California Pizza Kitchen coming to Omaha

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:20 pm

Back on topic now, here's the progress.

Coming along nicely. Finishing exterior work and last minute touch-ups in the interior. Could be done mid to late April, just guestimate though.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:10 am

Nice pictures adam! Thanks for sharing them.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:43 pm

Awwwwwwww Adam is joining the picture club, how cute!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:55 pm

Yes, Thanks for sharing your photos Adam.
The more photographers we have posting here the better the forum becomes!

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:05 pm

Speaking of photographing I may join the party. I saw a badass 8 megapixle camera at BB that had a touch screen on the back. It may be mine soon.

scraper · Post by **scraper** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:29 pm

Is it just me, or is this restaurant taking a REALLY long time to construct?

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:52 pm

Look at the big guy on the lift talking on his cell phone. Slackers.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:34 am

Nah, he's using his electric razor to trim up his goatee.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:19 pm

4/6/2006

Post by **Brad** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:03 pm

Other Ona Pacific Place Photos

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:09 pm

Wow, a lot has happened on CPK since I was there. Nice shots Brad.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:34 pm

Ah nice... a fireplace.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:02 pm

^Almost looks like VP's.

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:36 am

Is CPK open?

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:41 am

Kinda funny how OPP could resemble VP, huh. I guess since Red Development has their hands in both projects they bring along their typical accents?

D

Post by **Brad** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:45 pm

jsheets wrote:Is CPK open?

not yet

There was a now hiring sign and an open spring 2006 sign.

lpgforms · Post by **lpgforms** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:45 pm

Drove by the California Pizza Kitchen today around 11:15 and saw a bunch of office worker types hanging out in front, looking like they were waiting for something to happen. I was thinking that maybe they opened their doors -

However the CPK website says that they are opening on May 2. So maybe this is a soft opening?

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:49 pm

Maybe Wolfgang Puck was training the employees how to do things.

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:21 pm

Are all of the Garden Cafe's gone?

lpgforms · Post by **lpgforms** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:47 pm

There is a Garden Cafe in the Days Inn in Bellevue, and I think one other in Bellevue. But it isn't the same Garden Cafe that it used to be. They have gone through several owners in the last ten years....

lpgforms · Post by **lpgforms** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:48 pm

I meant to say that there is another one in Millard.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:22 pm

The one in Millard closed years ago and it's housed several other tenants since.

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:39 am

Ingersoll1978 wrote:Are all of the Garden Cafe's gone?

I'm pretty sure that the one in Rockbrook is still open, along with the one in Bellevue.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:45 am

The Rockbrook location is still open..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:32 pm

Didn't the original owners of the Garden Cafe get out about 8-10 years ago. It has never been the same since. There was one even in Cedar Rapids IA for about 1 1/2 years and it did a good business. Kind of funny to order a HUSKER potato casorole in the heart of hawkeye country. They closed after the original owners that started the place got out if I remember right.

On another note, didn't the original ownership open the new resturent a few years ago called Sumer Kitchen Cafe? the menue and feel is like the old Garden cafe. There are 4 or so locations around town.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:36 pm

nebugeater wrote:Didn't the original owners of the Garden Cafe get out about 8-10 years ago.

On another note, didn't the original ownership open the new resturent a few years ago called Sumer Kitchen Cafe? the menue and feel is like the old Garden cafe. There are 4 or so locations around town.

I believe you are correct on both accounts nebugeater..But I'm a little fuzzy on the details and history..

Perhaps someone else can provide more specific feedback

..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:20 am

From today's W-H:

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46&u_sid=2157754

From the piece:

'Flax and Rosenfield said Omaha was selected as the first location in Nebraska because of its strong demographics.

Rosenfield said he visited Omaha several years ago when Village Pointe was being developed. Upon seeing space at One Pacific Place, Rosenfield said, he recalls saying, "That's the spot where I would like to be."

According to 2004 data complied by CB Richard Ellis/MEGA, owner of One Pacific Place, the median age of the mall's customers living within one mile was 35. The annual average household income was $119,000.

Doug Hanna is regional director for California Pizza Kitchen. His region includes four restaurants in Dallas and the new Omaha location. Hanna said the company still is hiring for about 130 positions.'..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:24 am

Thanks Lou, but how could you leave this part out:

And more California Pizza Kitchens could be coming to Omaha.

"We don't open a restaurant without the thought of doing at least three in the area," Flax said.

lonnie · Post by **lonnie** » Tue May 02, 2006 7:14 pm

My wife and I ate at CPK on opening day today. At about 1:30pm it was packed and they had enough people to make it run as smoothly as you could expect. Service was like they were properly trained, imagine that.

The food was fantastic, just as we had remembered.

We over-heard tidbits, that they are looking at Des Moines, Lincoln and Omaha for future locations.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060502/20060502006481.html?.v=1

Lonnie

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Tue May 02, 2006 7:21 pm

Them looking for new locations in Omaha doesn't suprise me. As I quoted earlier from an article:

adam186 wrote:"We don't open a restaurant without the thought of doing at least three in the area," Flax said

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:56 pm

Love to see one in North Downtown or along 16th street.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat May 20, 2006 9:37 am

I took the family to CPK yesterday. You know what... I thought it was good, but not so great that I would have been anxiously waiting for it to come to Omaha. I may try it again with my wife and I, but for the price... I'll probably take the family somewhere else next time. Maybe we tried the wrong stuff... we started with their version of spinach-artichoke (about like most others we have), house salad (it was good), then ordered Garlic Chicken pizza, a neopolitan variety, and hawaiian (pineapple/canadian bacon) pizza... we got a simple pepperoni for my youngest son. We all mixed and matched... I thought the neopolitan was the best with Italian sausage, mushrooms, and caramelized oinions, Mozz/parm cheeses... but not so great that I'm chomping at the bit to get back.

Maybe I should have tried their 'signature' BBQ chicken pizza.

I hate to make the analogy, but it sort of reminds me of PF Changs. Where PF Changs provides average oriental food in an upscale (and more pricey) setting, CPK seems to provide for the pizza theme.

I'll try it again though. It was definitely a 'trendy' looking place.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:03 pm

I was going to go there w/ a buddy a week ago but it was packed with a huge line out the door so we went elsewhere. I ate it in Chicago during one of my visits and thought it was amazing.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:34 am

I ate at CPK on Memorial Day Monday and I thought the food was very good..I sampled the BBQ Chicken pizza which was amazingly good..

I also had the jambalaya and it was almost as good..

The topper though, was their keylime pie and carmel cheesecake..I'll tell you what, I'm not usually a dessert guy. but I'd come back for either of these alone..

I'll stop short of saying it was great..But the food (and service) was very good..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:34 pm

Did I miss an opening. Besides the location at One Pacific where is the second?

Business Wire wrote:In the second quarter of 2006, the Company added two new full service restaurants in Omaha, Nebraska and Queens, New York, as well as one CPK/ASAP in Culver City, California. The Company's franchise partner, Golden Pillars, also opened a new full service restaurant in Hong Kong, China.

California Pizza Kitchen Reports

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:41 pm

I think it meant..

2 full service restaurants, Omaha and Quenns NY..As in 1 new restaurant for each city..

It could have been worded a bit better..In any case, there is the just 1 new Omaha CPK at One Pacific Place..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:53 pm

My bad. Thanks Lou. That is what they meant to write.
With all the talk about how they like to open multiple stores in each market - I thought I missed one.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:59 pm

You're welcome Coyote..And who knows. Maybe we will see in additional CPK location pop up in the future..From what I've heard, their restaurant at One Pacific Place continues to be a big hit..And having ate there once, it shows!..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Post by **Brad** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:21 pm

California Pizza Kitchen is WILD About Omaha's Zoo!

www.omahazoo.com wrote:Support Omaha's Zoo every Monday in April in a flavorsome way at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK). Print out this flyer, bring it to CPK on April 6, 13, 20 or 27 and present it to your server when ordering. Whether you visit for lunch or dinner, 20% of your check will directly benefit Omaha's Zoo.

Come out and enjoy something delicious from the CPK menu. Your taste buds will thank you and so will we!

http://www.omahazoo.com/images/zoo/calpizzafund.pdf

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:50 pm

I thought you were going to say it was going to close. I about had a heart attack. This is significantly better news!