on 168th & Harrison is a quality establishment... rents U-Haul trucks and has an attached restaurant at the north end that I "think" is closed? Well, it's at least closed the majority of the time. I think it's been about 10 different concepts.

Regardless of where they are throughout the area, I'm personally not a fan. But to each their own. People need burner phones.

Now that they're dumping one in the heart of the city I'm looking forward to seeing it on a postcard someday (if they still print postcards). Can't get a better landmark to showcase.

The restaurant is QS Grill Steak. I believe they are still open unless something changed recently. I have been there a few times, and it is reasonably good. It serves Nicaraguan Food and is family-run.

Their Facebook page has no indication they have closed or posts by others mentioning that.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id ... e_internal

[meliketrains]

Not sure if anyone watched the City Council Meeting on the Mega Saver's liquor license yesterday, but it was a clown show through and through. The City Council ultimately sent it forward to the State with no recommendation attached, having failed to both approve a recommendation and approve a denial of a recommendation. Some news outlets have reported that the City Council denied the application, but that's incorrect and pretty par for the course as far as local journalism goes.

Regardless, for anyone who missed it, the group of opponents to the license was comprised of pearl-clutching suburbanites, "concerned" parents (???), and general NIMBY nonsense. Several people spoke about what the Mega Saver might do to the atmosphere of the neighborhood. The atmosphere, of course, being an empty Fuddruckers, a chain dental branch, a cell phone store, the worst parking lot in the nation, and a terminally empty pet store. Oh, also there's a new library with zero infrastructure to support said new library. Others spoke about how protestors might have easier access to alcohol. Said individual professed ad nauseum about how they were NOT implying that protestors were drinking while protesting. Of course, if she wasn't implying that, it made no sense to even bring it up.

One individual asked if we were "missing something obvious" after consulting the very reputable source of her children and learning they didn't like the crowd that came with a Mega Saver. The crowd of course never being named or described, so the audience is left to fill in the classist and possibly racist blanks. The City Council members, our evergreen centrists, explicitly reminded the speakers that they were a recommending body only, and that while they heard the concerns, Mega Saver had purchased private property legally and had every legal right to obtain an alcohol license. They even quite aptly noted that several gas stations within a mile of the location as well as numerous restaurants and grocery stores all had the same licenses. In fact, Mega Savers throughout the City all have licenses even when located mere blocks from schools (120th and Pacific, near Beveridge). Despite all that, they still failed to recommend an approval for fear of outraging the very concerned individuals who showed up to delay, obstruct, and otherwise clown around for several hours.

What a great showing, Omaha!

[djc311]

Not sure if anyone watched the City Council Meeting on the Mega Saver's liquor license yesterday, but it was a clown show through and through. The City Council ultimately sent it forward to the State with no recommendation attached, having failed to both approve a recommendation and approve a denial of a recommendation. Some news outlets have reported that the City Council denied the application, but that's incorrect and pretty par for the course as far as local journalism goes.

Regardless, for anyone who missed it, the group of opponents to the license was comprised of pearl-clutching suburbanites, "concerned" parents (???), and general NIMBY nonsense. Several people spoke about what the Mega Saver might do to the atmosphere of the neighborhood. The atmosphere, of course, being an empty Fuddruckers, a chain dental branch, a cell phone store, the worst parking lot in the nation, and a terminally empty pet store. Oh, also there's a new library with zero infrastructure to support said new library. Others spoke about how protestors might have easier access to alcohol. Said individual professed ad nauseum about how they were NOT implying that protestors were drinking while protesting. Of course, if she wasn't implying that, it made no sense to even bring it up.

One individual asked if we were "missing something obvious" after consulting the very reputable source of her children and learning they didn't like the crowd that came with a Mega Saver. The crowd of course never being named or described, so the audience is left to fill in the classist and possibly racist blanks. The City Council members, our evergreen centrists, explicitly reminded the speakers that they were a recommending body only, and that while they heard the concerns, Mega Saver had purchased private property legally and had every legal right to obtain an alcohol license. They even quite aptly noted that several gas stations within a mile of the location as well as numerous restaurants and grocery stores all had the same licenses. In fact, Mega Savers throughout the City all have licenses even when located mere blocks from schools (120th and Pacific, near Beveridge). Despite all that, they still failed to recommend an approval for fear of outraging the very concerned individuals who showed up to delay, obstruct, and otherwise clown around for several hours.

What a great showing, Omaha!

I think Mega Saver should go there - sell booze, CBD, etc. And whoever opened Club 180 on 180th & Q should go in the same strip (insert for pun intended). A lot of ppl on here were very supportive of the strip club out there. We deserve more options. 72nd & Dodge had the 20's... they need to reenergize the area with a Mega Saver and a Club 72.

Crossroads development would pop up overnight with these amazing landmarks in the center of the city.

[Greg S]

I grew up in the neighborhood (lived on 68th between Leavenworth and Howard). I would not have gone to demonstrate but I also wouldn't exactly be thrilled to have a MegaSaver coming.

I remember when Hy Vee was built at Peony Park. The neighborhood really protested and tried to stop it. Fought hard and got minor concessions. Some of they thought would happen, did. I know I have cut through the neighborhood to the west of it when I used to shop there.

I lived off 75th and Howard in an apartment when it first opened. After a year was contacted to do a survey basically asking why I or people in the area didn't shop there. It was clear the store was underperforming. I remember thinking, well in great numbers they told you that you weren't welcome. Did you honestly think that these same people would just start shopping there?

[meliketrains]

I also wish it was something else, but trying to use government to prevent a liquor license because you couldn't obstruct the purchasing legally is not a good look. They can continue to vote with their wallets if they so choose. And, if they wanted something else there, they should have spoken up much sooner and reached out to their favorite business to bid on the lot. It's not like a public park is being torn up. It's an abandoned parking lot. Nothing of value is being lost, and it's not even an opportunity cost because clearly nobody else was willing to outbid a local gas station.

[halgy]

I grew up in the neighborhood (lived on 68th between Leavenworth and Howard). I would not have gone to demonstrate but I also wouldn't exactly be thrilled to have a MegaSaver coming.

That's kinda my feeling as well. I doubt that a MegaSaver is exactly the most useful thing that could be built, but by gods I hate me some NIMBYs.

I remember when Hy Vee was built at Peony Park. The neighborhood really protested and tried to stop it. Fought hard and got minor concessions. Some of they thought would happen, did. I know I have cut through the neighborhood to the west of it when I used to shop there.

Living downtown, I find it funny that folk would protest a proper grocery store. Looking at it from Google Earth, it is astonishingly how poorly it is integrated into the neighborhood. THe sidewalks don't even connect to the residential neighborhoods. I'd think that having a grocery store within easy walking distance would be a selling point, but apparently I think different.

[djc311]

I grew up in the neighborhood (lived on 68th between Leavenworth and Howard). I would not have gone to demonstrate but I also wouldn't exactly be thrilled to have a MegaSaver coming.

That's kinda my feeling as well. I doubt that a MegaSaver is exactly the most useful thing that could be built, but by gods I hate me some NIMBYs.

I remember when Hy Vee was built at Peony Park. The neighborhood really protested and tried to stop it. Fought hard and got minor concessions. Some of they thought would happen, did. I know I have cut through the neighborhood to the west of it when I used to shop there.

Living downtown, I find it funny that folk would protest a proper grocery store. Looking at it from Google Earth, it is astonishingly how poorly it is integrated into the neighborhood. THe sidewalks don't even connect to the residential neighborhoods. I'd think that having a grocery store within easy walking distance would be a selling point, but apparently I think different.

My hunch on the HyVee at Peony Park was mostly a nostalgia issue - probably could have built a library and people wouldn't have been thrilled. I imagine if you lived in that area while Peony Park existed that the noise and traffic would have been fairly annoying. However, as a lifelong Omahan that's almost 50 I can say I still miss the amusement park. It's sad that someone couldn't keep it going somehow.

[OmahaRedWing]

I don't think I would ever be thrilled with getting a convenient store in the neighborhood, but if one is coming, MegaSaver would be last on my list of what I would want. That neighborhood also got essentially adjoining brand-new Kum and Go a few years back (replacing a smaller one).

[Busguy2010]

In other news, I saw the Mega Saver across the street from the new library is coming along nicely

[Athomsfere]

In other news, I saw the Mega Saver across the street is coming along nicely

Insult to injury lol.

But I don't really mind anymore. That entire area isn't going to get any better in my lifetime.

[Toto]

I saw there was a large police presence at this new Mega Saver on Jaret Lansford's Facebook Page. They aren't even open yet and already attracting the police.

[almighty_tuna]

I saw there was a large police presence at this new Mega Saver on Jaret Lansford's Facebook Page. They aren't even open yet and already attracting the police.

Eh, that's a bit misleading. There was a homicide at 71st & Jones Cir followed by a brief chase and gunfire. I enjoy an occasional Mega Saver joke as much as anyone, but this was unrelated.

[djc311]

I saw there was a large police presence at this new Mega Saver on Jaret Lansford's Facebook Page. They aren't even open yet and already attracting the police.

Eh, that's a bit misleading. There was a homicide at 71st & Jones Cir followed by a brief chase and gunfire. I enjoy an occasional Mega Saver joke as much as anyone, but this was unrelated.

Give it time - when is the grand opening? The popos will be there for sure.

Honestly, all joking aside, it's extremely disappointing that basically a historically important intersection is getting an awesome central library and hopefully a new and improved Crossroads development, and then a |expletive|-hole box of a gas station on the other corner.

I'm assuming whatever goes in on the NE corner is better than what's there now.

Common sense says you can't necessarily say no to someone who wants to buy property if they have the money to do so - but it's unfortunate that an "anchor" on that major intersection is going to be a crummy gas station (not that a Quick Trip or Casey's would have been much better, but at least a minor improvement over Mega Saver).

[Athomsfere]

it's extremely disappointing that basically a historically important intersection

Heritage Services, is that you? You ain't fooling anyone! We all know that area has never been anything more than suburban heck.

[Dusty]

You can joke all you want about Mega Saver, but it doesn't change anything. They own the land. If you don't like it there, then don't shop there. If they feel in a few years it's not a good return on investment, they will sell it to someone else.

In a way you can blame the city for this. The have the something is better than nothing mindset. This is why it's so important to have a long-range plan. A plan for certain districts and transportation. If you don't have a vision for the area, developers will push whatever they want. This is how we end up with disappointments like Mega Saver and Crossroads.

[meliketrains]

I still don't really understand the hubub here. I mean, it's a 4 pump gas station with a small convenience store replacing an abandoned building next to a chain dental clinic and the literal worst parking lot in the country. That entire stretch of southeast land could be thumbnuked from orbit and nothing of value would be lost. It's either abandoned buildings, decaying buildings on their way to being abandoned, car washes, or strip malls with empty lots. 72nd in general is a pretty rough place these days and could really use a lot of TLC. Megasaver is a symptom of a larger problem. You're not going to find a solid tenant for any property on the southeast side until the parceling of the land changes drastically and it can actually be accessed without driving into a neighborhood or navigating your way around FedEx traffic. So in the meantime, you might as well generate some taxes.

[mcarch]

I still don't really understand the hubub here. I mean, it's a 4 pump gas station with a small convenience store replacing an abandoned building next to a chain dental clinic and the literal worst parking lot in the country. That entire stretch of southeast land could be thumbnuked from orbit and nothing of value would be lost. It's either abandoned buildings, decaying buildings on their way to being abandoned, car washes, or strip malls with empty lots. 72nd in general is a pretty rough place these days and could really use a lot of TLC. Megasaver is a symptom of a larger problem. You're not going to find a solid tenant for any property on the southeast side until the parceling of the land changes drastically and it can actually be accessed without driving into a neighborhood or navigating your way around FedEx traffic. So in the meantime, you might as well generate some taxes.

While that is true... it is always more expensive to do those things (the right way) when something is in the way... a fine example... Target, which should have never been allowed to go on that corner. It's much more expensive, if ever to get them out of there if you wanted that area to change. I look at the long-term goal which it to make a city I would like to live in, not a short-term goal of creating taxes. We could create taxes all day long by placing dispensaries, mega-savers, gas stations etc. all over the city... well in a way we are, but that shouldn't be the case. Just because it comes before the city, does not mean it HAS to be approved. That is why there is a board in the first place. And that is why they are elected.

[Busguy2010]

FWIW, I have to say it's a pretty good looking Mega Saver.

[djc311]

FWIW, I have to say it's a pretty good looking Mega Saver.

It's not open yet, LOL

[Renovator2559]

FWIW, I have to say it's a pretty good looking Mega Saver.

I generally have stayed away from MegaSavers, because many years ago MegaSavers looked like the low budget 7-elevens that I don't like visiting. Even though MegaSaver is Omaha based, there hasn't really been anything to compel me to fill gas or buy groceries there. The question is how are the new MegaSavers now and how much have they improved? Some of the new MegaSavers look tempting to visit.

I generally look for QuikTrip as my first choice and if I have no QT, then Casey's.

[Busguy2010]

Yeah, no, I've been to Mega Saver less than a handful of times cause (insert any reason), I'm just saying for it being a Mega Saver, at least it looks okay. I'd call them being there a lateral movement at worst.

[Louie]

FWIW, I have to say it's a pretty good looking Mega Saver.

I generally have stayed away from MegaSavers, because many years ago MegaSavers looked like the low budget 7-elevens that I don't like visiting. Even though MegaSaver is Omaha based, there hasn't really been anything to compel me to fill gas or buy groceries there. The question is how are the new MegaSavers now and how much have they improved? Some of the new MegaSavers look tempting to visit.

I generally look for QuikTrip as my first choice and if I have no QT, then Casey's.

As long as they continue to have drive-through windows for booze and cigarettes, they'll continue to attract a sketchier clientele than other gas stations.

[djc311]

FWIW, I have to say it's a pretty good looking Mega Saver.

I generally have stayed away from MegaSavers, because many years ago MegaSavers looked like the low budget 7-elevens that I don't like visiting. Even though MegaSaver is Omaha based, there hasn't really been anything to compel me to fill gas or buy groceries there. The question is how are the new MegaSavers now and how much have they improved? Some of the new MegaSavers look tempting to visit.

I generally look for QuikTrip as my first choice and if I have no QT, then Casey's.

As long as they continue to have drive-through windows for booze and cigarettes, they'll continue to attract a sketchier clientele than other gas stations.

Does MegaSaver have its own surplus of CBD products to sell? Or, should this just be something to expect as an additional tenant on the same corner in the near future?

[Renovator2559]

As long as they continue to have drive-through windows for booze and cigarettes, they'll continue to attract a sketchier clientele than other gas stations.

Interesting, I guess that is a niche they fulfill. How are the employees?

I know that when I go to QT, I'm always impressed in how well groomed (no tattoos, no face piercings, no strange hairstyles) the employees are and how they greet their customers, even if they just go directly to the restroom.

I have to give props to our sister city Tulsa for creating a very successful company, QT.

I also hope that our Omaha based MegaSaver continues to improve and takes a page from QT.

[buildomaha]

As long as they continue to have drive-through windows for booze and cigarettes, they'll continue to attract a sketchier clientele than other gas stations.

Interesting, I guess that is a niche they fulfill. How are the employees?

I know that when I go to QT, I'm always impressed in how well groomed (no tattoos, no face piercings, no strange hairstyles) the employees are and how they greet their customers, even if they just go directly to the restroom.

I have to give props to our sister city Tulsa for creating a very successful company, QT.

I also hope that our Omaha based MegaSaver continues to improve and takes a page from QT.

Is this rage bait? lol

[MTO]

I’m disappointed they cheaper out and just repurposed the building instead of rebuilding it from the ground up.

[arch_RP_planner]

I’m disappointed they cheaper out and just repurposed the building instead of rebuilding it from the ground up.

Well, they didn't cheap out, as Mega Saver did buy the entire building, but the US Cellular and Aspen Dental both have leases in the space, which would have made Mega Saver have to drop tons of money to end their leases early, not to mention the cost of have to demolish the whole site.

I agree that a new build would've been nicer, unfortunately, they can't just kick out active leasees without major financial implications.

[Brad]

Sitting at 72nd Dodge tonight after dark, this Mega Saver doesn't look terrible. It actually fit right in between Chipotle and Aspen Dental, slightly hidden behind scooters. Not the biggest fan of their monument sign out on the street, but the rest didn't look out of place.