Gretna Goodlife District

[Doctor Fate]

I like the idea - actually, LOVE the idea. Would LOVE to see IKEA, the "luxury" brands that the linked article call out, etc. But like everyone is saying it's like half-assed.

The designer brands would be a big get for this area. There are no standalone designer stores anywhere near Omaha. The closest is St. Louis in the Plaza Frontenac Mall (though Minneapolis has a few designer locations inside Nordstrom with limited offerings). The average standalone designer store is about 6,000 sq ft, so 150,000 sq ft is large enough for 25 designer brands and that seems highly unlikely. Though, that is about the size of the average Nordstrom. I know several people in Lincoln/Omaha who plan trips to bigger markets simply to shop for designer goods and high end items, and then stay longer to do other things and make it a vacation. This could also be a draw for attracting more youth tournaments or other high end retailers that Johanna Boston has told me they were pursuing (she specifically mentioned CB2, Crate & Barrel, West Elm).

[TitosBuritoBarn]

“We have great people in Nebraska but not great things,” said Gretna Mayor Mike Evans. “Maybe we can merge the two here.”

Oh |expletive| off Mike

What do you mean? The first thing I like to do when I'm in Paris or Barcelona or New York, is find where the nearest youth sports facilities are and take in a rousing game of baseball played by travel-team 12-year-olds.

[nebport5]

“We have great people in Nebraska but not great things,” said Gretna Mayor Mike Evans. “Maybe we can merge the two here.”

Oh |expletive| off Mike

What do you mean? The first thing I like to do when I'm in Paris or Barcelona or New York, is find where the nearest youth sports facilities are and take in a rousing game of baseball played by travel-team 12-year-olds.

LOL. That reminds me of Norm Macdonald's Star Search joke about junior dancers(hidden track joke off his comedy CD). Pure comedy gold.

[ricko]

I work about a half-mile from a high end mall-----Tyson's Galleria (not to be confused with Tyson's Corner Center Mall across the street). I almost never go there for obvious reasons, but they have a killer local Lebanese restaurant that I like to visit a few times a year. The anchor stores are Saks and Neiman Marcus, and they have a slew of designer stores. The place is always a ghost town when I'm there, but they make their money from private shopping----mostly wives of Middle-Eastern/Chinese/Russian gazillionaires who'll drop 6 figures per visit. I've rarely met a local who goes there. That being said, I don't see Nebraska soccer moms lining up to buy $2K purses and overpriced tchotchke's from Gucci, which was kind of a thing in the 80's anyway. I do like Crate and Barrel, and have bought stuff from them, but I think that would work better at the Westroads. I picked up a planter from West Elm years ago, but I thought it was a strange store with an odd collection of stuff. Sorta' like a luxury garage/yard sale.

[Doctor Fate]

I work about a half-mile from a high end mall-----Tyson's Galleria (not to be confused with Tyson's Corner Center Mall across the street). I almost never go there for obvious reasons, but they have a killer local Lebanese restaurant that I like to visit a few times a year. The anchor stores are Saks and Neiman Marcus, and they have a slew of designer stores. The place is always a ghost town when I'm there, but they make their money from private shopping----mostly wives of Middle-Eastern/Chinese/Russian gazillionaires who'll drop 6 figures per visit. I've rarely met a local who goes there. That being said, I don't see Nebraska soccer moms lining up to buy $2K purses and overpriced tchotchke's from Gucci, which was kind of a thing in the 80's anyway. I do like Crate and Barrel, and have bought stuff from them, but I think that would work better at the Westroads. I picked up a planter from West Elm years ago, but I thought it was a strange store with an odd collection of stuff. Sorta' like a luxury garage/yard sale.

I was there a couple weeks ago. Saks was completely dead, but there was a decent amount of people at Tysons Two. Obviously, nowhere close to Tyson's Corner. But in other places that are more walkable than Tysons (the area, not just the malls), there are a lot of people in those stores and usually lines to get in since one salesperson stays with you the entire time you're in there. A lot of these stores serve as showrooms, which is why they are so small and inventory is limited. Private shopping is definitely where they get most of their money, but I know plenty of middle-class and lower middle-class women and men (in Nebraska) who have several designer pieces and buy them in store. When I am out walking, I see designer pieces all the time on people of all demographics (some are probably fake, but most aren't).

[Coyote]

New bill could give voters more say in certain development projects



GRETNA, Neb. — As Nebraska Crossing looks to expand, a new bill in the unicameral could give voters more say in that plan. Gretna residents could vote on whether sales tax from the mall could be used to finance the expansion project. The mayor of Gretna said it could be a game changer for both locals and tourists. The sales tax would be put into a bond that voters would also have to approve.

[Dusty]

And you wonder why people call Nebraska boring? Copy other cities by building chain retail stores and calling that a HUGE attraction. Like others said, watching youth sports is not what I call entertainment. I work with a guy who had to travel with his sons baseball league. He said all the parents were miserable and just wanted to drink. Going to the games were not fun, but more of a burden.

Can we get some original ideas to draw tourists here? I guess not.

[legato9]

And you wonder why people call Nebraska boring? Copy other cities by building chain retail stores and calling that a HUGE attraction. Like others said, watching youth sports is not what I call entertainment. I work with a guy who had to travel with his sons baseball league. He said all the parents were miserable and just wanted to drink. Going to the games were not fun, but more of a burden.

Can we get some original ideas to draw tourists here? I guess not.

(Trying to say this with as much neutrality as possible)

Nebraska has a culture. Certain things that some people (you and I, I suspect) would prefer are not part of that culture and likely will never be.

Other people prefer the parts of Nebraska culture that it does have.

[OmahaOmaha]

And you wonder why people call Nebraska boring? Copy other cities by building chain retail stores and calling that a HUGE attraction. Like others said, watching youth sports is not what I call entertainment. I work with a guy who had to travel with his sons baseball league. He said all the parents were miserable and just wanted to drink. Going to the games were not fun, but more of a burden.

Can we get some original ideas to draw tourists here? I guess not.

Covered wagons or hay racks pulled by buffalo used for mass transit connecting Omaha, Big Lake, and Lincoln.

An adult only, clothing optional, outdoor trampoline park.

A gym where you don’t pump iron. You lift pounds of beef or bushels of corn instead.

A hotel that is also the world’s largest ear of corn.

A combine demolition derby.

An indoor wave pool where people swim in Nebraska creamed corn.

A furniture store that sells ultra modem, pre-assembled furniture made from sawdust made from recycled wood.

An amusement park for dogs.

[ozbone69]

And you wonder why people call Nebraska boring? Copy other cities by building chain retail stores and calling that a HUGE attraction. Like others said, watching youth sports is not what I call entertainment. I work with a guy who had to travel with his sons baseball league. He said all the parents were miserable and just wanted to drink. Going to the games were not fun, but more of a burden.

Can we get some original ideas to draw tourists here? I guess not.

Covered wagons or hay racks pulled by buffalo used for mass transit connecting Omaha, Big Lake, and Lincoln.

An adult only, clothing optional, outdoor trampoline park.

A gym where you don’t pump iron. You lift pounds of beef or bushels of corn instead.

A hotel that is also the world’s largest ear of corn.

A combine demolition derby.

An indoor wave pool where people swim in Nebraska creamed corn.

A furniture store that sells ultra modem, pre-assembled furniture made from sawdust made from recycled wood.

An amusement park for dogs.

I'm still a fan of the 700 foot tall tornado building. #VortexForever

[HughJ]

The owner of Nebraska Crossing is currently in lawsuits with 2 area restaurants and Lanoha for non payment of invoices greater than 500k

[GenX]

The owner of Nebraska Crossing is currently in lawsuits with 2 area restaurants and Lanoha for non payment of invoices greater than 500k

Safe to assume it’s likely the last two restaurants have closed at his properties?

[almighty_tuna]

Yeesh, Hugh has an axe to grind with a forum entrance like that.

[Brad]

Yeesh, Hugh has an axe to grind with a forum entrance like that.

According to his IP address, HughJ shares and axe with onelocalfoods.

[almighty_tuna]

Whaaaaat? So you're saying onelocalfoods created a new burner to trash on NEX?

[Coyote]

HughJ is the one and only onelocalfoods?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Whaaaaat? So you're saying onelocalfoods created a new burner to trash on NEX?

Very interesting…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[OmahaOmaha]

Primark store coming late 25/early 26. New construction. 40,000 sq ft.

[djc311]

Primark store coming late 25/early 26. New construction. 40,000 sq ft.

Dumb... more clothes for girls.

Where's the damn LEGO store at? Thanks a lot, Rod Yates.

[almighty_tuna]

For those like myself, unfamiliar with Primark, the internet describes them as, "Discount fashion chain offering clothes and accessories for all ages, plus homewares."

[Garrett]

For those like myself, unfamiliar with Primark, the internet describes them as, "Discount fashion chain offering clothes and accessories for all ages, plus homewares."

British H&M, basically. A nice get

[Louie]

For those like myself, unfamiliar with Primark, the internet describes them as, "Discount fashion chain offering clothes and accessories for all ages, plus homewares."

British H&M, basically. A nice get

*Irish

[ita]

REI was 25k, so I imagine this store will be a two story? Anyway, I am sure that will be a popular store.

[ita]

For those like myself, unfamiliar with Primark, the internet describes them as, "Discount fashion chain offering clothes and accessories for all ages, plus homewares."

British H&M, basically. A nice get

Pretty exclusive in the US. Closest location is Chicago; all other locations, except for one in Orlando, are in the northeast.

[skip]

Primark is the best. Been to one in South-end-on-sea (England) and it was very affordable and fashionable clothes.

[nativeomahan]

The owner of Nebraska Crossing is currently in lawsuits with 2 area restaurants and Lanoha for non payment of invoices greater than 500k

Safe to assume it’s likely the last two restaurants have closed at his properties?

We were at NEX yesterday and the only restaurant that appeared closed was the B&G place, which was padlocked shut down.

[djc311]

The owner of Nebraska Crossing is currently in lawsuits with 2 area restaurants and Lanoha for non payment of invoices greater than 500k

Safe to assume it’s likely the last two restaurants have closed at his properties?

We were at NEX yesterday and the only restaurant that appeared closed was the B&G place, which was padlocked shut down.

I'm guessing Rod Yates and the owner of B&G's were out for drinks somewhere...

[OmahaRedWing]

They were talking about the Good Life Bills yesterday in the legislature on 1620 this morning. The one for 192nd and Dodge sounds like basketball is going to be a part of this big development.

It sounds like the NHL rumor has some traction in the area. Sounds like Gary Sharp might have spoken to whoever has been in contact with the NHL from Omaha. Still sounds like a long shot by sounds like the arena for the team could be a part of the Gretna development.

You guys might want to listen to the radio replay of this if you didn't listen live. Should be one of the early segments. It was between 7:15 and 7:30.

[nebugeater]

They were talking about the Good Life Bills yesterday in the legislature on 1620 this morning. The one for 192nd and Dodge sounds like basketball is going to be a part of this big development.

It sounds like the NHL rumor has some traction in the area. Sounds like Gary Sharp might have spoken to whoever has been in contact with the NHL from Omaha. Still sounds like a long shot by sounds like the arena for the team could be a part of the Gretna development.

You guys might want to listen to the radio replay of this if you didn't listen live. Should be one of the early segments. It was between 7:15 and 7:30.

If, on the 0.0001 % chance, there is an NHL team with a Gretna address, I think my head will explode.

[NEDodger]

They were talking about the Good Life Bills yesterday in the legislature on 1620 this morning. The one for 192nd and Dodge sounds like basketball is going to be a part of this big development.

It sounds like the NHL rumor has some traction in the area. Sounds like Gary Sharp might have spoken to whoever has been in contact with the NHL from Omaha. Still sounds like a long shot by sounds like the arena for the team could be a part of the Gretna development.

You guys might want to listen to the radio replay of this if you didn't listen live. Should be one of the early segments. It was between 7:15 and 7:30.

If, on the 0.0001 % chance, there is an NHL team with a Gretna address, I think my head will explode.

Bizarre, but I get it in the sense of drawing tickets from Lincoln. With something like this, every last person in a radius around the arena counts.

[djc311]

They were talking about the Good Life Bills yesterday in the legislature on 1620 this morning. The one for 192nd and Dodge sounds like basketball is going to be a part of this big development.

It sounds like the NHL rumor has some traction in the area. Sounds like Gary Sharp might have spoken to whoever has been in contact with the NHL from Omaha. Still sounds like a long shot by sounds like the arena for the team could be a part of the Gretna development.

You guys might want to listen to the radio replay of this if you didn't listen live. Should be one of the early segments. It was between 7:15 and 7:30.

I have better odds of winning Power Ball, Mega Millions and becoming a god before we'd get a Class A professional sports team (no offense but I don't consider AAA baseball, arena football, Knights, etc grade A sports teams).

I would LOVE to see it happen, but I'm guessing not in my lifetime given our current population standing.

Does the mentioned location make sense? Certainly - pull in Omaha, Lincoln, perhaps even GI and other outliers to the market. Throw down a Great Wolf for the family, perhaps a few other hotels and BAM.


If this happens to continue to gain coverage in the media and discussions move ahead my guess is this will turn into another BMW/South Carolina disappointment.

[nebugeater]

You guys might want to listen to the radio replay of this if you didn't listen live. Should be one of the early segments. It was between 7:15 and 7:30.

Does the mentioned location make sense? Certainly - pull in Omaha, Lincoln, perhaps even GI and other outliers to the market. Throw down a Great Wolf for the family, perhaps a few other hotels and BAM.

YOu are leaving out Ashland, Lousiville, and South Bend NE

[Greg S]

They were talking about the Good Life Bills yesterday in the legislature on 1620 this morning. The one for 192nd and Dodge sounds like basketball is going to be a part of this big development.

It sounds like the NHL rumor has some traction in the area. Sounds like Gary Sharp might have spoken to whoever has been in contact with the NHL from Omaha. Still sounds like a long shot by sounds like the arena for the team could be a part of the Gretna development.

You guys might want to listen to the radio replay of this if you didn't listen live. Should be one of the early segments. It was between 7:15 and 7:30.

I have better odds of winning Power Ball, Mega Millions and becoming a god before we'd get a Class A professional sports team (no offense but I don't consider AAA baseball, arena football, Knights, etc grade A sports teams).

I would LOVE to see it happen, but I'm guessing not in my lifetime given our current population standing.

Does the mentioned location make sense? Certainly - pull in Omaha, Lincoln, perhaps even GI and other outliers to the market. Throw down a Great Wolf for the family, perhaps a few other hotels and BAM.


If this happens to continue to gain coverage in the media and discussions move ahead my guess is this will turn into another BMW/South Carolina disappointment.

Yeah odds are stacked against it. Although the same could have been said about OKC, right? OKC is a slightly larger city but the NBA is a larger league.

[BRoss]

Nebraska Crossing owner, John Cook says USA Volleyball considering move to Gretna

The developer behind the 2,000-acre Good Life District near Gretna said Wednesday he's close to a deal that would bring the U.S. Olympic volleyball program to his development.

He also said he's attempting to lure a National Hockey League team.

Rod Yates, owner and operator of the Nebraska Crossing shopping center, told a state panel Wednesday said he is "in the final stages" of putting together an agreement to relocate USA Volleyball facilities from Anaheim, California.

"It's going to be about a $150- to $200-million-dollar facility," Yates said. "And they're going to relocate 100 Olympic athletes. You're going to see all their corporate staff, their training staff, relocate to Gretna and be a big part of our community."

Attempts to reach USA Volleyball Wednesday afternoon were unsuccessful.

[Bomaha]

Lol. What is happening?!?!

[jomaha9]

This actually makes more sense with the rumors of the NHL Team. If either come to fruition, my guess is that an NHL training/practice facility would be part of the development, with the team playing games at CHI Center.

[Garrett]

Well, this development keeps getting weirder in a good way?

[djc311]

Nebraska Crossing owner, John Cook says USA Volleyball considering move to Gretna

The developer behind the 2,000-acre Good Life District near Gretna said Wednesday he's close to a deal that would bring the U.S. Olympic volleyball program to his development.

He also said he's attempting to lure a National Hockey League team.

Rod Yates, owner and operator of the Nebraska Crossing shopping center, told a state panel Wednesday said he is "in the final stages" of putting together an agreement to relocate USA Volleyball facilities from Anaheim, California.

"It's going to be about a $150- to $200-million-dollar facility," Yates said. "And they're going to relocate 100 Olympic athletes. You're going to see all their corporate staff, their training staff, relocate to Gretna and be a big part of our community."

Attempts to reach USA Volleyball Wednesday afternoon were unsuccessful.

WOW??? Is this for real?

That’s one thing I can never figure out with this Yates dude… I mean Crossroads was an absolute flop/bust and was hyped to be the next best thing since sliced bread. However obviously NEX has turned into something much better than I would have thought could ever happen considering what it used to be.

At the same time this guy seems to be his own worst enemy when it comes to making things happen - and I don’t know if it’s purely his ego or what the story is behind that. A lot of what he says is vague and generally not very specific, likely due to NDAs, etc. so for him to mention this by name is rather revealing.

Of course I wouldn’t be surprised if someone from the volleyball association comes out on record saying they’ve never heard anything about this whatsoever.

Hard to say - I mean I really believe we were on track to land a LEGO store yet somehow that simply disappeared. My guess is something fell apart in discussions with Yates. I mean you don’t have a well known brand like LEGO come into our market and plaster their name all over an empty storefront simply to advertise an already extremely well-known company that doesn’t need the exposure.

For comparison sake I look at it like this - would In and Out put their name all over an empty retail space simply to drum up excitement for something that would never happen?

[Athomsfere]

Well, this development keeps getting weirder in a good way?

I've been trying to work through if I think this is a good idea for about a day now.

I'm really unsure.

Is this a weird plan that eventually Omaha will be on the hook for when / if Gretna is annexed?

Bringing these to the city has some benefits. But planting it in the middle of nowhere... Seems like would accelerate sprawl which is not good.

How do you realistically fill a stadium or two in cornfields without adding massive car infrastructure and keep Gretna / Omaha from turning into a KC?

I think Council Bluffs should snipe this and put it in the Dodge Riverside redevelopment, let Gretna build a nice transit (commuter rail) station that fits regional should-be goals better.

I think that would also help whatever lands stay in the area. It looks like we'd want at least 13k per game:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/193 ... s-in-2010/

The arena not being in an armpit would certainly help that.

[nebugeater]

Well, this development keeps getting weirder in a good way?

I've been trying to work through if I think this is a good idea for about a day now.

I'm really unsure.

Is this a weird plan that eventually Omaha will be on the hook for when / if Gretna is annexed?

Bringing these to the city has some benefits. But planting it in the middle of nowhere... Seems like would accelerate sprawl which is not good.

How do you realistically fill a stadium or two in cornfields without adding massive car infrastructure and keep Gretna / Omaha from turning into a KC?

I think Council Bluffs should snipe this and put it in the Dodge Riverside redevelopment, let Gretna build a nice transit (commuter rail) station that fits regional should-be goals better.

I think that would also help whatever lands stay in the area. It looks like we'd want at least 13k per game:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/193 ... s-in-2010/

The arena not being in an armpit would certainly help that.

It is highly unlikely Gretna will ever be annexed by Omaha 1) Under current state law, you cannot Anex across county lines without a lot more content, law change 2) Even if the county line was not an issue, Gretna will soon pass the population where both parties need to agree and not just one taking over the other.