Original Omaha Locations?

[Silverspoon]

When did the first Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc come to town, and where were they located? Was the first Kmart in town the 50th L location?

Target - Saddle Creek - 36th Target store in the nation
- Super Target - 132nd Maple - 1st in the nation
- Super Target - 84th in Papillion - 3rd in the nation
Walmart - 103rd Fort circa 1991

[ChadJK]

The first Walmart I can remember was the La Vista Walmart at 84th & Giles. That would have been like 1999 or 2000. Though, I doubt the La Vista location is where they chose to make their Omaha metro area debut.

K-Mart is tougher. K-Mart was never great at maintaining their properties, so nearly every K-Mart felt (and looked) like it could be the oldest. lol

[Busguy2010]

The first Walmart I can remember was the La Vista Walmart at 84th & Giles. That would have been like 1999 or 2000. Though, I doubt the La Vista location is where they chose to make their Omaha metro area debut.

I seem to remember the Walmart at 103rd & Fort pre-dating that one. The one in Bellevue has to be pretty old, as well as the one by Lake Manawa.

The one in Irvington was the first modern Walmart, with it now being the oldest modern layout building. Finally recently got remodeled.

[NEDodger]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

[omahacacher]

As for Target, Omaha’s first one was on Saddle Creek just north of Dodge. It was the 36th Target to open in the country.

As for SuperTarget, the location on 132nd and West Maple was not only the first SuperTarget in the metro, but the very first one in the nation. Joe Montana came to Omaha for the grand opening. It opened in March of 1995. The Papillion location was the third SuperTarget in the country, opening in March of 1996.

[damonhynes]

IIRC, the first McD was ~80th @ Dodge (Dodge City!). BK was 114th @ Dodge. Educated guess on Wendy's, but I think either 84th @ F or 108th @ M.

[Busguy2010]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

Pretty weird to think a company as big as Walmart didn't enter Omaha until 1991. That seems really pretty recent... But then I remember that was 30 years ago. Time flies.

[Cermak]

That was cool Omaha got the first Super Target in the world. even when I go in that store now it seems a little bigger than the other Super Targets in town.

[bbinks]

First McD was 24th I think. Now a Mega Saver. The one on 80th & Dodge (now a vet) has a later building prototype.

[Omaha Cowboy]

The 1st K-Mart opened in Omaha was the 50th and L location in 1968..

The W-H story link when the location closed in 2019:

https://omaha.com/business/omahas-first ... e9a46.html

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Silverspoon]

As for Target, Omaha’s first one was on Saddle Creek just north of Dodge. It was the 36th Target to open in the country.

As for SuperTarget, the location on 132nd and West Maple was not only the first SuperTarget in the metro, but the very first one in the nation. Joe Montana came to Omaha for the grand opening. It opened in March of 1995. The Papillion location was the third SuperTarget in the country, opening in March of 1996.

I was one of the kids who got to run a short pattern and catch a pass from Montana that day. One of the highlights of my life.

[Silverspoon]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

Pretty weird to think a company as big as Walmart didn't enter Omaha until 1991. That seems really pretty recent... But then I remember that was 30 years ago. Time flies.

I dont know how far behind the old LaVista store was, but I remember my friends mom working there circa 1992-1993.

[bbinks]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

Pretty weird to think a company as big as Walmart didn't enter Omaha until 1991. That seems really pretty recent... But then I remember that was 30 years ago. Time flies.

I dont know how far behind the old LaVista store was, but I remember my friends mom working there circa 1992-1993.

Third Super Target. I can't recall where the second one is. 132nd is Store # 530, Papillion is # 532.

[omahacacher]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

Pretty weird to think a company as big as Walmart didn't enter Omaha until 1991. That seems really pretty recent... But then I remember that was 30 years ago. Time flies.

I dont know how far behind the old LaVista store was, but I remember my friends mom working there circa 1992-1993.

Third Super Target. I can't recall where the second one is. 132nd is Store # 530, Papillion is # 532.

The second store (#531) is in Lawrence, Kansas. The fourth store was #804 in Mason City, Iowa, which was the first existing Target store that had an addition built on and expanded to a SuperTarget.

[djc311]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

Pretty weird to think a company as big as Walmart didn't enter Omaha until 1991. That seems really pretty recent... But then I remember that was 30 years ago. Time flies.

I agree - I recall watching Christmas Vacation when it had first come out and they go into Wally World to do some shopping, picking up about 5 bags of "Ol' Roy" WalMart dog food. I was like WOW is WalMart?

If I had to choose based upon the store "quality" alone, Target always hands down shreds WalMart. The nearest WalMart to us is 180th and Center, which is obviously a newer store and probably has a little less "People of WalMart" stereotypical weirdos. However, now that they've removed about 25% of the store space to make way for grocery pickup or something, the store looks crowded and even less organized. They supposedly remodeled, but the only noticeable thing I see is they took out about 20 real cashiers to make way for self-service scanners.

Maybe I'm on a soapbox about WalMart, but 180th & Center was decent; now it looks congested, messy and confusing and I honestly don't understand what they're doing to the east end of the parking lot and building, besides making it a mess.

Going back to Target, the first ST is definitely the largest in Omaha. I wish the grocery areas were larger in some of their other stores like 180th & Center. But shopping in that Target is like going into a Nordstroms compared to trying to wander through the WalMart out here...

[damonhynes]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

Pretty weird to think a company as big as Walmart didn't enter Omaha until 1991. That seems really pretty recent... But then I remember that was 30 years ago. Time flies.

I agree - I recall watching Christmas Vacation when it had first come out and they go into Wally World to do some shopping, picking up about 5 bags of "Ol' Roy" WalMart dog food. I was like WOW is WalMart?

Ol' Roy: Made from Ol' Roy...

[guy4omaha]

First McD was 24th I think. Now a Mega Saver. The one on 80th & Dodge (now a vet) has a later building prototype.

the one at 80th and Dodge may or may not have been the first. But the building there now is the result of a remodel. It replaced a drive thru walk up window type location with the original golden arches that went up through the roof. And there was a neon McD sign out front. I remember when it said over 1 billion served, and some of the following points along the way such as over 3 billion, then 6, then 9 and at some point they just went with Billions and Billions served. The very first hamburger not cooked by my mom that I can remember was at this location. This would have been in the mid to late '60s. Had to eat it in the car as it was a walk up then.



ADDENDUM: I remember when Eli Schupack, who was the franchise holder of the 80th and Dodge location in the 70's sued McDonalds. I just looked up the lawsuit and about 1/3 of the way into the document is verification that 80th and Dodge was the first location in Omaha. If you're a history buff, this is a pretty fascinating read. That is, after you get past several legalese paragraphs at the beginning.

https://law.justia.com/cases/nebraska/s ... 114-1.html

[S.O.Boy]

I thought the 80th and Dodge was torn down for the gas station.

[Greg S]

I thought the 80th and Dodge was torn down for the gas station.

No, it's still there and has been a vet/animal hospital for quite some time.

Greg

[bbinks]

First McD was 24th I think. Now a Mega Saver. The one on 80th & Dodge (now a vet) has a later building prototype.

the one at 80th and Dodge may or may not have been the first. But the building there now is the result of a remodel. It replaced a drive thru walk up window type location with the original golden arches that went up through the roof. And there was a neon McD sign out front. I remember when it said over 1 billion served, and some of the following points along the way such as over 3 billion, then 6, then 9 and at some point they just went with Billions and Billions served. The very first hamburger not cooked by my mom that I can remember was at this location. This would have been in the mid to late '60s. Had to eat it in the car as it was a walk up then.



ADDENDUM: I remember when Eli Schupack, who was the franchise holder of the 80th and Dodge location in the 70's sued McDonalds. I just looked up the lawsuit and about 1/3 of the way into the document is verification that 80th and Dodge was the first location in Omaha. If you're a history buff, this is a pretty fascinating read. That is, after you get past several legalese paragraphs at the beginning.

https://law.justia.com/cases/nebraska/s ... 114-1.html

Back in the 80s when I worked for Bob Edwards they said at orientation that 24th was the first. Whoever did that prep was wrong I guess.

[guy4omaha]

Back in the 80s when I worked for Bob Edwards they said at orientation that 24th was the first. Whoever did that prep was wrong I guess.

I wasn't sure if 80th and Dodge was the first but I knew it had to be one of the first. But I remembered the tussle between McDonalds and Eli Schupack in the 70s. At the time, I couldn't tell if McDonald's didn't renew his franchise or if he walked away from it or what. I have always wondered what that was about. So when I saw this thread it reminded me to see if I could find something on the internet now describing what that lawsuit and parting of ways back then was all about.

And as I was reading it along came the documentation of 80th and Dodge being the first location. I wouldn't be surprised if both locations opened up within a very short time of each other.

[Greg S]

Back in the 80s when I worked for Bob Edwards they said at orientation that 24th was the first. Whoever did that prep was wrong I guess.

I wasn't sure if 80th and Dodge was the first but I knew it had to be one of the first. But I remembered the tussle between McDonalds and Eli Schupack in the 70s. At the time, I couldn't tell if McDonald's didn't renew his franchise or if he walked away from it or what. I have always wondered what that was about. So when I saw this thread it reminded me to see if I could find something on the internet now describing what that lawsuit and parting of ways back then was all about.

And as I was reading it along came the documentation of 80th and Dodge being the first location. I wouldn't be surprised if both locations opened up within a very short time of each other.

I remember my Dad talking about the lawsuit with McDonald's over the 80th Dodge location. After he lost it, it became I believe Dodge CIty Hamburgers or Dodge St Hamburgers. McDonald's then opened up the location at 75th and Dodge. And within a year or so, the restaurant on 80th closed for good.

Greg

[bbinks]

Back in the 80s when I worked for Bob Edwards they said at orientation that 24th was the first. Whoever did that prep was wrong I guess.

I wasn't sure if 80th and Dodge was the first but I knew it had to be one of the first. But I remembered the tussle between McDonalds and Eli Schupack in the 70s. At the time, I couldn't tell if McDonald's didn't renew his franchise or if he walked away from it or what. I have always wondered what that was about. So when I saw this thread it reminded me to see if I could find something on the internet now describing what that lawsuit and parting of ways back then was all about.

And as I was reading it along came the documentation of 80th and Dodge being the first location. I wouldn't be surprised if both locations opened up within a very short time of each other.

I remember my Dad talking about the lawsuit with McDonald's over the 80th Dodge location. After he lost it, it became I believe Dodge CIty Hamburgers or Dodge St Hamburgers. McDonald's then opened up the location at 75th and Dodge. And within a year or so, the restaurant on 80th closed for good.

Greg

Probably one of the reasons McD Corp now owns the building and land instead of the franchisee. In this case all they could do is revoke the franchise license.

[HskrFanMike]

103rd and Fort would have been circa 1991.

Pretty weird to think a company as big as Walmart didn't enter Omaha until 1991. That seems really pretty recent... But then I remember that was 30 years ago. Time flies.

Walmart was a small southern regional chain throughout the 60s and 70s; it didn't really start growing until the 80s, and even then, they avoided major metro areas that were already home to Target and Kmart. In 1980, Walmart had only 276 stores...Kmart had over 2,000.

And that regional influence wasn't just a Walmart tradition... Target was the same; they didn't even open a store in Chicago until 1993.

[mrsticka]

Where was the first ShopKo? 84th and West Center or 144th and West Center? And what about the first Albertsons? 108th and Q? 144th and West Center?

[Silverspoon]

Where was the first ShopKo? 84th and West Center or 144th and West Center? And what about the first Albertsons? 108th and Q? 144th and West Center?

I dont know for sure, but Im thinking the first Shop-Ko might have been 30th Forrest Lawn.

[mrsticka]

As for SuperTarget, the location on 132nd and West Maple was not only the first SuperTarget in the metro, but the very first one in the nation. It opened in March of 1995.

Is that when the Target on 90th and Maple closed?

[Ryan_Huskers]

As for SuperTarget, the location on 132nd and West Maple was not only the first SuperTarget in the metro, but the very first one in the nation. It opened in March of 1995.

Is that when the Target on 90th and Maple closed?

Yeah, I believe that's correct. That SuperTarget technically "replaced" the 90th & Maple store (now Family Fare) even though it wasn't that close.

[Stargazer]

Wouldn't seem like much today... but I'll never forget when the first Cub Foods opened in Omaha at Miracle Hills (around 1990?). It was the biggest grocery store in Omaha at the time, you walked in to a warehouse style rack with bulk items... I remember it left quite an impression with me when I was greeted by a fork lift putting stuff up on the racks. I can't recall what it turned into after they left?

I also kind of miss Service Merchandise circa 80's (maybe where the tile place is today, southeast of 132nd and West Center?).. the thrill of checking out stuff in their showroom before entering what you wanted into their green screen terminal, then waiting at the conveyor belt for it to come out.

[mrsticka]

I remember there being a 1/2 Price Store across the street from Target on 132nd and West Center.

[NEDodger]

Wouldn't seem like much today... but I'll never forget when the first Cub Foods opened in Omaha at Miracle Hills (around 1990?). It was the biggest grocery store in Omaha at the time, you walked in to a warehouse style rack with bulk items... I remember it left quite an impression with me when I was greeted by a fork lift putting stuff up on the racks. I can't recall what it turned into after they left?

Sun Mart.

[Silverspoon]

Wouldn't seem like much today... but I'll never forget when the first Cub Foods opened in Omaha at Miracle Hills (around 1990?). It was the biggest grocery store in Omaha at the time, you walked in to a warehouse style rack with bulk items... I remember it left quite an impression with me when I was greeted by a fork lift putting stuff up on the racks. I can't recall what it turned into after they left?

I also kind of miss Service Merchandise circa 80's (maybe where the tile place is today, southeast of 132nd and West Center?).. the thrill of checking out stuff in their showroom before entering what you wanted into their green screen terminal, then waiting at the conveyor belt for it to come out.

That Service Merchandise was still around til about 1994. Funny thing is they still have their website up and sell through there.

[bbinks]

Wouldn't seem like much today... but I'll never forget when the first Cub Foods opened in Omaha at Miracle Hills (around 1990?). It was the biggest grocery store in Omaha at the time, you walked in to a warehouse style rack with bulk items... I remember it left quite an impression with me when I was greeted by a fork lift putting stuff up on the racks. I can't recall what it turned into after they left?

I also kind of miss Service Merchandise circa 80's (maybe where the tile place is today, southeast of 132nd and West Center?).. the thrill of checking out stuff in their showroom before entering what you wanted into their green screen terminal, then waiting at the conveyor belt for it to come out.

Cub Foods > Bag n Save > Sunmart. Or Sunmart > Bag n Save.

[djc311]

Wouldn't seem like much today... but I'll never forget when the first Cub Foods opened in Omaha at Miracle Hills (around 1990?). It was the biggest grocery store in Omaha at the time, you walked in to a warehouse style rack with bulk items... I remember it left quite an impression with me when I was greeted by a fork lift putting stuff up on the racks. I can't recall what it turned into after they left?

I also kind of miss Service Merchandise circa 80's (maybe where the tile place is today, southeast of 132nd and West Center?).. the thrill of checking out stuff in their showroom before entering what you wanted into their green screen terminal, then waiting at the conveyor belt for it to come out.

That Service Merchandise was still around til about 1994. Funny thing is they still have their website up and sell through there.

When I worked at the Mart in the mid to late 90's no one in town had the latest and greatest video game console, which was the Nintendo 64... for some reason, the Service Merchandise store at 72nd and Dodge had a few on hand and I grabbed one from there like 2 days before Christmas.

IMO, the Target that was on Saddle Creek was the "best" store for me growing up. Walking distance from my house, I spent many summer vacation days browsing video games, music (first records, then tapes, then CDs, LOL) and other items.

[guy4omaha]

Don't ask me why, but my question for the forum is where was the first Omaha location for Runza? I don't have the answer. Just looking for one.

[Busguy2010]

Don't ask me why, but my question for the forum is where was the first Omaha location for Runza? I don't have the answer. Just looking for one.

That's a fun question. I don't have much of an answer, but I think I could fairly assume the more urban locations would be older. The farthest east one I knew of was the Park Ave & Farnam location. They are no longer there. So I wonder if they even have a location left in "urban Omaha", other than the 72nd & Pacific location, which is by the skin of it's teeth "urban". Not that I'm much of a Runza guy.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Don't ask me why, but my question for the forum is where was the first Omaha location for Runza? I don't have the answer. Just looking for one.

I don’t know if this was the first, but way back in the early 70’s (1971- I was 9 years old) there was a Runza location at the Bel Air Plaza- 120th and Center St. It’s been long gone, but I remember going there when I was a little kid. Back then they were called “Runza Hut”…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[guy4omaha]

Don't ask me why, but my question for the forum is where was the first Omaha location for Runza? I don't have the answer. Just looking for one.

I don’t know if this was the first, but way back in the early 70’s (1971- I was 9 years old) there was a Runza location at the Bel Air Plaza- 120th and Center St. It’s been long gone, but I remember going there when I was a little kid. Back then they were called “Runza Hut”…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Yeah, I remember this one now that you mention it. I had forgotten about it. Of course, there was that WC Franks in Bel Air as well.

[mrsticka]

I didn't go to K Mart as much as I did Target. But when I did, I'd go to the one on 120th and West Center. I think I went to the one on 144th and Millard Avenue once.

[Greg S]

Don't ask me why, but my question for the forum is where was the first Omaha location for Runza? I don't have the answer. Just looking for one.

That's a fun question. I don't have much of an answer, but I think I could fairly assume the more urban locations would be older. The farthest east one I knew of was the Park Ave & Farnam location. They are no longer there. So I wonder if they even have a location left in "urban Omaha", other than the 72nd & Pacific location, which is by the skin of it's teeth "urban". Not that I'm much of a Runza guy.

Would you consider 50th and Center urban? They've been there for 40 or more years. The building got replaced but they've been there since late 70's or very early 80's.

Greg