Oak View Mall (144 & West Center Rd)

[omaha79]

It's sad, but it's a commentary on the disposable nature of our society and real estate development overall. We are just always chasing the dragon of the next new sexy development and let what came before sit and rot for decades.

I concur. A lot of these new developments simply cannibalize the older ones. What's funny is how everyone gets so excited (especially on here) about every new development or district when often times it just means a slightly older development or out-of-trend district will suffer as a result of customers and tenants lost to the new thing. Often times, the areas being developed or revitalized only need developed and revitalized because years prior some other new thing opened and turned them into the sad ghost towns they are. So, maybe everyone can take it down a notch on new district worship.

Totally agree. Salivating about the "new hotness" of a brand new commercial district is foolhardy to me, especially when they turn out to be damaging to more vulnerable parts of the city.

[Louie]

It's sad, but it's a commentary on the disposable nature of our society and real estate development overall. We are just always chasing the dragon of the next new sexy development and let what came before sit and rot for decades.

I concur. A lot of these new developments simply cannibalize the older ones. What's funny is how everyone gets so excited (especially on here) about every new development or district when often times it just means a slightly older development or out-of-trend district will suffer as a result of customers and tenants lost to the new thing. Often times, the areas being developed or revitalized only need developed and revitalized because years prior some other new thing opened and turned them into the sad ghost towns they are. So, maybe everyone can take it down a notch on new district worship.

Totally agree. Salivating about the "new hotness" of a brand new commercial district is foolhardy to me, especially when they turn out to be damaging to more vulnerable parts of the city.

My thoughts on the Heartland Preserve and Avenue 192 projects.

[Garrett]

I’m more positive on Heartland Preserve assuming it gets built as has been proposed. At this point 144 dodge is practically infill and I’ll take a dense mix of residential, retail, and office over a behemoth of a mall.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Heartland Preserve is different than other development “districts”, especially suburban ones- in that it’s mixed use retail/business, along with significant residential.. And as was stated- it’s such a huge infill project which will create needed suburban density..

Plus- it’s going to take 10-15 years for Heartland Preserve to reach a max potential- mainly due to its expansive size..

Back to Oakview Mall and it’s surrounding Mousetrap- I don’t think a lab rat has been experimented with more and/or poked/prodded in analysis than what we’ve done here in this thread over the last 4-5 years with Oakview..Any retail intel I find out regarding the future of this property- that I’m allowed to share- rest assured, I’ll be placing it here…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[TheSeventhBrat]

I bet The Proper People have this place on their radar.

I love Bryan and Michael. They have a lot of respect for the buildings they explore.

[omaha79]

I bet The Proper People have this place on their radar.

I love Bryan and Michael. They have a lot of respect for the buildings they explore.

I'd love for someone like them to do a thorough exploration of Southroads. Totally off topic, I know.

[jheard15]

Oak View mall is going to soon be dead for many reasons…

1. People now days won’t shop a store unless they can park close to the front door.

2. People are buying so much stuff online these days and having it delivered to their home.

3. Mall stores started pricing clothing at such ridiculous prices that people started going to stores like Ross, TJ Max, Burlington.

4. Young people, the ones that most mall stores cater to, no longer like to hang out at the mall. They prefer to meet friends on social media instead.

5. People don’t like to walk around the mall to get exercise. They’re too busy watching TV, Netflix, YouTube, etc while having restaurants deliver food to their front door.

6. Covid and now Biden’s inflation and supply chain problems will make Oak View’s death come much sooner.

People are lazy enough now, they don't even want to drive 5 minutes for fast food and sit in line for another 5 minutes. They'll pay a 3rd party stranger to do it for them and deliver it to their house...which boggles my mind.

I see my neighbors getting Uber Eats on stuff like Chick Fil A and Starbucks all the time. This is where I shake my head. My generational gap is starting to show. No way I'd ever pay someone to go through a drive through for me.

For me it's not so much laziness, it's the combination of constant construction and distracted drivers. I've never been a fan of city driving (actually enjoy interstate/hwy driving) but what used to be a 5 minute drive is now a 10+ minute drive due to folks staring at their phones at stop lights, trying to use their GPS, etc. Couple that with brutal engineering of parking lots and entrances over the last 20 years and I often stay home because I don't want to deal with it. I live near 105th and Center and often times cyclists can beat me to 120th.

[Busguy2010]

For me it's not so much laziness, it's the combination of constant construction and distracted drivers. I've never been a fan of city driving (actually enjoy interstate/hwy driving) but what used to be a 5 minute drive is now a 10+ minute drive due to folks staring at their phones at stop lights, trying to use their GPS, etc. Couple that with brutal engineering of parking lots and entrances over the last 20 years and I often stay home because I don't want to deal with it. I live near 105th and Center and often times cyclists can beat me to 120th.

I feel that. This city has changed and grown so much since the 90's, Its almost not the same city. Hate to say it but if I'm being honest, I don't care for it as much as I used to. Not only with the way the city has changed, but also with the way people spend money and do things. Stuff is too digitally dependent these days. Just my opinion. And you definitely often miss a light because people are so slow out of the gate, most likely because they are staring at their lap. I'm not sure that has anything to do with the failing Oak View Mall, but I get your sentiment about things in general.

[ChadJK]

I feel that. This city has changed and grown so much since the 90's, Its almost not the same city. Hate to say it but if I'm being honest, I don't care for it as much as I used to. Not only with the way the city has changed, but also with the way people spend money and do things. Stuff is too digitally dependent these days. Just my opinion. And you definitely often miss a light because people are so slow out of the gate, most likely because they are staring at their lap. I'm not sure that has anything to do with the failing Oak View Mall, but I get your sentiment about things in general.

This is all well and good, but it doesn’t change the fact that Al Bundy once scored four touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High School Panthers in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson High School. Including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against his old nemesis "Spare Tire" Dixon.

[riceweb]

Couple that with brutal engineering of parking lots and entrances over the last 20 years and I often stay home because I don't want to deal with it

I think that's one of the biggest arguments against retaining anything at Oak View. It's entirely built for automobiles, and even for cars, it's a pain to get in and around the mousetrap. Just bulldoze it all, regrade, start over with a grid in the area, and make it human scale.

That's what I'm getting at when I say Oak View isn't functional anymore. Other shopping areas may only offer a marginally better experience, but it's still better elsewhere. Now when you add structural disadvantages like an off-highway location that's not ideal for out-of-towners and frankly not even convenient for most folks in the city, it's simply doomed to fail as-is.

So if I assume that not only is the mall but also the entire street layout obsolete, and if I assume that no private developer is going to take on that much risk and upfront financial cost to completely rethink the space, then I think the next logical conclusion is that the city must be the one that drives the conversation. Basically, we now have to foot the bill for demo/regrading/new infrastructure because we were too shortsighted when we greenlit Oak View in the first place.

[OmahaOmaha]

Here’s a couple of my ideas…

1. Since the IRS is looking to hire 85,000 people (project snoop), turn the entire mall into a huge office building and do what it takes to bring all those jobs to Omaha.

2. Turn the mall into a huge retirement community. Replace the surrounding parking lots with parking structures and thousands of senior housing units. The mall could become a huge amenity center. The department stores could become pickle ball courts, shuffleboard courts, event spaces, bingo halls, fitness centers, miniature golf courses, indoor dog parks, on site medical centers, a food hall, and maybe even their very own grocery store and drug store. Smaller stores could be used for other amenities…library, game room, billiard rooms, wood working shops, craft and painting rooms, cards andpoker rooms, etc. They could still have food court and put a pool in the center of the mall.

3. Turn the mall into the “Great American Mall Museum” where stores from the past come back to life.

Got to think out of the box!

[damonhynes]

Couple that with brutal engineering of parking lots and entrances over the last 20 years and I often stay home because I don't want to deal with it

I think that's one of the biggest arguments against retaining anything at Oak View. It's entirely built for automobiles, and even for cars, it's a pain to get in and around the mousetrap. Just bulldoze it all, regrade, start over with a grid in the area, and make it human scale.

That's what I'm getting at when I say Oak View isn't functional anymore. Other shopping areas may only offer a marginally better experience, but it's still better elsewhere. Now when you add structural disadvantages like an off-highway location that's not ideal for out-of-towners and frankly not even convenient for most folks in the city, it's simply doomed to fail as-is.

So if I assume that not only is the mall but also the entire street layout obsolete, and if I assume that no private developer is going to take on that much risk and upfront financial cost to completely rethink the space, then I think the next logical conclusion is that the city must be the one that drives the conversation. Basically, we now have to foot the bill for demo/regrading/new infrastructure because we were too shortsighted when we greenlit Oak View in the first place.

I must be getting old, but I find Village Lake / Shadow Pointe to be as difficult to navigate as Oakview.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Couple that with brutal engineering of parking lots and entrances over the last 20 years and I often stay home because I don't want to deal with it

I think that's one of the biggest arguments against retaining anything at Oak View. It's entirely built for automobiles, and even for cars, it's a pain to get in and around the mousetrap. Just bulldoze it all, regrade, start over with a grid in the area, and make it human scale.

That's what I'm getting at when I say Oak View isn't functional anymore. Other shopping areas may only offer a marginally better experience, but it's still better elsewhere. Now when you add structural disadvantages like an off-highway location that's not ideal for out-of-towners and frankly not even convenient for most folks in the city, it's simply doomed to fail as-is.

So if I assume that not only is the mall but also the entire street layout obsolete, and if I assume that no private developer is going to take on that much risk and upfront financial cost to completely rethink the space, then I think the next logical conclusion is that the city must be the one that drives the conversation. Basically, we now have to foot the bill for demo/regrading/new infrastructure because we were too shortsighted when we greenlit Oak View in the first place.

I must be getting old, but I find Village Lake / Shadow Pointe to be as difficult to navigate as Oakview.

And for the record- Village Pointe is no cupcake to navigate through either. In many ways, it’s more inconvenient getting around there than Oakview Mall and Surrounding Mousetrap…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Dundeemaha]

Take my opinion with a grain of salt, but the 6-12 times I've been to Village Point over the years it's really easy to navigate, you get off Dodge turn on to Burke St or that little parking lot access before it and then you're in. Leave on Burke to 168th and you're back on Dodge and out of there.

I haven't been to Oakview in 20 years, but the ring stores were a pain because then you're parking lot hopping on that ring road with a ton of traffic waiting to turn everywhere.

[S.O.Boy]

If given the choice of driving in Village Point, Shadow Lake, or Oakview. Oakview is my choice.

[OmahaOmaha]

If some of you have such a difficult time driving around a mall, maybe you’re not fit to have a drivers license. I have navigated around all the shopping centers in Omaha and malls in at least a couple dozen other cities. I don’t recall ever getting frustrated navigating around any of them.

[Uffda]

And for the record- Village Pointe is no cupcake to navigate through either. In many ways, it’s more inconvenient getting around there than Oakview Mall and Surrounding Mousetrap…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Well I would have to disagree with you about Village pointe and I speak from have worked out there part time for 11 yrs before I moved. Now if you are one that is going to drive the ‘main street’ looking for a parking spot - good luck.

Most of the time, I would take 168th to Burke turn in first entrance and follow the street until I could turn in the parking lot just west of Scheels. When I left, I would take the frontage street - Chicago St - west to 180th turn right and then on to Dodge Expressway.

I feel part of the problem people have with mall parking lots is they want to park close and not have to walk. Just like you will see 10+ cars in a drive thru at a fast food restaurant, most would rather sit and wait than park, walk in, order and walk out and drive away.

[ad2330]

There are some rumblings of a national indoor Karting user for the AMC.

Lots of other ‘entertainment’ users haven’t been successful, I’d be curious to see how this does.

Thoughts?

It was mentioned on Grow Omaha back in April that DMSi Software was going to move their offices into the old AMC. Has that plan been scuttled??

I haven’t heard or seen anything yes or no for this. There’s no mention of the move on the DMSi web page or any other mention of the move just from the cursory search I made..

I guess we’ll have to wait and see- I might drive over to the property and see if there is any visual intel…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

DMSi move is dead.

[Garrett]

There are some rumblings of a national indoor Karting user for the AMC.

Lots of other ‘entertainment’ users haven’t been successful, I’d be curious to see how this does.

Thoughts?

It was mentioned on Grow Omaha back in April that DMSi Software was going to move their offices into the old AMC. Has that plan been scuttled??

I haven’t heard or seen anything yes or no for this. There’s no mention of the move on the DMSi web page or any other mention of the move just from the cursory search I made..

I guess we’ll have to wait and see- I might drive over to the property and see if there is any visual intel…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

DMSi move is dead.

Interesting that you say this on the same day you mention the new potential tower downtown.

[damonhynes]

If some of you have such a difficult time driving around a mall, maybe you’re not fit to have a drivers license. I have navigated around all the shopping centers in Omaha and malls in at least a couple dozen other cities. I don’t recall ever getting frustrated navigating around any of them.

I didn't say it was difficult, but that it's aggravating. I'm still young enough to have my head on a swivel, and you need it at Village/Shadow. Their parking lots beg for people to cut across lanes looking for an exit.

[Garrett]

Take this with a big ole grain of salt but according to a random commenter in this reddit thread

"The manager of Longhorn at oakview told our table a few weeks back that there are plans in place to tear down most of the mall, leaving 1 unnamed anchor store in place. Then they'll convert the area into an outdoor mall a la shadow lake or village pointe"

https://www.reddit.com/r/Omaha/comments ... view_mall/

[Omaha Cowboy]

Take this with a big ole grain of salt but according to a random commenter in this reddit thread

"The manager of Longhorn at oakview told our table a few weeks back that there are plans in place to tear down most of the mall, leaving 1 unnamed anchor store in place. Then they'll convert the area into an outdoor mall a la shadow lake or village pointe"

https://www.reddit.com/r/Omaha/comments ... view_mall/

Yeah, grain of salt indeed. I read that one the other day, rolled my eyes and moved on…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Busguy2010]

I'll place my bets on sitting and rotting for years to be turned into a southroads type or torn down for something like the Sterling neighborhood in Denver. Sounds much more plausible.

[Csmac]

Looks like Oakview is getting a few new restaurants on Friday! One looks really good! Italian plates/restaurant! Shows them all on the Facebook page and Oakviews website.

[Csmac]

Kanteen Alley! Will include the brownie bar getting another location. Looks like it’s a revamp of the food court. Italian place looks like a fine dining type of food. I’ll put the link of the new food court/food hall in the link. It’s small progress but progress nonetheless. Happy to see. I would like to see the former sears turned into an entertainment building kinda like Round One at Lincoln’s mall.

[Csmac]

https://m.facebook.com/canteenalley/?ts ... rce=result

[Busguy2010]

So is that like a food hall?

[Csmac]

Yes essentially! Half the food court will be the food hall. Don’t know if anyone has heard of brownie bar from the old marker and now just part of rockbrook. Will be a apart of the new food hall!

[skinzfan23]

We went to Oakview last Christmas and I was sitting there thinking that they should do something like this. Obviously, it isn't really a place for retail much longer, so it would be nice to use the space make it a place with experiences. There could be an axe-throwing place, bowling alley, sports bar and many other concepts that would work well and attract people to the large climate-controlled space.

[Csmac]

Haven’t been inside yet but drove by and could see those fancy outdoor patio bulb lights on one side of the food court guess now food hall. Looks like it will be nice. I’m tempted to go inside for the first time in years to brownie bar lol

[Omaha Cowboy]

It’s good to see at least some positive food option additions to the Mall area…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Csmac]

Prima Bella looks really nice! The Brownie Bar is a win for the food hall/food court at Oakview. Is a big hit in the Old Market!

[skinzfan23]

New movie theater to open in former AMC location at Omaha's Oak View Mall

B&B Theatres, a movie theater chain, announced Tuesday that it will expand into Nebraska by opening a 24-screen theater in the former AMC Oakview Plaza 24 building.

The AMC theater, near 144th Street and West Center Road, closed in November 2020.

B&B Theatres said the new theater will have luxury electric recliners and laser projectors in every auditorium. The theater also will have a bar that will serve drinks and hot food.

[S.O.Boy]

New movie theater to open in former AMC location at Omaha's Oak View Mall

B&B Theatres, a movie theater chain, announced Tuesday that it will expand into Nebraska by opening a 24-screen theater in the former AMC Oakview Plaza 24 building.

The AMC theater, near 144th Street and West Center Road, closed in November 2020.

B&B Theatres said the new theater will have luxury electric recliners and laser projectors in every auditorium. The theater also will have a bar that will serve drinks and hot food.

That is good news.

[Omaha Cowboy]

This is OUTSTANDING news for the Oakview Mousetrap..

A major win …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Greg S]

They are a great addition to the market.

[TransitOriented]

Movie theater exterior is looking good.

Anyone know what's being built in front of the old Shopko?

[djc311]

Movie theater exterior is looking good.

Anyone know what's being built in front of the old Shopko?

I do not know - however I noticed the construction as well... also found it interesting that the property is being developed by Bellino who operates the largest fireworks resell business in the Midwest. Didn't realize blowing stuff up and building new stuff go hand in hand!

[Greg S]

Movie theater exterior is looking good.

Anyone know what's being built in front of the old Shopko?

Yeah I am impressed with what's going on for the exterior of the movie theater. They are even doing a ton of work on the landscaping on the side and behind it. Makes me feel good that work on the inside will be thorough.

B and B took over the downtown KC location of Alamo (it's in the Power and Light area) fixed it up and is now drawing crowds again.


Greg

[ita]

Movie theater exterior is looking good.

Anyone know what's being built in front of the old Shopko?

I do not know - however I noticed the construction as well... also found it interesting that the property is being developed by Bellino who operates the largest fireworks resell business in the Midwest. Didn't realize blowing stuff up and building new stuff go hand in hand!

Maybe we'll be getting a Bellino storefront on 144th and Center. Awesome. Really though, Bellino owns and develops a lot of real estate. One of their larger projects is Lux 96 in Papillion.