Pepperjax Grill - Omaha/CB Metro Area

[ChadJK]

The last straw was a visit to the Nebraska Crossing location and the food handling and fith was so over the top that we walked out while in line and seeing what was happening to the food prep for those in front of us.

Nebraska Crossing has been host to mostly horrible restaurants. If a restaurant has 30 locations and one of them sucks horribly it will be their Nebraska Crossing location. I don't really understand why that is, but every Nebraska Crossing restaurant is the worst version of itself.

You are off on that assessment. PJ is the outlier for bad at the mall, but IMO they have fallen off everwhere. The others currently there are fine for what they are.

Currently, there are these from memory.

Pieocracy
Rita's
Voodoo Taco -- ( don't get this place at all but the mall locations is no worse than the others.)
Local Beer, Patio and Kitchen. (They had a rough start but hold their own now.)

LBP&K is still bad. At least, that's been my recent experience. Okay place to grab a beer, but I wouldn't eat a meal there. If I want a gastropub experience I'd rather drive to Blatt at 168th & Center.
Let's not forget the train wreck that Burger Star and Big Cheese were.
I like the food at Voodoo Taco, but getting quick service or finding a clean table are too much of a challenge.

[Bob from Omaha]

Read some of the reviews for these places. Pieology seems to be unable to provide a correct order even if you're the only one not being paid to be there. That's really bad. I tend to discount the good reviews by at least half and I tend to weight the bad reviews away from believing about 10-20% as exaggeration. In any event, is this still the guy who wants to renew Crossroads as the new European Village?

[GenX]

My biggest complaint about PepperJax is the consistency of the food, and this applies to most of the Omaha locations. Sometimes it's not cooked right, sometimes it's over-seasoned, and sometimes they're a bit stingy on the onions/mushrooms/green peppers. I recently purchased a Waring Professional Griddle (WGR140), and make my own at home using their meat and seasoning they sell at Hy-Vee. They're FANTASTIC!! Still haven't nailed the bun, but hoagie buns from Rotella's does well enough. If you're into diner food and want to griddle at up to 570 degrees, it's well worth the $500.

[Busguy2010]

I've done that with my cast iron pan and some whole wheat hot dog buns. Honestly easier to manage and eat and you get to control the seasonings and vegetables. Probably another reason why I haven't been there, as I recall the last time I had "PepperJax" I cooked it at home. That was still a long time ago.

[Padre]

I remember a couple years ago, there was a great stir on the forum that Pepperjax Grill had moved their headquarters from Omaha to Denver. What we missed is that a couple years later they moved again, this time to Kearney!

https://nebraska.tv/news/local/pepperja ... y-location

[Omaha Cowboy]

I remember a couple years ago, there was a great stir on the forum that Pepperjax Grill had moved their headquarters from Omaha to Denver. What we missed is that a couple years later they moved again, this time to Kearney!

https://nebraska.tv/news/local/pepperja ... y-location

This is very strange indeed.. From the 2017 announcement in the W-H that Pepperjax was moving headquarters out of Omaha to Denver, Colorado to attract more talent-

“With 40 restaurants in the Midwest, new owners, an updated menu and a rebranding campaign underway, fast-casual Philly cheesesteak restaurant chain PepperJax is ramping up for growth.

That growth won’t be led from a headquarters in Omaha, the city where PepperJax was founded and that served as its home base for the past 15 years.

Founder and former owner Gary Rohwer sold the chain about a 
year ago to TA Associates, a private-equity firm based in Boston. TA put in place a new management team and packed up for Denver.

“For the brand to grow, that next evolution of growth, we had to make sure that we gave the brand the best chance of success, and that was choosing a market to relocate to where the resources are rich in fast-casual brands, and restaurants in general,” PepperJax Chief Executive Tim Casey said in a recent interview with The World-Herald.

“As we thought about building out our team, we wanted to be in a place where we were most likely to attract the highest caliber of talent we could,” Casey said.”..

The 2017 W-H story link-

https://omaha.com/business/pepperjax-ho ... d83d6.html

And now, the Pepperjax that trumpeted the notion they needed to move away from Omaha to attract top talent and expand their market footprint has now moved their “corporate” HQ’s to Kearney, Nebraska?..

Sorry, but this does not compute..Additionally, why the he!l move out of Omaha in the first place?..

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[nebugeater]

Nothing wrong with being in Kearney but it sure blows the reasoning out of the water for the move away from Omaha. Has there been a new change in ownership or partial ownership?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Nothing wrong with being in Kearney but it sure blows the reasoning out of the water for the move away from Omaha. Has there been a new change in ownership or partial ownership?

I was wondering the same thing. The article link from 2019 doesn’t indicate any change of ownership.. But combined with the 2017 article from the W-H highlighting the “reasoning” why Pepperjax moved their HQ’s out of Omaha to Denver, makes this move to Kearney a head scratcher ..

Good for Kearney and good for Nebraska.. But it, to me, begs the question- Why move out of Omaha in the first place?...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[ricko]

As soon as I saw the words "private equity", I just concluded that no good will come out of this. Private equity companies are parasites, as far as I'm concerned. Their main focus is $, not quality or brand loyalty. If a company doesn't produce 30-40% margins, they'll bleed it until it does, then they'll sell off the carcass when the customers stop coming. I speak from personal experience.

[Bob from Omaha]

As soon as I saw the words "private equity", I just concluded that no good will come out of this. Private equity companies are parasites, as far as I'm concerned. Their main focus is $, not quality or brand loyalty. If a company doesn't produce 30-40% margins, they'll bleed it until it does, then they'll sell off the carcass when the customers stop coming. I speak from personal experience.

I tend to agree with you about private equity firms to an extent. There actually are SOME that aren't bottom feeders. On the other hand there are the others that are seriously looking for hourly returns. There are also activist firms that buy a few shares and then harass the boards to get "more value" and increase the stock price short term. That's pretty much what happened with Cabellas & Conagra.

As for Pepperjax, yes there are quite a few restaurant chains based in Denver. There are also a lot more not based in Denver. There are also restaurant chains based in Denver that either haven't worked out or are mediocre. I myself believe that Pepperjax moved to Denver for the old tired reason that the CEO or whoever liked to ski and/or had family living in Denver or is a Nuggets fan or some other silly reason. Not all that different than Conagra moving to Chicago. The snotnose CEO had a hard on for Chicago. Can anyone seriously tell me that absent a highly technical skill set that is concentrated in a geographic area a company cannot succeed pretty much anywhere? Is there something in the water in northwest Arkansas that make Walmart work?

When Pepperjax moved to Denver they made a lot of noise about opening in the Denver area. A cursory check of their web site doesn't show any. The former worldwide headquarters was on the second floor of a two story building, above the lasik center. Handy,

The bottom line is that someone in the Pepperjax executive suite liked to ski. They couldn't use the tired excuse that they needed to be near an international airport. DIA is 32 miles away from the lasik center/headquarters, a 40 minute drive.

Good for Kearney, good for Nebraska, good for, h e l l , I don't know, common sense?

[bigredmed1]

When it was in Omaha, we ate there frequently. After moving to Corporate land and then Denver, the quality kept slipping and we just went elsewhere. I can tell you that even though it is not hard to get to, I rarely have eaten there in the last 3-4 years.

Fast Casual, maybe. Kind of loud, Pepsi burdens, and salty as a cracker. Other places are local and less salty. Other places sell drinks I want to buy.

[Omaha Cowboy]

In the end, Pepperjax should have simply stayed in Omaha..

Anywho-

As I’ve mentioned this many times on the forum, even when their HQ’s were in Omaha, I always found their food to be mediocre.. And I rarely, if ever, visit the place. I had a great Philly Cheesesteak at Omaha Tap House last weekend. Blows away any sandwich I’ve ever had at Pepperjax...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Bob from Omaha]

I can tell you that even though it is not hard to get to, I rarely have eaten there in the last 3-4 years.

Funny, that reminded me of an exchange between my wife and I in the early late 90s or early 2000s when Da Vinci's had a location near 132nd and Dodge.
I noticed they closed the location and said to my wife "I don't know why they closed. You could always get right in." I turned around and saw that she was just looking at me with a smirk. She said "Think about what you just said. Now think real long. They closed because you could always get right in. Got it or do I have to say it slower?"

[bbinks]

Read some of their Google reviews for 120th/Blondo and 72nd/Ames. If what you can see is dirty, what about what you can't see. I've not been there in many years. Nothing worth going out of my way for. I've had much better at local sports bars.

[bigredmed1]

Read some of their Google reviews for 120th/Blondo and 72nd/Ames. If what you can see is dirty, what about what you can't see. I've not been there in many years. Nothing worth going out of my way for. I've had much better at local sports bars.

Exactly. The food at Report Inn Pub (which is equidistant) is much better.

[Omaha Cowboy]

It’s very apparent, that since the beginnings of Pepperjax, that you could get a much better Philly Cheesesteak, or any sort of sandwich at many sports bar/pub locations in the Omaha metro area..It’s surprising to me Pepperjax still maintains locations in Omaha tbh...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[ChadJK]

PepperJax has gone downhill in food quality. Service is pretty much where it always was. The biggest thing I've noticed is that their bread is horrible now. It used to have a bit of stretch/chewiness to it and now it doesn't. The meat has also gone downhill. It just doesn't have the same mouth feel. It's weird to describe the texture of meat as being less meaty, but that's what it is.

I like some bar/grill phillies. Though, there's almost two categories of phillies. The first being the sort of cheaper version with meat sliced so thin it can better be described as shaved instead of sliced while the other has much more of a steak vibe. I like both.

Honestly, I got a pretty good fast food style philly at Charley's (food court eatery) recently. Certainly better than PepperJax.

[Omaha Cowboy]

PepperJax has gone downhill in food quality. Service is pretty much where it always was. The biggest thing I've noticed is that their bread is horrible now. It used to have a bit of stretch/chewiness to it and now it doesn't. The meat has also gone downhill. It just doesn't have the same mouth feel. It's weird to describe the texture of meat as being less meaty, but that's what it is.

I like some bar/grill phillies.

I’ve heard many a person say Pepperjax food has gone downhill the past several years.. Of course, I take everyone’s word on that..

For me, even from the time they first opened, I never found their Philly Cheesesteaks to be anything beyond just average.. Everyone has a different palate. I’ve always experienced their cheesesteaks to be an overly salty (sometimes) mess the 6 or so times I’ve tried them over the years. So they really must be a mess now, lol..

Go to Omaha TapHouse either downtown or at their 156th and Dodge location in Pepperwood. They have a fantastic Philly and food in general that blows places like Pepperjax away...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Bob from Omaha]

I liked Pepperjax though it's been over a dozen years.

On the other hand I liked Lansky's philly steak sandwiches better, especially with the beer cheese sauce on them. Fanning the flames of a heart attack? Sure but good.

Seriously, I do admire the creator of Pepperjax. He came up with the beef & if I read it correctly he still owns the company that makes it.

[Brad]

Seriously, I do admire the creator of Pepperjax. He came up with the beef & if I read it correctly he still owns the company that makes it.

Gary Rohwer
https://garysquicksteak.com/

[ricko]

I liked Pepperjax though it's been over a dozen years.

On the other hand I liked Lansky's philly steak sandwiches better, especially with the beer cheese sauce on them. Fanning the flames of a heart attack? Sure but good.

Seriously, I do admire the creator of Pepperjax. He came up with the beef & if I read it correctly he still owns the company that makes it.

I always order my cheesesteaks with a side of statins .

[Bob from Omaha]

I liked Pepperjax though it's been over a dozen years.

On the other hand I liked Lansky's philly steak sandwiches better, especially with the beer cheese sauce on them. Fanning the flames of a heart attack? Sure but good.

Seriously, I do admire the creator of Pepperjax. He came up with the beef & if I read it correctly he still owns the company that makes it.

I always order my cheesesteaks with a side of statins .

Just one???

[bbinks]

I read on the Omaha Food Lovers Facebook page that PepperJax is moving in this parcel. (The Former KFC on 132 & Center).

[Omaha Cowboy]

I read on the Omaha Food Lovers Facebook page that PepperJax is moving in this parcel.

Interesting if this actually happens as Pepperjax currently is right across the street from this parcel..and has been for years..

Also Meh.. I hardly went when it was a KFC.. I’ll likely never go if it becomes Pepperjax. I was hoping for something so much better…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[NEDodger]

Odd.

1.) The 132nd and Center spot I believe was the original location.
2.) I don't recall any other location having a drive-thru.

Best of luck to them in the spot, I guess.

[bbinks]

Odd.

1.) The 132nd and Center spot I believe was the original location.
2.) I don't recall any other location having a drive-thru.

Best of luck to them in the spot, I guess.

72nd & Ames might have a drive thru. It's a freestanding location that remodeled into the old Baker's Gas or Kwik Trip.

[Omaha Cowboy]

The reality is, it’s going to be a Pepperjax..and in addition to this not adding to the area- they’re basically moving across the street to this parcel- thus, creating another empty “eye sore” store front within the strip mall directly to the east..

Most of us who live in the area (who I’ve visited with. I do live in this area), were hoping for something different- not even new to market necessarily..At least something we don’t have readily available.. Like a Culver’s or Freddie’s etc..

Oh well …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[WBR_Tom]

Odd.

1.) The 132nd and Center spot I believe was the original location.
2.) I don't recall any other location having a drive-thru.

Best of luck to them in the spot, I guess.

72nd & Ames might have a drive thru. It's a freestanding location that remodeled into the old Baker's Gas or Kwik Trip.

I thought 72nd & Ames did. Was kinda wondering if the 84th & Park Dr one does.

Upon further review, it does not appear either does. The one on 84th has a drive thru behind it, but it is for an attached Jimmy John's.

The only Pepperjax I can think of with a drive-thru is the Bellevue location on 370, though there may be others. Post-COVID it would not surprise me to see chains make moves to add drive-thru windows, even if it means moving across the street. Panera has been doing that all over the metro (and is set to make another move across the parking lot in Papillion when they take over the Potbelly building, because their existing space cannot accommodate a drive thru).

[Brad]

It will be interesting to see how well the drive through works. Seems like it would have quite the line?

[nebugeater]

It will be interesting to see how well the drive through works. Seems like it would have quite the line?

Just a thought.

Might require ordering through an app in advance.

[Brad]

So the new PepperJax on 132 & Center is completely different than another other I have been too (I have Not been to the new on on 72nd street).

You order at the register and they give you a number. You can Not see them cook your food, that's done in the back behind a wall. I'm guessing the order at the register helps them run the counter and the drive through from the same grill. Overall place seemed fine, might be a bit smaller than the original location across the street in the strip mall(which was the first Pepperjax ever).

Also had 4 beers on tap including Fairy Nectar from Kros Strain. Looked like they had several in bottle too.

[cafereef]

read on facebook last night that someone mentioned that PepperJax is rumored to be coming to Elkhorn. After some digging on the assessor site, it looks like the company who owns PepperJax has purchased the land on the north side of Runza on 204th and Maple.

[damonhynes]

Jax drive-thru going up at the NE corner of I-80/NE-50 (Might as well call it 144th St. now), wedged betw. the Mickey D's and the Scooter's. There's also a Jax warehouse/dist. center across 142nd St., by the hotels.

[Brad]

I was told the new store prototype will have two grills one in back for the drive-through and then one upfront where people order l, more like the original Pepperjax stores had. I think that’s a good idea because it seemed like most people didn’t like the new layout with the grill hidden in the back.

[nativeomahan]

Are my more metro stores planned?

[Brad]

Are my more metro stores planned?

The one at Sapp brothers opens this month. I think the sign said mid month.

[Padre]

Are my more metro stores planned?

The one at Sapp brothers opens this month. I think the sign said mid month.

It was open when I went by today.

[nebugeater]

Are my more metro stores planned?

There is one being built in Gretna near the Fairway and Caseys. Small footprint. Wonder if the one at Nebraska Crossing will close?

[djc311]

I believe someone mentioned all of the PepperJax shops were sold some time back... the original developer (from what I was told) was the same person that had owned Chartreuse Caboose that used to be across the street from NFM on 72nd.

When Pepperjax first opened I thought their sandwiches were really good as well as their fries. I haven't eaten there post-Covid until this weekend and we visited the store on 173rd and Center, which was one of the first stores to open. All I can say is the food is definitely NOT the same. And I don't mean this in a good way.

My Philly was nothing but chopped up meat and salt - I didn't ask for light seasoning and that's my fault. However, I recall the sandwiches having some additional flavor in the past besides salt... the seasoning mix was actually a mix before. Seriously it tasted like they put only salt on the meat... about 1-2 teaspoons on the single sandwich. The fries were very bland, they could have probably used some of the salt off my sandwich.

My wife had a rice bowl, and when we were walking in she was excited about ordering one because, in her words, they were "so good!" Unfortunately that didn't taste like what she was expecting, either. She said it had relatively little flavor and whatever the queso was supposed to be, it didn't taste anything like cheese.

My daughter ordered chicken strips which she said were really good - but it would take a lot to mess up fried chicken fingers.

Not sure if they even sell alcohol anymore (they did a couple of years ago, I think) but we ordered only 2 pops and 1 cup of water. Shared the single fries... It was over $52. Without any alcohol.

I try to not use this platform as a complaint space but I feel it's important to share opinions from personal experiences we have with local businesses. I'm not sure how they are affording to grow so much considering the place was dead (right at 12:30 on a Saturday). They have the freestanding store on 132nd & Center that used to be a KFC... and I imagine the Gretna store will be its own building, too. Those can't be cheap to develop, open and maintain.

Anyway, you couldn't pay me to eat there again - I'd much rather go to HyVee or whatever other grocery stores sell that "Gary's Quick Steak" in the frozen section. The guy that used to demo that stuff at the HyVee on 180th & Q would tell awful jokes while he cooked up the meat for tasting. He said he was the one that invented that frozen steak patty (not sure if he was the guy that opened the PJ stores or simply came up with the meat process). But you can buy the 3 pack of the meat for about $6-$7 depending upon the week. Tastes 150% better than the sandwich I had at the actual PepperJax this weekend and that's with using the little shake packet they include for seasoning (which is more than just salt).

If any of you are big PepperJax fans then I'm glad they still have them because the food was not what we thought we were going to get based upon past visits.

[almighty_tuna]

I'm good with buying Gary's QuickSteak (made in Omaha!) from Costco and using their Wow! seasoning. It's the OG Pepperjax.