Wohlner's Closing

[lisanstan]

Just saw this posted on Wohlner's facebook page 20 minutes ago. I used to go all the time when they were two blocks from my house on Leavenworth. Before I retired, they were my "stop in my way home" grocery after the move to MTC. Sorry to see them go.
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Wohlner’s Says Goodbye | Owners Bob & Dianne Kimball are retiring

After more than 100 years as a cornerstone of the Omaha community, Wohlner's Neighborhood Grocery is closing its doors. The current owners, Bob and Dianne Kimball, have decided to retire, marking the end of an era for this beloved local grocer. "This decision certainly wasn't easy," said Bob Kimball. "But after many years of serving this community, we feel it's time to enjoy the next chapter of our lives. We're incredibly grateful for the support of our loyal customers, who have become like family to us."

Please enjoy 15% off your total order, marking 15 years in our current location. Says Goodbye | Owners Bob & Dianne Kimball are retiring

[Greg S]

Will be interesting to see what they can get to replace them at MTC. It was a nice option for the area and some of our friends that lived downtown used that as their primary grocery store.

[Garrett]

This definitely amps up the pressure for a grocery store downtown even more

[Jins123]

Wohlner’s is closing

https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-new ... s-in-omaha

[Jins123]

Is it naive to think you can just give a tax break to a grocery store to move into the downtown/midtown area, slap Jay Noodle’s name on the parking garage (for real estate vanity purposes) and get this |expletive| thing done. This is so ridiculous how we still can’t have a grocery store in the area.

[Cermak]

Maybe Trader Joe’s would go in there. Liked the free parking in the nearby garage.

[omaha79]

I'd been told by people in the know for years that Mutual's real estate arm had been subsidizing Wohlners for years and that the grocery store was always struggling to make it work in that location. But, Mutual and Mid Town Crossing wanted a grocery store there as they wanted to continue marketing the development as a livable/walkable urban oasis for upscale affluent residents. Basically, trying to sell overpriced condos to a market that places very little value on urban living and desires open space over being close to downtown.

To me, the writing has been on the wall for a while with Wohlners, even if they weren't retiring. The retirement story seems like more of a front. If the business was successful, they'd just turnkey it to someone else. The fact that it's not speaks volumes.

About 6 years ago, Mutual spun off its real estate development arm and divested themselves from it. Then, Covid hit and MOO announced the new campus downtown, which basically meant that they are largely abandoning the area. In the same span, MTC has struggled to keep restaurants open having about half the restaurants turn over into new concepts. The movie theater is gone and grocery store leaving, making this way less of a lifestyle destination. More of the overpriced condos have been turned into overpriced apartments.

I can't see a boutique grocery store working there as it ignored the greater demographics of the surrounding area. They purposefully made themselves an affluent oasis in a sea of working class homes and almost really don't want the people that live around there to frequent MTC as not to offend the clientele they do want, but can't get. There is nothing at MTC that really pushes an affluent family from the suburbs to come all the way down there outside of maybe Jazz on the Green. The rest of the restaurants and bars are nothing truly unique to the area and the family from Elkhorn drives past 3 other live lifestyle centers on their way to MTC.

Ultimately, MTC is nothing of what it could have been and probably should be. It failed in ways Aksarben has succeeded for many factors including proximity, ideas, price. But, mostly, they just misread the overall Omaha market when building this, by a country mile.

[iamjacobm]

MTC has certainly had its bumps and the retail space does struggle, but all the condos are sold and have been for years, the apartments are constantly full, Genesis Health bought the old theater building and is currently turning it into a larger facility than their current one at MTC (Mutual doesn't actually own either of the buildings south of Farnam or the hotel anymore), big crowds still show up for the numerous free concerts during the summer. Considering the |expletive| MTC replaced it can't be considered anything other than a major improvement for the city of Omaha even with its bumpy history.

[bbinks]

I thought they already closed. Is there another local grocer that closed within the last several years?

[Brad]

I thought they already closed. Is there another local grocer that closed within the last several years?

At one point Wohlner's had a Midtown Crossing and an Aksarben Village location. The Aksarben location closed and Spirit world moved in.

[Louie]

I thought they already closed. Is there another local grocer that closed within the last several years?

At one point Wohlner's had a Midtown Crossing and an Aksarben Village location. The Aksarben location closed and Spirit world moved in.

Maybe Patricks Market? But thats been like what? 8-9 years?

[Greg S]

Did they still have a top notch meat department after moving from Leavenworth? I grew up in Ak Sar Ben area and that was their claim to fame initially and what I think sustained them in their original location.

[Athomsfere]

Did they still have a top notch meat department after moving from Leavenworth? I grew up in Ak Sar Ben area and that was their claim to fame initially and what I think sustained them in their original location.

Damn good meat for sure. A limited selection though.

[skip]

Trader Joes or Aldi would be pretty cool in this spot

[nebport5]

I can't see them pursuing Aldi and there's going to be way too much parking at MTC for Trader Joe's

[ChadJK]

Is there still a Wohlner's Deli at UNO?