Westgate Plaza (Mangelsen's - NEC 84th & Grover)

[omaha79]

Agreed, this seems like a big win for the plaza. Cake Shop gets a shiny new store (it's currently pretty dirty and rundown, which the owner lady explains) and Ace Hardware, assumedly, get's a bigger spot with better parking. Cake lady should be hyping up the move. "We're going to have the newest and best cake shop in Omaha and we will be able to make more cakes than ever"

Indeed! I’m sure that their regular customers will be excited to see their shiny new digs. And they will probably garner lots of new customers in West Omaha with their move.

They were basically in a stalemate with the strip mall. From her own explanation, they weren't putting money into the building because they thought they'd lose their spot anyway. So, it's been looking worse and worse. It sounds like they were in a toxic relationship with their landlord and the only thing keeping them there was the lack of liquid capital to fund the move. Supposedly, the landlord was making promises to help their moving costs, finding them another spot in the mall, or building them a spot in the parking lot, but kept backing off on that. Why stay in a relationship with a landlord that values you so little, unless you truly just don't have the funds to move?

[nebugeater]

Agreed, this seems like a big win for the plaza. Cake Shop gets a shiny new store (it's currently pretty dirty and rundown, which the owner lady explains) and Ace Hardware, assumedly, get's a bigger spot with better parking. Cake lady should be hyping up the move. "We're going to have the newest and best cake shop in Omaha and we will be able to make more cakes than ever"

Indeed! I’m sure that their regular customers will be excited to see their shiny new digs. And they will probably garner lots of new customers in West Omaha with their move.

They were basically in a stalemate with the strip mall. From her own explanation, they weren't putting money into the building because they thought they'd lose their spot anyway. So, it's been looking worse and worse. It sounds like they were in a toxic relationship with their landlord and the only thing keeping them there was the lack of liquid capital to fund the move. Supposedly, the landlord was making promises to help their moving costs, finding them another spot in the mall, or building them a spot in the parking lot, but kept backing off on that. Why stay in a relationship with a landlord that values you so little, unless you truly just don't have the funds to move?

That may all be true but the current situation is with new ownership unless I am mistaken.

[FishFighter92]

I still think a savvy business owner would be promoting the new improvements instead of wasting time talking about the details of their landlord/tenant relationship. It's a bit unpleasant to me.

[NEDodger]

I still think a savvy business owner would be promoting the new improvements instead of wasting time talking about the details of their landlord/tenant relationship. It's a bit unpleasant to me.

Agreed. The public doesn’t need to know about personal business relationships. If they’re having to move, they’re having to move. The Ace Hardware that will take the spot will indicate the real reason anyways. This just feels like dragging personal baggage around.

[FishFighter92]

Well, the Omaha Reddit has an interesting post about the situation.

[Louie]

Well, the Omaha Reddit has an interesting post about the situation.

Link?

[FishFighter92]

Well, the Omaha Reddit has an interesting post about the situation.

Link?

[nativeomahan]

That’s just too bizarre.

[ChadJK]

Well, the Omaha Reddit has an interesting post about the situation.

Link?

I completely concur with the OFL trash talk in that reddit post. Those people are out of control.

[omaha79]

sounds like the owner of cake gallery needs some help. there may be some deeper systemic issues going on here.

[ChadJK]

sounds like the owner of cake gallery needs some help. there may be some deeper systemic issues going on here.

Look at the different approaches that Cake Gallery and Tom Kelley's Bowling Pro Shop are taking on social media. Cake Gallery is playing the victim and raging about some perceived David-vs-Goliath situation. Tom Kelley's is keeping it positive and looking forward to a new chapter in Bel Air Plaza.

[ChadJK]

Cake Gallery's last day in Westgate Plaza was May 25, 2024.

[Brad]

Cake Gallery's last day in Westgate Plaza was May 25, 2024.

Also a jobsite trailer in the parking lot now. I assume its for the Starbucks.

[GenX]

Hopefully they build a whole new structure. I used to DJ at Bourbon St/Club Amnesia, and you’d be surprised just how dumpy the place was and how low the ceilings were.

[Toto]

Hopefully they build a whole new structure. I used to DJ at Bourbon St/Club Amnesia, and you’d be surprised just how dumpy the place was and how low the ceilings were.

Have your ever been inside an Ace Hardware here in Omaha? Something tells me it will be a minimal remodel of the existing building.

[ChadJK]

Have your ever been inside an Ace Hardware here in Omaha? Something tells me it will be a minimal remodel of the existing building.

The Westlake Ace Hardware in Bellevue used to be one of the scariest. If you needed to use the restroom you had to go in the back to the employee restroom which was a tiny closet on a bare concrete floor with the world's smallest toilet. It was seriously like something out of a horror movie. I can't say it was dirty and disgusting, but it was definitely rundown (rust, cracks, etc.). What little money they spent opening that place went into the customer-facing areas of the retail space and the hidden areas were rustic as f*ck. It may still be that way. I haven't been there in many years.

[SpecificPacific]

Cake Gallery's last day in Westgate Plaza was May 25, 2024.

Also a jobsite trailer in the parking lot now. I assume its for the Starbucks.

Is there a Starbucks coming in the area? I hadn't seen anything regarding that

[Brad]

Cake Gallery's last day in Westgate Plaza was May 25, 2024.

Also a jobsite trailer in the parking lot now. I assume its for the Starbucks.

Is there a Starbucks coming in the area? I hadn't seen anything regarding that

I posted this Building Permit info back in March:
Parcel ID (PIN) - 2507750973
Building Permit: BLD-23-13264
Starbucks Coffee #78330

[nativeomahan]

There is heavy construction equipment parked toward the north side of the Mangelsen’s strip mall parking lot.

The longtime fruit and vegetable market opened a week or so ago further south in the same parking lot.

And I noted on the Cake Gallery’s web site that the business was forced to close (their words not mine) after being tossed out on the street by their evil landlord, and now the best they can hope for is to find some way to open down the street in Bel Aire Plaza before Christmas. If only they had been given more than about 9 months notice that they would need to relocate they could have lived happily forever.
(When the nearby le Quartier bakery and restaurant relocated a year or so ago I think they were closed all of one or two days.)

[GenX]

There is heavy construction equipment parked toward the north side of the Mangelsen’s strip mall parking lot.

The longtime fruit and vegetable market opened a week or so ago further south in the same parking lot.

And I noted on the Cake Gallery’s web site that the business was forced to close (their words not mine) after being tossed out on the street by their evil landlord, and now the best they can hope for is to find some way to open down the street in Bel Aire Plaza before Christmas. If only they had been given more than about 9 months notice that they would need to relocate they could have lived happily forever.
(When the nearby le Quartier bakery and restaurant relocated a year or so ago I think they were closed all of one or two days.)

Two big yellow bulldozers. One is a road roller with spiked teeth and the other has a huge blade on the front. Could just be there to rip up the parking lot, but they could also be used on the building.

[Cermak]

There is heavy construction equipment parked toward the north side of the Mangelsen’s strip mall parking lot.

The longtime fruit and vegetable market opened a week or so ago further south in the same parking lot.

And I noted on the Cake Gallery’s web site that the business was forced to close (their words not mine) after being tossed out on the street by their evil landlord, and now the best they can hope for is to find some way to open down the street in Bel Aire Plaza before Christmas. If only they had been given more than about 9 months notice that they would need to relocate they could have lived happily forever.
(When the nearby le Quartier bakery and restaurant relocated a year or so ago I think they were closed all of one or two days.)

Two big yellow bulldozers. One is a road roller with spiked teeth and the other has a huge blade on the front. Could just be there to rip up the parking lot, but they could also be used on the building.

Saw them as well, as an occasional shopper of Westlake Ace Hardware looking forward to how this project moves along.

[labguy]

They torn out a bunch of the parking lot right on the corner of 84th and Hascall. I assume that's where the Starbucks will go.

[S.O.Boy]

There is heavy construction equipment parked toward the north side of the Mangelsen’s strip mall parking lot.

The longtime fruit and vegetable market opened a week or so ago further south in the same parking lot.

And I noted on the Cake Gallery’s web site that the business was forced to close (their words not mine) after being tossed out on the street by their evil landlord, and now the best they can hope for is to find some way to open down the street in Bel Aire Plaza before Christmas. If only they had been given more than about 9 months notice that they would need to relocate they could have lived happily forever.
(When the nearby le Quartier bakery and restaurant relocated a year or so ago I think they were closed all of one or two days.)

Two big yellow bulldozers. One is a road roller with spiked teeth and the other has a huge blade on the front. Could just be there to rip up the parking lot, but they could also be used on the building.

They are gutting the building, for now.

[nativeomahan]

The walls are going up for the new Starbucks at 84th and Hascall. I note that they have raised the foundation elevation for the building by about 3 feet over the surrounding parking lot. That matches what all the newer buildings in that stretch of road have done when they were constructed. The construction site is fenced off all the way to the west wall of the north side of the strip center. There are huge dumpsters lining the west side of that abandoned portion of the old strip center. I guess I’m speculating that the empty building may be torn down before the new Westlake building is built. Westlake may be wanting their building elevated to match all the other newer properties. Anyone know if this is the plan?

[Brad]

I note that they have raised the foundation elevation for the building by about 3 feet over the surrounding parking lot. That matches what all the newer buildings in that stretch of road have done when they were constructed.

Close. Old Parking lot was Elevation 1018.5. Base Flood Elevation is 1022.00, so the new building should have a finished floor of 1023.00, so it will be about 4.5' higher.

I guess I’m speculating that the empty building may be torn down before the new Westlake building is built. Westlake may be wanting their building elevated to match all the other newer properties. Anyone know if this is the plan?

Not sure, the Building permit says "Westlake Ace Hardware - Original Description: Interior and exterior demolition and remodel of existing strip mall space for a new Ace Hardware location." I wonder if they are demolishing part of the front where Tom Kelly's was so its straight across with out the 90 degree corner? They have the interior gutted, and I don't think they would do that if they were leveling the whole building.

Starbucks Photo Update:

881A2986.jpg

[iamjacobm]

Looks like a permanent garden center for Ace.

https://planning.cityofomaha.org/images ... ber/23.pdf

[nebugeater]

Looks like a permanent garden center for Ace.

https://planning.cityofomaha.org/images ... ber/23.pdf

NOTHING is permanent!

[Brad]

It’s good to see that property getting spruced up. Is also great to finally see the driveway on the south side of the Farmhouse reconnected to the neighborhood. It’s had Jersey barriers, blocking it off for at least a decade if not two..

[Brad]

Ace is opening late July.

Photo Update:
1.

IMG_5073.jpg

2.

IMG_5072.jpg

[nativeomahan]

July 21

[nebugeater]

Driving by Westgate Plaza last night, and a random thought occurred. Is this the second or third year without the haunted house in front of Mangelsen's?

[labguy]

Driving by Westgate Plaza last night, and a random thought occurred. Is this the second or third year without the haunted house in front of Mangelsen's?

2023 was the last year.

[Brad]

Nice new sign installed. Looks like a throwback to their old sign.

1.

20251116IMG_6633.jpg

[nativeomahan]

It looks nice, and yes, it has a bit of that 1950s style, back when tail fins were in vogue on automobiles.

[ChadJK]

I saw it being discussed on Reddit and so took a look at Mangelsen's website. They've really pulled back on their hours. They're only open 10-6 Mon-Sat and 10-5 Sun.

[Brad]

I saw it being discussed on Reddit and so took a look at Mangelsen's website. They've really pulled back on their hours. They're only open 10-6 Mon-Sat and 10-5 Sun.

I have no clue what the Sunday hours were or when they changed, but the 10-6 has been in place for quite a while now.

EDIT: Hours have been this way for at least 4 years now...

Screenshot 2025-12-11 091519.jpg

.

[ChadJK]

I saw it being discussed on Reddit and so took a look at Mangelsen's website. They've really pulled back on their hours. They're only open 10-6 Mon-Sat and 10-5 Sun.

EDIT: Hours have been this way for at least 4 years now...

That shows how often I shop Mangelsen's in the evening. Honestly, I rarely go there at all as it's just too out of the way and I'd have to drive past a Michael's and Hobby Lobby just to get there.

These feel like "we're about to retire" hours.

[Brad]

These feel like "we're about to retire" hours.

Maybe the dad (David) but his kids all work there.

[ChadJK]

These feel like "we're about to retire" hours.

Maybe the dad (David) but his kids all work there.

How many ways can you split the profits of Mangelsen's before it can no longer be any descendant's primary source of income?