Scooters & Take 5 Oil Change (former Famous Daves - SWC 120th & L)

[nebugeater]

Was talking to some people that that live in this area and eat at Austins on a fairly regular bases. They told me that the last time they were in there they heard that the Austins was going to be converted to a Famous Dave's. Guess this would make since since Cutchall Management has control of both the Famous Dave's Franchise in the area and the stand alone Austins. I think they heard it from someone on the wait staff but not sure how reliable it is.



http://www.austinssteakhouse.net/


http://www.cutchallmanagement.com/

http://www.famousdaves.com/

[Big E]

This was in the news a month or two ago. It was the lead story on one Sunday 10 PM broadcast, for that matter. I'm pretty sure it was discussed in a thread here, too, but I can't find it now.

-Big E

[nebugeater]

This was in the news a month or two ago. It was the lead story on one Sunday 10 PM broadcast, for that matter. I'm pretty sure it was discussed in a thread here, too, but I can't find it now.

-Big E

Didn't find it searching here and it was new news to me. Guess it seems logical although I kind of like the Austin's concept.

[Brad]

I didn't see anything either. None the less, I am not sure that is the best location, they might want to be across the street in the new shopping center.

[Admin]

Local Famous Dave's Violate Fair Labor Standards Act

It was discussed partly here - but only the fact that Cutchall took over a few Famous Dave's.

[Big E]

Sorry, must have dreamed up the thread coverage. I know for a fact I saw the news coverage awhile back though.

-Big E

[Lizard]

Does that Austin's do much business anymore? Last time I went there, there was only 1 other table occupied, but we were there at an odd time so I tried not to think much of it. Also, they were doing a Sunday 10-2 lunch buffet a couple months ago, but have since stopped doing it. Been wondering if they'd be closing... they make a good steak though.

I had assumed we'd get a Famous Dave's across the road in the Marketplace area, like Brad mentioned... seems like the best place and there isn't another one nearby.

[Guest]

Was closed last night when I tried to go there for my birthday dinner. :( Sign said fixtures for sale.[/center]

[Lizard]

Today on Cutchall Management's business sign at 144th and Q, it says "Coming soon Famous Dave's 120th and L". So it's definitely not a rumor anymore. I wonder how quick they'll be able to open.

[Brad]

Today on Cutchall Management's business sign at 144th and Q, it says "Coming soon Famous Dave's 120th and L". So it's definitely not a rumor anymore. I wonder how quick they'll be able to open.

I saw that today too.

[Lizard]

Anyone heard when this will be open? It looks like the outside work is basically done (and looks great), not sure about inside. Famous Dave's website has it listed as a location, but still as "Coming Soon".

[nebugeater]

Anyone heard when this will be open? It looks like the outside work is basically done (and looks great), not sure about inside. Famous Dave's website has it listed as a location, but still as "Coming Soon".

They Open at 10:00 on Monday. The Electrical contractor that has been doing that job is sending two people from that job to our job site on Monday and they need to be there for punch list items all of next week but have to be out of the store by 10:00 AM daily do to them opening on Monday Or so I am told by the contractor Foreman.

[Coyote]

I totally forgot about this - and was surprised to see Famous Dave's there. Wasn't it something else before Austin's like a Village Inn...

[Omababe]

I totally forgot about this - and was surprised to see Famous Dave's there. Wasn't it something else before Austin's like a Village Inn...

Many years ago it was a Cocos.

[Big E]

Cocos... you know you're old and from West O if you remember that.

[Coyote]

That right - Cocos.
You are just a few years younger than me Big E ;-)
They should do better with all the new projects on either side of the road out there now.

[Bugeater]

Cocos... you know you're old and from West O if you remember that.

|expletive|, I remember that. Thanks for making me feel old.

[ChadJK]

Has the Famous Dave's at 120th & L (12020 Anne St) closed permanently?

[Brad]

Has the Famous Dave's at 120th & L (12020 Anne St) closed permanently?

There was something weird about it. I thought it was posted on here, but may be they talked about it on Grow Omaha. It as something like they were closing, but might re-open if they don't find a different tenant or might also re-open in a different spot, but no sure plans.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Has the Famous Dave's at 120th & L (12020 Anne St) closed permanently?

There was something weird about it. I thought it was posted on here, but may be they talked about it on Grow Omaha. It as something like they were closing, but might re-open if they don't find a different tenant or might also re-open in a different spot, but no sure plans.

I’ve been wondering when the shoe was going to fall at this Famous Dave’s location for awhile now…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Cermak]

Just one left in the Omaha area down in Bellevue. I always thought this place was pretty good. But I haven’t been to it in a few years.

[Padre]

Has the Famous Dave's at 120th & L (12020 Anne St) closed permanently?

There was something weird about it. I thought it was posted on here, but may be they talked about it on Grow Omaha. It as something like they were closing, but might re-open if they don't find a different tenant or might also re-open in a different spot, but no sure plans.

On their website it says “Relocation announcement coming soon!”

[WBR_Tom]

Has the Famous Dave's at 120th & L (12020 Anne St) closed permanently?

Yeah, it closed over the summer. A developer bought the land and is going to demo the building to put in a Sonic Drive-In and (of course) a car wash. Supposedly the operators of the Famous Dave's did not want to close and are looking for a new location to re-open.

[omaha79]

I remember when Famous Daves was actually really good. Oh, the early 2000's. Reminds me of Old Chicago. Everything just went downhill at both of these restaurants really gradually.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I remember when Famous Daves was actually really good. Oh, the early 2000's. Reminds me of Old Chicago. Everything just went downhill at both of these restaurants really gradually.

I believe the main reason these places have lost popularity (I’d say neither were/are good or great, but have okay food), is over the last 7-8 years, there are so many better options for BBQ or Tap Room craft beer with high quality food in the Omaha metropolitan area.. I think the last time I ate at Old Chicago was maybe 4 years ago..and the food was so forgettable, I can’t remember the last time I ate at a Famous Dave’s..

Also, for the quality of food served, both of these places are overpriced as well…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[omaha79]

I remember when Famous Daves was actually really good. Oh, the early 2000's. Reminds me of Old Chicago. Everything just went downhill at both of these restaurants really gradually.

I believe the main reason these places have lost popularity (I’d say neither were/are good or great, but have okay food), is over the last 7-8 years, there are so many better options for BBQ or Tap Room craft beer with high quality food in the Omaha metropolitan area.. I think the last time I ate at Old Chicago was maybe 4 years ago..and the food was so forgettable, I can’t remember the last time I ate at a Famous Dave’s..

Also, for the quality of food served, both of these places are overpriced as well…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

It has to be more than that though. I feel both legitimately lowered quality standards to hit certain price points. Old Chicago used to have great pizza, legitimately good. Now, it tastes like eating a box. Famous Daves had smokers and I've been told now it's mostly made at one location and carted around to the rest or more stuff is microwaved now. gross. can't confirm that though. but, the quality isn't there at all anymore.

[Louie]

I remember when Famous Daves was actually really good. Oh, the early 2000's. Reminds me of Old Chicago. Everything just went downhill at both of these restaurants really gradually.

I believe the main reason these places have lost popularity (I’d say neither were/are good or great, but have okay food), is over the last 7-8 years, there are so many better options for BBQ or Tap Room craft beer with high quality food in the Omaha metropolitan area.. I think the last time I ate at Old Chicago was maybe 4 years ago..and the food was so forgettable, I can’t remember the last time I ate at a Famous Dave’s..

Also, for the quality of food served, both of these places are overpriced as well…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

It has to be more than that though. I feel both legitimately lowered quality standards to hit certain price points. Old Chicago used to have great pizza, legitimately good. Now, it tastes like eating a box. Famous Daves had smokers and I've been told now it's mostly made at one location and carted around to the rest or more stuff is microwaved now. gross. can't confirm that though. but, the quality isn't there at all anymore.

This goes back to the millenials killing chain restaurants. There is very little demand in my age group to go somewhere like that. And can you blame them?

[Omaha Cowboy]

I remember when Famous Daves was actually really good. Oh, the early 2000's. Reminds me of Old Chicago. Everything just went downhill at both of these restaurants really gradually.

I believe the main reason these places have lost popularity (I’d say neither were/are good or great, but have okay food), is over the last 7-8 years, there are so many better options for BBQ or Tap Room craft beer with high quality food in the Omaha metropolitan area.. I think the last time I ate at Old Chicago was maybe 4 years ago..and the food was so forgettable, I can’t remember the last time I ate at a Famous Dave’s..

Also, for the quality of food served, both of these places are overpriced as well…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

It has to be more than that though. I feel both legitimately lowered quality standards to hit certain price points. Old Chicago used to have great pizza, legitimately good. Now, it tastes like eating a box. Famous Daves had smokers and I've been told now it's mostly made at one location and carted around to the rest or more stuff is microwaved now. gross. can't confirm that though. but, the quality isn't there at all anymore.

This goes back to the millenials killing chain restaurants. There is very little demand in my age group to go somewhere like that. And can you blame them?

I don’t know if it is more than that omaha79.. I’ll give another example- Granite City at Westroads. When that place opened in 2006, I loved the place-they brewed craft beer on premise and the food was very good. I was even an original “Mug Club” member. For about 8 years- at least through 2014, friends and I would hit this place up 2-4 times a month..then about 2015, excellent Tap Rooms with great beers on tap started opening in the metro- most all had great food options too..and for the last 5 years GC was open, before they shut down in early 2020, I could count on 5 fingers how many times I hit up the place (and the food was still good)..Same for Old Chicago..and for Famous Dave’s (but for slightly different reasons)..

I never found Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s food to be that high level..solid..but not high level..Perhaps the quality has diminished a bit..but I’d say for most palates, there isn’t much of a distinguishing difference between these places now and 2010..but “peoples” mileage may vary..

As for millennials killing chain restaurants.. Don’t know it’s that either..

It’s simply Omaha has more variety and better options with higher quality food and drink for the $$ than it did in 2010..To me, it’s really as simple as this for the most part…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Brad]

I never found Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s food to be that high level..solid..but not high level..Perhaps the quality has diminished a bit..but I’d say for most palates, there isn’t much of a distinguishing difference between these places now and 2010..but “peoples” mileage may vary..

Back in the day, Old Chicago made nearly everything in house from scratch and it was way better than its been the past 15+ years.

[omaha79]

I never found Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s food to be that high level..solid..but not high level..Perhaps the quality has diminished a bit..but I’d say for most palates, there isn’t much of a distinguishing difference between these places now and 2010..but “peoples” mileage may vary..

Back in the day, Old Chicago made nearly everything in house from scratch and it was way better than its been the past 15+ years.

This! I"m telling you, if you went to the OC on 76th and Cass in the late 90's to early 00's, there was no more hopping place to be in all of Omaha on a weekend night. UNO hockey fans would have their after parties there. The place would be jumping from 6pm until 1 am consistently. Same with the one downtown.

I can still remember how great the pizza truly was there from around 1999-2004. I loved it. I would love to be able to have that experience again, but it's just not possible. You can just tell the crust is now some pre-made frozen concoction. I'd totally believe everything was made in house, but I'd bet as costs went up, they sacrificed that scratch cooking experience for more processing vs. keeping the costs going up to a level that wasn't sustainable.

Yes, absolutely there are better places to get beer, and that had to hurt their bottom line, but I'd argue that there probably still isn't too many better places in Omaha to get a deep dish pizza than the early days at OC. There are a few that compare, like Davlo, but not many.

Just like how Pizza Hut was so much better back in the day compared to now. It comes down to changes in ingredients and efficiency that have sacrificed taste.

[Stan]

I never found Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s food to be that high level..solid..but not high level..Perhaps the quality has diminished a bit..but I’d say for most palates, there isn’t much of a distinguishing difference between these places now and 2010..but “peoples” mileage may vary..

Back in the day, Old Chicago made nearly everything in house from scratch and it was way better than its been the past 15+ years.

This! I"m telling you, if you went to the OC on 76th and Cass in the late 90's to early 00's, there was no more hopping place to be in all of Omaha on a weekend night. UNO hockey fans would have their after parties there. The place would be jumping from 6pm until 1 am consistently. Same with the one downtown.

I can still remember how great the pizza truly was there from around 1999-2004. I loved it. I would love to be able to have that experience again, but it's just not possible. You can just tell the crust is now some pre-made frozen concoction. I'd totally believe everything was made in house, but I'd bet as costs went up, they sacrificed that scratch cooking experience for more processing vs. keeping the costs going up to a level that wasn't sustainable.

Yes, absolutely there are better places to get beer, and that had to hurt their bottom line, but I'd argue that there probably still isn't too many better places in Omaha to get a deep dish pizza than the early days at OC. There are a few that compare, like Davlo, but not many.

Just like how Pizza Hut was so much better back in the day compared to now. It comes down to changes in ingredients and efficiency that have sacrificed taste.

To your same point, I used to really like Applebees about 20 years ago, but I was also a teenager that grew up in a small town without many options. I'm not sure if I've grown or if they've truly gotten so bad that you would have to pay me to eat there now. For a lot of us, we've gotten more sophisticated about food and what tastes good and what tastes excellent.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I never found Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s food to be that high level..solid..but not high level..Perhaps the quality has diminished a bit..but I’d say for most palates, there isn’t much of a distinguishing difference between these places now and 2010..but “peoples” mileage may vary..

Back in the day, Old Chicago made nearly everything in house from scratch and it was way better than its been the past 15+ years.

This! I"m telling you, if you went to the OC on 76th and Cass in the late 90's to early 00's, there was no more hopping place to be in all of Omaha on a weekend night. UNO hockey fans would have their after parties there. The place would be jumping from 6pm until 1 am consistently. Same with the one downtown.

I can still remember how great the pizza truly was there from around 1999-2004. I loved it. I would love to be able to have that experience again, but it's just not possible. You can just tell the crust is now some pre-made frozen concoction. I'd totally believe everything was made in house, but I'd bet as costs went up, they sacrificed that scratch cooking experience for more processing vs. keeping the costs going up to a level that wasn't sustainable.

Yes, absolutely there are better places to get beer, and that had to hurt their bottom line, but I'd argue that there probably still isn't too many better places in Omaha to get a deep dish pizza than the early days at OC. There are a few that compare, like Davlo, but not many.

Just like how Pizza Hut was so much better back in the day compared to now. It comes down to changes in ingredients and efficiency that have sacrificed taste.

To your same point, I used to really like Applebees about 20 years ago, but I was also a teenager that grew up in a small town without many options. I'm not sure if I've grown or if they've truly gotten so bad that you would have to pay me to eat there now. For a lot of us, we've gotten more sophisticated about food and what tastes good and what tastes excellent.

I dunno..

I dined at Old Chicago plenty of times back in the early 2000’s and never walked out of there thinking their pizza or food was the “cat’s meow”..

I still come back to today- there are just more quality options with even better food and drink..as opposed to places like Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s or Granite City falling off the face of the earth..

But that’s me…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[omaha79]

I never found Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s food to be that high level..solid..but not high level..Perhaps the quality has diminished a bit..but I’d say for most palates, there isn’t much of a distinguishing difference between these places now and 2010..but “peoples” mileage may vary..

Back in the day, Old Chicago made nearly everything in house from scratch and it was way better than its been the past 15+ years.

This! I"m telling you, if you went to the OC on 76th and Cass in the late 90's to early 00's, there was no more hopping place to be in all of Omaha on a weekend night. UNO hockey fans would have their after parties there. The place would be jumping from 6pm until 1 am consistently. Same with the one downtown.

I can still remember how great the pizza truly was there from around 1999-2004. I loved it. I would love to be able to have that experience again, but it's just not possible. You can just tell the crust is now some pre-made frozen concoction. I'd totally believe everything was made in house, but I'd bet as costs went up, they sacrificed that scratch cooking experience for more processing vs. keeping the costs going up to a level that wasn't sustainable.

Yes, absolutely there are better places to get beer, and that had to hurt their bottom line, but I'd argue that there probably still isn't too many better places in Omaha to get a deep dish pizza than the early days at OC. There are a few that compare, like Davlo, but not many.

Just like how Pizza Hut was so much better back in the day compared to now. It comes down to changes in ingredients and efficiency that have sacrificed taste.

To your same point, I used to really like Applebees about 20 years ago, but I was also a teenager that grew up in a small town without many options. I'm not sure if I've grown or if they've truly gotten so bad that you would have to pay me to eat there now. For a lot of us, we've gotten more sophisticated about food and what tastes good and what tastes excellent.

My only issue with that logic when it comes to OC or Famous Daves is these chains are clearly struggling now. OC went from something like 6 Omaha locations down to 2 now. Famous Daves has lost locations as well and hasn't really been replacing them. It can't just be that everyone is so much more sophisticated now as those places had lines out the doors 20 years ago. Yes, some of it is from having better local options now, but they clearly had a following for a reason, and in the case of OC, there really hasn't been many deep dish pizza places to replace what they offered. People stopped going and stayed away for many reasons, and I do think one of them is quality. I've heard lots of anecdotal comments from people I know about how good it used to be...and stopped being.

[omaha79]

I never found Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s food to be that high level..solid..but not high level..Perhaps the quality has diminished a bit..but I’d say for most palates, there isn’t much of a distinguishing difference between these places now and 2010..but “peoples” mileage may vary..

Back in the day, Old Chicago made nearly everything in house from scratch and it was way better than its been the past 15+ years.

This! I"m telling you, if you went to the OC on 76th and Cass in the late 90's to early 00's, there was no more hopping place to be in all of Omaha on a weekend night. UNO hockey fans would have their after parties there. The place would be jumping from 6pm until 1 am consistently. Same with the one downtown.

I can still remember how great the pizza truly was there from around 1999-2004. I loved it. I would love to be able to have that experience again, but it's just not possible. You can just tell the crust is now some pre-made frozen concoction. I'd totally believe everything was made in house, but I'd bet as costs went up, they sacrificed that scratch cooking experience for more processing vs. keeping the costs going up to a level that wasn't sustainable.

Yes, absolutely there are better places to get beer, and that had to hurt their bottom line, but I'd argue that there probably still isn't too many better places in Omaha to get a deep dish pizza than the early days at OC. There are a few that compare, like Davlo, but not many.

Just like how Pizza Hut was so much better back in the day compared to now. It comes down to changes in ingredients and efficiency that have sacrificed taste.

To your same point, I used to really like Applebees about 20 years ago, but I was also a teenager that grew up in a small town without many options. I'm not sure if I've grown or if they've truly gotten so bad that you would have to pay me to eat there now. For a lot of us, we've gotten more sophisticated about food and what tastes good and what tastes excellent.

I dunno..

I dined at Old Chicago plenty of times back in the early 2000’s and never walked out of there thinking their pizza or food was the “cat’s meow”..

I still come back to today- there are just more quality options with even better food and drink..as opposed to places like Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s or Granite City falling off the face of the earth..

But that’s me…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Let's just put it this way on OC. Told me much of what I needed to know as to how they saw themselves going forward when they went from being a cloth napkin restaurant to a paper napkin restaurant.

[ChadJK]

Famous Dave's used to make some great crowd pleaser BBQ. They had a large variety of meats, a large variety of sides, and a variety of sauces and so there was always something for everyone. Sure, there were always better local BBQ places you could hit up, but Famous Dave's was still considered good (even if not the best) and was open late and unlike many ma and pa BBQ joints rarely ran out of meat. Even people I know who don't care for BBQ (may God have mercy on their souls) were okay with going to Famous Dave's. Quality definitely went downhill on some of their meats. For me, it just stopped being a convenient choice for where I worked and lived. I wasn't going to drive past a half dozen private BBQ places just to wait 45 minutes on a table at Famous Dave's. Perhaps everyone else came to the same conclusion.

[ChadJK]

Let's just put it this way on OC. Told me much of what I needed to know as to how they saw themselves going forward when they went from being a cloth napkin restaurant to a paper napkin restaurant.

There's a couple of things I find a little "low rent" at what are supposed to be somewhat nicer full service restaurants: paper placemats, paper napkins, plastic squeeze ketchup bottles, and plastic beverage glasses (especially those clear plastic ones designed to resemble glass ones).

[Omaha Cowboy]

I dunno..

I dined at Old Chicago plenty of times back in the early 2000’s and never walked out of there thinking their pizza or food was the “cat’s meow”..

I still come back to today- there are just more quality options with even better food and drink..as opposed to places like Old Chicago or Famous Dave’s or Granite City falling off the face of the earth..

But that’s me…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Let's just put it this way on OC. Told me much of what I needed to know as to how they saw themselves going forward when they went from being a cloth napkin restaurant to a paper napkin restaurant.

I don’t doubt what you’re saying that Old Chicago’s quality has diminished over the last 10 or so years. It’s happened at many of these regional chain type eateries.. Like I stated though, I never thought their food/pizza was *that* good to begin with..Plus, I always thought they were overpriced..

The one place I was sad to see go, was Granite City..although the last 5 years they were open, I only went a handful of times- they made the best BBQ chicken flatbread pizza with bacon I have ever had..

As it relates to Famous Dave’s, it’ll be interesting to see if they end up opening a new location now that 120th and L is history…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[GetUrban]

I had forgotten all about Famous Dave’s since the one near Home Depot near 72nd and Ames closed about 10 years ago.I guess it was easy to find other and better alternatives for BBQ, which I wouldn’t want to ever have to do without!

[Padre]

I had forgotten all about Famous Dave’s since the one near Home Depot near 72nd and Ames closed about 10 years ago.I guess it was easy to find other and better alternatives for BBQ, which I wouldn’t want to ever have to do without!

We used to go to that one ocassionaly before it closed. After that we tried to one on 131st and Maple before it also closed. It wasn't as good. The time we were there, we asked the waiter what he recommended. He said "I don't eat here, I eat healthy food!"

[NEDodger]

I thought this was oddly timely. A few weeks ago I was at an antique store in the Haymarket and came across a copy of the 150th anniversary of Omaha book. Picked it up as I thought it'd be an interesting snapshot/time capsule bit of reading. I never knew this, but apparently Willy Thiesen is who originally brought Famous Dave's to Omaha: