Grand Island Rumor Mill

43county · Post by **43county** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 7:30 pm

gisbuxfan wrote: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:24 am There was a rumor that Chipotle is moving to town. This was confirmed by Chipotle's twitter account when asked.

Wow, that's good news. I know some people are down on Chipotle but it's still my favorite. I've been wanting one in the Tri Cities for a decade now.

socaln8v · Post by **socaln8v** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 10:50 am

A friend of mine has been working with another gal to open a new fun place for kids. She shared this post on Facebook today:

"We are thrilled to announce that a children’s museum is coming soon to Grand Island! Imagination City will provide our community with a fun, safe, & inviting educational environment where our children will grown, learn, and play together. The museum will inspire creativity, discovery, exploration, and imagination through interactive exhibits. Please share this exciting news with friends and family and watch Facebook and our website for exhibit spotlights!"

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:06 pm

Heard this today at work from a source who's only 50/50 on the reliability scale, LOL, but I'll throw it out there cuz it's interesting. Rumor is that Popeyes is looking for a South Locust location based on the ridiculous success of their current store.

Stand by...

badlander · Post by **badlander** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:35 pm

Culver's is coming to Grand Island. Location not specified but local trade contractors being contacted for bid estimates.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:36 am

badlander wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:35 pm Culver's is coming to Grand Island. Location not specified but local trade contractors being contacted for bid estimates.

I like Culvers, but my Kearney friends tell me that they think Freddy's is better... I just think that Culvers tends to be not so danged noisy.

EastCB · Post by **EastCB** » Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:51 am

I like Freddy's too but I think Culvers menu is broader. Both are good,

Post by **nebugeater** » Fri Mar 22, 2019 12:45 pm

Personally I hate Freddy's fries but that is personal preference.

Fries aside, I will go to both for that type of eating, but if they are side by side I will go to Culvers every time.

MadMartin8 · Post by **MadMartin8** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 8:09 am

nebugeater wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2019 12:45 pm Personally I hate Freddy's fries but that is personal preference.

Fries aside, I will go to both for that type of eating, but if they are side by side I will go to Culvers every time.

Agreed completely.

badlander · Post by **badlander** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:17 am

badlander wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:35 pm Culver's is coming to Grand Island. Location not specified but local trade contractors being contacted for bid estimates.

Culver's will be going in on Diers Avenue to the north of Discount Tire (north Walmart area).

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:13 pm

badlander wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:17 am
badlander wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:35 pm Culver's is coming to Grand Island. Location not specified but local trade contractors being contacted for bid estimates.
Culver's will be going in on Diers Avenue to the north of Discount Tire (north Walmart area).

Honestly, they are missing out by going in front of Walmart. I haven’t seen any conversation about what will be going in around the new hospital. My thought it whoever makes the jump down there will have a lot of business all to themselves.

oneamongthefence · Post by **oneamongthefence** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:47 pm

New restaurant coming to downtown, 40 North!
www.40northtapandgrille.com
Upscale American dining, scratch kitchen, huge draft beer selection, according to their website. Opening date yet to be determined.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:35 am

oneamongthefence wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:47 pm New restaurant coming to downtown, 40 North!
www.40northtapandgrille.com
Upscale American dining, scratch kitchen, huge draft beer selection, according to their website. Opening date yet to be determined.

Sounds like a great addition to downtown, and the city in general.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:47 pm

Is this Vavriceks restaurant?

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:04 am

gisbuxfan wrote: Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:47 pm Is this Vavriceks restaurant?

Yes. From the website:

Owned by Jay and Jan Vavricek, 40 North Tap + Grille and its 9,000 square feet historic building with arched ceiling rafters are being recreated into a contemporary rustic setting that will welcome customers with true Nebraska hospitality from chef created dining upfront, a west side patio, and a sports lounge and event venue.

Guests will enjoy fireside dining, a signature waterfall feature and a vast wine and beer selection. A crimson draft beer dispenser will feature its share of 40 draft beer selections

gichick · Post by **gichick** » Sun May 26, 2019 1:27 pm

Texas T-Bone has moved two blocks south to the plaza where Pizza Hut is.

They've also started building the new Burger King in the old steakhouse lot on Locust. Burger King has a sign up saying they'll lease the building starting in September.

I wonder what will become of that whole plaza once BK and Texas Tbone is gone?

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue May 28, 2019 9:21 pm

gichick wrote: Sun May 26, 2019 1:27 pm Texas T-Bone has moved two blocks south to the plaza where Pizza Hut is.

They've also started building the new Burger King in the old steakhouse lot on Locust. Burger King has a sign up saying they'll lease the building starting in September.

I wonder what will become of that whole plaza once BK and Texas Tbone is gone?

I wonder why Texas T-Bone moved? They seemed to be doing fairly well in that former location.

I can certainly understand why BK wants a freestanding location. It is a very odd place where they are now.

gichick · Post by **gichick** » Sun Jun 02, 2019 11:40 am

nativeomahan wrote: Tue May 28, 2019 9:21 pm
gichick wrote: Sun May 26, 2019 1:27 pm Texas T-Bone has moved two blocks south to the plaza where Pizza Hut is.

They've also started building the new Burger King in the old steakhouse lot on Locust. Burger King has a sign up saying they'll lease the building starting in September.

I wonder what will become of that whole plaza once BK and Texas Tbone is gone?
I wonder why Texas T-Bone moved? They seemed to be doing fairly well in that former location.

I can certainly understand why BK wants a freestanding location. It is a very odd place where they are now.

Texas T-Bone is doing well in their new location. Full parking lot last night at dinner time. I assume they needed more space and better parking.

Rumor is (heard from fellow business owner) that the plaza, in a whole, may have problems with bugs (roaches). That's just rumor. I'm sure any one of those food businesses would be closed by the health department if they found roaches during an inspection.

I assume the building is getting awfully old, too. New amenities is always nice.

But I always did wonder why someone is renting the old China Buffet but hasn't done anything with it.

Yankeesnick · Post by **Yankeesnick** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:56 pm

Does anyone know what all the dirt work NW of the new Emergency Management building on W 13th street is?

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 1:11 pm

Yankeesnick wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:56 pm Does anyone know what all the dirt work NW of the new Emergency Management building on W 13th street is?

Housing development.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:08 pm

Do we know when these big projects are starting? Is it 2020 or after?

Candleshoe wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:28 am Just announced that the 1 and 5 year roads plans in GI include more roundabouts on Old Potash from North Road to Webb Road. Webb would be awesome as that intersection is prone to so many T-bone wrecks by folks trying to beat the red light.

Also announced that it's all but a done deal that the 5-Points intersection of Broadwell Ave/Eddy Street/State Street will be converted to a multi lane Roundabout. At least a couple of years before the rebuild begins. That one will probably get a ton of "letters to the editor" about school traffic and such.

5pts by Joe, on Flickr

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:11 pm

New store coming to GI: "It's $5". GI will be the first Nebraska location. Currently have stores in KC metro, Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Location hasn't been announced yet, but it looks like they use a fairly good bit of retail floorspace in their existing stores.

It’s $5 is a retail store that sells liquidated products. Its website states it restocks the merchandise starting every Saturday and continues to restock items “multiple times each weekend.” On Monday, customers can purchase two items for $5 before being able to buy one additional item each day until Friday when they can buy 10 items for $5.

Items sold at It’s $5 include electronics, housewares, toys and food.

Post by **nebugeater** » Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:15 pm

Candleshoe wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:11 pm New store coming to GI: "It's $5". GI will be the first Nebraska location. Currently have stores in KC metro, Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Location hasn't been announced yet, but it looks like they use a fairly good bit of retail floorspace in their existing stores.

It’s $5 is a retail store that sells liquidated products. Its website states it restocks the merchandise starting every Saturday and continues to restock items “multiple times each weekend.” On Monday, customers can purchase two items for $5 before being able to buy one additional item each day until Friday when they can buy 10 items for $5.

Items sold at It’s $5 include electronics, housewares, toys and food.

Don't get too Excited. I have been in the one in CB..... Once.

EastCB · Post by **EastCB** » Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:07 pm

nebugeater wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:15 pm
Candleshoe wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:11 pm New store coming to GI: "It's $5". GI will be the first Nebraska location. Currently have stores in KC metro, Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Location hasn't been announced yet, but it looks like they use a fairly good bit of retail floorspace in their existing stores.

It’s $5 is a retail store that sells liquidated products. Its website states it restocks the merchandise starting every Saturday and continues to restock items “multiple times each weekend.” On Monday, customers can purchase two items for $5 before being able to buy one additional item each day until Friday when they can buy 10 items for $5.

Items sold at It’s $5 include electronics, housewares, toys and food.
Don't get too Excited. I have been in the one in CB..... Once.

I have been to the CB one too, once. Wasn't my cup of tea, however, it is always busy and plenty of cars in the lot. And they opened in Sioux City so I would say they are making money. Maybe, I should go back.

cafereef · Post by **cafereef** » Wed Aug 21, 2019 3:52 pm

places like that are great to take kids too. that way when they buy something and it breaks, you only were invested $5

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Wed Oct 16, 2019 4:37 pm

Looks like Chipotle in Grand Island may happen afterall. After it was first suggested earlier this year the news went dark until today.

Chipotle plans to arrive mid-2020.

https://www.theindependent.com/news/loc ... q-pFwmw6hk

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Oct 19, 2019 3:52 pm

Fresh Thyme head says some stores not as successful as others
Grand Island location to close Nov. 16

socaln8v · Post by **socaln8v** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 7:40 pm

SuperBowl Family Fun Center has been sold for $750,000. It will close next May and the building will be taken down. Don't know who the new owner is or what will be built there though.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 8:31 pm

socaln8v wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 7:40 pm SuperBowl Family Fun Center has been sold for $750,000. It will close next May and the building will be taken down. Don't know who the new owner is or what will be built there though.

I was just talking about this the other and wondering what was happening. Thanks for the update.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 8:34 pm

The hospital at Prairie Commons is getting real close. Here is the Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/PrairieCommonsGrandIsland/

I’m really wondering about other infrastructure in that area like restaurants or hotels, etc. The hospital will need something to support it’s patients and visitors.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Wed Nov 13, 2019 5:08 pm

socaln8v wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 7:40 pm SuperBowl Family Fun Center has been sold for $750,000. It will close next May and the building will be taken down. Don't know who the new owner is or what will be built there though.

George has been wanting to sell that place for years. Two bowling centers just aren't justified in a town this size anymore. He tried to build a mini amusement park in the back years ago, but really did it on the cheap. The selling price seems kind of low too, but I'm kind of guessing Fred Hoppe might be eying an expansion of Cherry Park Apartments, which would be a disaster for Dodge School.

snunn14 · Post by **snunn14** » Wed Nov 13, 2019 7:11 pm

Candleshoe wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 5:08 pm
socaln8v wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 7:40 pm SuperBowl Family Fun Center has been sold for $750,000. It will close next May and the building will be taken down. Don't know who the new owner is or what will be built there though.
George has been wanting to sell that place for years. Two bowling centers just aren't justified in a town this size anymore. He tried to build a mini amusement park in the back years ago, but really did it on the cheap. The selling price seems kind of low too, but I'm kind of guessing Fred Hoppe might be eying an expansion of Cherry Park Apartments, which would be a disaster for Dodge School.

I heard that a car museum had bought it. I'm not sure if the new owners are planning on putting one there or using the space for something else. I hope they put in a new parking lot after everything's tore down though!

Yankeesnick · Post by **Yankeesnick** » Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:12 pm

Anyone know what’s goin up south of Rathjen Physical Therapy on Webb?

snunn14 · Post by **snunn14** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:19 pm

Spectrum is building a storage area for there equipment

Yankeesnick wrote: Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:12 pm Anyone know what’s goin up south of Rathjen Physical Therapy on Webb?

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:59 pm

The old Fazolis building along Highway 30 has been sold. Sounds like Dunkin Donuts is moving in.

Yankeesnick · Post by **Yankeesnick** » Mon May 04, 2020 7:56 pm

Just saw that Ken’s Appliances is moving into the old Shopko building, are they taking the whole space?

Yankeesnick · Post by **Yankeesnick** » Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:00 pm

What’s happening west of the Autumn Park Apartments behind Menards? Mid Nebraska Land Developers and Diamond Engineering have been doing dirt work since March, will that be more apartments or just a new housing development? When MNLD started I’d say they were bringing in about 25-30 side dump loads (20-21 tons) of clay every day (M-F) for a solid 2 months, since then it has slowed to about 10-15 loads/day

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Mon Jun 29, 2020 1:53 pm

https://www.ksnblocal4.com/content/news ... 95891.html

The biggest impact will be on the intersection of Old Potash Highway and Wilmer Ave, which is the secondary entrance for HyVee and Kohls and primary access for Perkins, Starbucks and HyVee convenience store. Hoping to turn East onto Potash from there is never a good idea.

A ten million dollar roundabout project started in Grand Island Thursday. The Old Potash Highway and Claude Paving Project will add four roundabouts on Old Potash Highway and intersecting streets of Wilmer Avenue, Claude and North Road. There will also be one on Claude and Faidley Avenue as well.

"This should have been done probably ten years ago in anticipation of this. We're catching it now while traffic is pretty heavy. If we waited another ten years, businesses would actually be losing business because of all the congestion."

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:02 am

Covid has certainly slowed most everything down except for road construction. Is there anything new happening in GI?

Looks as thought he vacated Principal Financial building will go to GIPS.

Is Chipotle still coming?

What’s happening with the Vets home?

How about the new development around the new hospital?

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 10:39 am

The latest...
Chipotles is heavily rumored to be moving into the old Ruby Tuesday. Others suggest it ewill move into the recently vlosed Firehouse Subs.
Dunkin' Donuts finally shows up after the old Fazolis has been razed. The recently closed S Locust Amigos will reportedly become a semi locally owned rib joint.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:55 pm

Candleshoe wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 10:39 am The latest...
Chipotles is heavily rumored to be moving into the old Ruby Tuesday. Others suggest it ewill move into the recently vlosed Firehouse Subs.
Dunkin' Donuts finally shows up after the old Fazolis has been razed. The recently closed S Locust Amigos will reportedly become a semi locally owned rib joint.

Yeah, I have been hearing Chipotle is going in to the old Firehouse Subs. Just today someone was telling me a jewelry story was looking to go into the old Ruby Tuesdays. It's the first time Ive heard this so not sure where its coming from. Ruby Tuesdays seems a bit big for Chipotle considering most of the chain restaurants are smaller in size compared to their counterparts in Omaha or Lincoln.

I'll be looking forward to the rib place. GI needs a decent bbq place.