Maria Sangria (11th and Harney)

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:29 pm

Still looks like it's not going to open anytime soon, but on the other end of the Landmark Center....there were crews cleaning out the former Garden Cafe/Cactus Cafe bay. Maybe it's for a new tennant. Working in the building I know it would be nice to have a restaurant in the building again.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:47 pm

so what is the deal? Went downtown the other day and parked not far from here and still see nothing going on. Is there going to be?

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 1:17 pm

Rumor has it the owners are in financial trouble, and that's what has stalled this process. One of the other bars that they own, 415, is apparently up for sale.

Unfortunately, I'm highly doubtful this project is ever going to open. If they don't have the cash to keep an already established place functioning, I'm highly doubtful that they'll continue to pour money into Zodiak. Hopefully someone realizes what a deal this place would be (as most of the renovations are completed), and snatches it up, and opens it quickly.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:19 pm

Ben wrote:Rumor has it the owners are in financial trouble, and that's what has stalled this process. One of the other bars that they own, 415, is apparently up for sale.

Unfortunately, I'm highly doubtful this project is ever going to open. If they don't have the cash to keep an already established place functioning, I'm highly doubtful that they'll continue to pour money into Zodiak. Hopefully someone realizes what a deal this place would be (as most of the renovations are completed), and snatches it up, and opens it quickly.

I think part of the reason 415 may be in trouble is because (at least from my own personal experience) they treat people like |expletive|. I went there with a girl i wanted to date way back when, and apparently the standard clothing i was wearing wasn't good enough, and we left. I understand dress codes and what not, but it could be presented in a better way.

j4nu · Post by **j4nu** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:36 am

From what I have heard they owners begun spending money on the place and then had trouble getting the liqueur license. After the money was spent it started to hurt the other businesses he was involved with. Seems to make sense from the other rumors floating around on here.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:57 am

j4nu wrote:From what I have heard they owners begun spending money on the place and then had trouble getting the liqueur license. After the money was spent it started to hurt the other businesses he was involved with. Seems to make sense from the other rumors floating around on here.

Yes, there were some liquor license issues, but they had been resolved within a couple of weeks. Its purely a $ thing now.....

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:11 am

Someone had signed on to handle the food end of this bar, and a few weeks ago, moved all of his kitchen equipment out of the building. Not a good sign.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:44 am

For the last week there has been a LOT of activity at this place. Workers are there every day including weekends. The metal railings that were up all along the front have been removed, and the black railings have been put up on the side at the corner of Farnam & 11th, as they were once before. They have also been working inside. Not sure what is up.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:30 pm

Maybe they will open by New Years this year.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:05 pm

Same black pickup is there every day of the week, doing stuff. Friday night (as in LATE...grrrr) and Saturday, they cut a thin trough in the sidewalk, and placed electricity from the building to all the trees, with outlets for lights.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:11 pm

Why does this location always fail. Is it a poor location, poor management, or something different. I would think that with all the people in this city that think its an inherent right to park close to the door, that this location offers some of the best parking in the Old Market with all the parking on Farnam Street and all.

RegisResident · Post by **RegisResident** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:15 pm

From what I heard it is very expensive and most establishments would need to be packed 4-5 nights a week to cover the costs... that was a few years ago so they may have lowered the rent.

There is definitely something going on in the space- the other day when I drove by on my way home from work there were a couple of beer company trucks (I believe a boulevard and bud truck). I'm guessing they were either installing installing beer taps or cleaning out the old ones.

Today when I drove by there was a carpet cleaning company that was working inside.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:22 am

I saw the beer trucks and the carpet cleaning trucks also. The new railing has been completed so there is an outdoor seating area railed off and connected to one of the front doors. Unrelated....MUD is replacing the water line on 11th Street and ripping up all the brick. Grrrrr...

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:11 pm

Why the Grrrrr? There is no way they will be able to do anything but replace the brick. They are not going to fill the hole with asphalt.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 4:55 pm

You are 100% correct. No asphalt...no brick....they filled the holes with concrete on Saturday. About a year or so ago, there was a request for bids for redoing 11th street, including compatibility with the look of 11th in the Old Market. Part of me wonders if this is utility work prior to that project.

In the meantime, the black pickup truck is at this potential bar site 7 days a week, all day, every day, working.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:27 pm

The new name for this place is IRIE. Billed in the help wanted ad as Omaha's Premier New Dance Club. They are having a hiring open house this Sunday for bartenders, servers and a latin dance instructor.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:01 am

OmahaChef wrote:The new name for this place is IRIE. Billed in the help wanted ad as Omaha's Premier New Dance Club. They are having a hiring open house this Sunday for bartenders, servers and a latin dance instructor.

Did anyone go (or know anyone that went)? I'm dying to see what this place will be like, and when it'll open....

No offense to the Max (which I love on occasion, when headed with a co-ed group), but it'll be nice to have a mainstream dance option in the Old Market again. 415 is a bit techno for my taste. Say what you want about the trashiness of the old Cactus Cafe (and Parrot Bar, which closed before I moved here), but they served a purpose, and were popular with people wanting a mainstream/top 40/hip hop dancing option in the Old Market.

stabone99 · Post by **stabone99** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:14 pm

I walk by this place nearly daily and it appears very close to opening. They now have beer signs that are up and lit up at night. The interior looks like it's all done. Hopefully IRIE will be opening soon! :D

j4nu · Post by **j4nu** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:23 am

This place looks like it may be cool but just the physical building itself will never allow it to be a full fledged club anywhere near the Max. There just isn't room.

RegisResident · Post by **RegisResident** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:30 pm

I'm pretty sure this place is open- in the evenings usually all the neon signs are on and there is open sign on above the door. I haven't been yet but I'm curious to see it.

I think this place could be a dance club because there is lots of space- it has the main floor, a balcony and then another full floor- I think the top floor also has a bar along with the main floor. I think the main reason for the failures have been because they were not well run businesses and the rent is really high. Just my 2 cents

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:15 pm

RegisResident wrote:I'm pretty sure this place is open- in the evenings usually all the neon signs are on and there is open sign on above the door. I haven't been yet but I'm curious to see it.

Yup, looks like they had their soft opening this Tuesday according to Omahanightlife.com Here's some pictures: http://omahanightlife.com/gallery/irie

Also, here's an interesting post from craigslist, looking for bands / DJs. Gives a pretty good idea of what they're going for as far as music:

craigslist.com wrote:The theme is "Happy Dance" All music with a "Dancie" feel is welcome.Will feature Reggae, Funk, Jam Band, and Latin music. NO GANGSTA RAP OR TECHNO is ALLOWED. Other Genres may inquire about our 3rd floor for private bookings with a 200 person occupancy

ADMINS: Can someone change the title of this thread to IRIE? Zodiak is no longer....

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:22 pm

No techno? Are they trying to fail?

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:35 pm

From Omaha Night Life:

Irie is Omaha's Newest multi-level club with a vibrant atmosphere and calm environment. Here is a little preview of what to expect when opening the doors of Irie!

In my experience, people looking for a dance club arent looking for a calm environment, I guess I am partial to the Max though.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:49 pm

...as in "evertin' irie"?

I still don't see this bar working out. I don't see why, from a location & design standpoint, but based on anything else that's been there, i can't see it making it. Here's to hoping, though!

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:54 pm

I'm sure I'll check it out. Just from the sound of it it seems like they might be going for a 30+ dance crowd as opposed to those in their 20's.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:58 pm

there were some photos taken at the soft opening. I managed to find this one:

Bosco55David · Post by **Bosco55David** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:52 pm

Sounds like a fun place. I'll have to check it out when I get back to Omaha.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 10:41 pm

went last night for a little bit, it's good to see that there was decent business there. It was what i would consider busy, but i over heard one of the guys saying, "it's going to be so much better when business picks up." I guess it's all relative. Not exactly my flavor, but my wife and her friends thought it was cool so whatever. Decent looking people, but no signs of DD's...sorry Big E.

Bosco55David · Post by **Bosco55David** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:58 am

I can't speak for Big E, but I know I'll settle for D's and large C's :mrgreen:

RegisResident · Post by **RegisResident** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:50 am

So, I noticed that Irie got a really big awning for it's front door- pretty ugly if you ask me, green, yellow and red. But... I also noticed that now it says Irie Bar & Grill... has anyone been there and tried the food? My gf and I went there when they first opened and the drinks were good and not super expensive but I don't think they had food at that point.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:37 pm

New Name again, Denim and Diamonds.

Here is a website for their KC location:
http://www.denimanddiamondskc.com/

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:50 pm

So another shat kicker club, which isn't their one right around the corner?

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:10 pm

Brad wrote:New Name again, Denim and Diamonds.

Here is a website for their KC location:
http://www.denimanddiamondskc.com/

Brad, I don't suppose you know a contact person for this bar?? I know you're pretty well connected, and I, of course, play with a country band...

Post by **Brad** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:25 pm

HuskerDave wrote:Brad, I don't suppose you know a contact person for this bar?? I know you're pretty well connected, and I, of course, play with a country band...

Nope, didn't even know about the bar until the other night when I saw the sign the project up on to the side of the building with a light projector.

Post by **Brad** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:41 am

Now a Mexican restaurant....

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:59 pm

Maria Sangria, Formerly Denim and Diamonds, Formerly Club Irie

Old Market nightclub could be first target of ordinance aimed at trouble spots

http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 460%2F1694

Juan Perez Jr. / World-Herald staff writer wrote:Officials link frequent weekend crowd disturbances and fights in and around the area of the restaurant and bar directly to the bar's operations.

“The people in Omaha and the business owners in the Old Market are looking to us on the City Council, asking 'Can't you do something?'?” Melton said.

Maria Scalise, the bar's owner, said she's not the only business owner who has encountered trouble downtown. Disturbances near her restaurant often spill over from other popular downtown watering holes, she said, which partly leads crowds to gather around 11th and Farnam or 12th and Howard Streets.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:01 pm

T Henry's is worse.

cp jay 07 · Post by **cp jay 07** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:50 pm

iamjacobm wrote:T Henry's is worse.

Personally I think O is the worst out of all of them, lotta trouble in front of that place at 2 AM.

T Henry's is hit and miss, I have been down there on nights where yeah it is out of hand and I have been down there on nights where it actually isn't to bad on a Friday and Saturday.

I personally have never seen this Maria Sangria place busy, I think it is just getting a bad rap because of what Irie used to be and having O across the street.

Also I did see that Bar Rescue is coming to Omaha and looking for Bars to film at, I don't think there is a better canidate than this place to have a bar rescue at. In the Old Market and the location is always struggling, plus the name sucks. Bring John Taffert here and lets see what happens.

guy4omaha · Post by **guy4omaha** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 2:42 am

I eat out way too much so I have seen a lot of restaurants. The good, the bad and everything in between. But I usually try to give everyone the benefit of doubt. Because my first experience at Maria Sangria's was so bad the first time, I tried them again not once, but twice more in the effort to give them a chance to improve. My third time there was the worst. Sorry to say this place is the worst restaurant I have been to in terms of both food and service. Especially the service.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:29 am

I spoke to a city council woman yesterday about this place. The police are fed up with all the troubles the bar upstairs causes them. Right now they dedicate 10 officers to patrolling the block with this restaurant/lounge each Friday and Saturday night, and they are tired of the manpower drain. Apparently the city never issued them a certificate of occupancy. It was an oversight, but the city wants them to clean up their act or shut down, and they aren't willing to wait much longer.
This location is truly snake bitten.