Oklahoma Joe's - Both Omaha Locations Closed

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:43 pm

Going into the former Dickie's bay in Aksarben Village.

MadMartin8 · Post by **MadMartin8** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:44 pm

Coyote wrote: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:43 pm Going into the former Dickie's bay in Aksarben Village.

So, will this be an Oklahoma Joe's, Kansas City Joe's, or a Omaha Joe's featuring Kansas City with special guest Oklahoma?

omaha79 · Post by **omaha79** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:50 pm

The artist formerly known as Oklahoma Joe's Kansas City of Omaha.

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 11:19 am

MadMartin8 wrote: Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:44 pm
Coyote wrote: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:43 pm Going into the former Dickie's bay in Aksarben Village.
So, will this be an Oklahoma Joe's, Kansas City Joe's, or a Omaha Joe's featuring Kansas City with special guest Oklahoma?

Or the Limited Edition Lincoln version of the KC Ok Joe's.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 1:18 pm

Coyote wrote: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:43 pm Going into the former Dickie's bay in Aksarben Village.

Lets hope they are a little busier than Dickeys was at that spot.

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:37 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Sep 18, 2018 1:18 pm
Coyote wrote: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:43 pm Going into the former Dickie's bay in Aksarben Village.
Lets hope they are a little busier than Dickeys was at that spot.

Wouldn’t take much.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 3:39 pm

This is not affiliated with Joe's Kansas City at all. It does include the same owner that years ago, that had the location in Stillwater and his partner had the one in KC. He only last a year. This place may be good but really doesn't share anything with Joe's Kansas City.

Greg

43county · Post by **43county** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 4:15 pm

But I assume that it is affiliated with the spot in Lincoln that was open for a few weeks, right?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 4:16 pm

Not the same group being sued for back rent and by investors for the Lincoln Oklahoma Joe's spot that closed I would hope.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:16 pm

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:24 pm

They are shooting for the first week of November for their opening.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:25 pm

Coyote wrote: Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:24 pm They are shooting for the first week of November for their opening.

Thanks for the info.

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:28 am

I’m looking forward to trying this one in the neighborhood. Boyd and Charlie’s wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.

Post by **nebugeater** » Thu Oct 18, 2018 11:00 am

Padre wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:28 am I’m looking forward to trying this one in the neighborhood. Boyd and Charlie’s wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.

Hate to be the skeptic but if this follows the path the one in Lincoln went down, this will not be what any hopes for either.

bbinks · Post by **bbinks** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 12:41 am

I had put this in the Famous Daves thread already, but a friend knew someone who worked at FD and told him that they would close about 3-4 months ago. Oklahoma Joes was originally looking at taking over the FD on 129th & Birch according to the former employee.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:57 pm

nebugeater wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 11:00 am
Padre wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:28 am I’m looking forward to trying this one in the neighborhood. Boyd and Charlie’s wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.
Hate to be the skeptic but if this follows the path the one in Lincoln went down, this will not be what any hopes for either.

Yeah if it was actually Joe's Kansas City (featured on Sunday Night Football last night) that was coming, I'd be more optimistic and excited.

Greg

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Oct 23, 2018 9:19 pm

Owner of Omaha's Oklahoma Joe's location answers your burning questions

Sarah Baker Hansen: Tell us the similarities and differences — menu and otherwise — between your former business partner's restaurant, Joe's Kansas City, and Oklahoma Joe's.

Davidson: We are totally separate entities. I do not own any interest in his group, and he has none in mine. But there is common DNA in everything we do. The recipes were mine and his from the get-go. We do things in the same way, and that's primarily true of the proteins. (Davidson mentioned similarities in the brisket, pulled pork, burnt ends and ribs.)

We use the same supplier for french fries and the same dry rub.

SBH: And the differences?

Davidson: In Oklahoma, barbecued bologna is huge. We tried it in Kansas City and didn't have much success. We do that now (and Joe's Kansas City) does not.

Our beans are different. I do a white chicken chili as a meal or a side. We also do a cherry bread pudding with a bourbon sauce, brownies and cookies.

We cook with pecan wood. Joe's Kansas City has moved to white oak.

Yes, we will be able to smoke meat (in Aksarben.) We will be using real logs of wood, not chips or sawdust, and it will be under a hood in the store in Nebraska. That was a challenge in Lincoln. That store fell for many reasons. We have identified some critical mistakes we made there and changed those things. We will have team members from Tulsa in Omaha when we open, and I am going to be (in Omaha) to make sure we are giving (the new location) the greatest opportunity to succeed.

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Oct 24, 2018 2:12 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Oct 23, 2018 9:19 pm Owner of Omaha's Oklahoma Joe's location answers your burning questions

Yes, we will be able to smoke meat (in Aksarben.) We will be using real logs of wood, not chips or sawdust, and it will be under a hood in the store in Nebraska. That was a challenge in Lincoln. That store fell for many reasons. We have identified some critical mistakes we made there and changed those things. We will have team members from Tulsa in Omaha when we open, and I am going to be (in Omaha) to make sure we are giving (the new location) the greatest opportunity to succeed.

Considering this last quote, I am cautiously optimistic that they'll have more staying power located in Askarben. He owns up to the Lincoln failure and claims to have made improvements. We'll see though.

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Wed Oct 24, 2018 5:23 pm

ita wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 2:12 pm
skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Oct 23, 2018 9:19 pm Owner of Omaha's Oklahoma Joe's location answers your burning questions

Yes, we will be able to smoke meat (in Aksarben.) We will be using real logs of wood, not chips or sawdust, and it will be under a hood in the store in Nebraska. That was a challenge in Lincoln. That store fell for many reasons. We have identified some critical mistakes we made there and changed those things. We will have team members from Tulsa in Omaha when we open, and I am going to be (in Omaha) to make sure we are giving (the new location) the greatest opportunity to succeed.

Considering this last quote, I am cautiously optimistic that they'll have more staying power located in Askarben. He owns up to the Lincoln failure and claims to have made improvements. We'll see though.

Agreed. Anyone willing to admit they made a mistake and want to correct it is more a businessman. But as you said, we shall see.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Oct 24, 2018 5:35 pm

I’m looking forward to trying this place out. It’s on my list...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

hatwate · Post by **hatwate** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 9:11 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 5:35 pm I’m looking forward to trying this place out. It’s on my list...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

They open Monday, Nov. 5.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 5:20 pm

hatwate wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 9:11 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 5:35 pm I’m looking forward to trying this place out. It’s on my list...

Ciao..LiO...Peace
They open Monday, Nov. 5.

Sounds good. Thanks for the heads up

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:27 pm

Soft opening today.

BPHusker · Post by **BPHusker** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:22 pm

Coyote wrote: Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:27 pm Soft opening today.

Is it open to the public or invites only?

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 12:32 am

BPHusker wrote: Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:22 pm
Coyote wrote: Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:27 pm Soft opening today.
Is it open to the public or invites only?

I was told they would be open for lunch this week, anybody who walks in is accepted.
Met Stephanie and the head cook and they said they wanted to test everything for a few hours to get ready for Monday. Remember, HDR will have a few floors ready on Monday, they might get swamped.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 4:39 pm

Coyote wrote: Fri Nov 02, 2018 12:32 am
BPHusker wrote: Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:22 pm
Coyote wrote: Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:27 pm Soft opening today.
Is it open to the public or invites only?
I was told they would be open for lunch this week, anybody who walks in is accepted.
Met Stephanie and the head cook and they said they wanted to test everything for a few hours yo get ready for Monday. Remember, HDR will have a few floors ready on Monday, they might get swamped.

Drove by last night, open sign was on. Looked like they are good to go.

Greg

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Nov 03, 2018 2:28 am

image.jpeg

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Nov 03, 2018 2:29 am

image.jpeg

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 3:43 pm

Good article. I get tired of people telling me there is no reason to eat at Joe's Kansas City because we have Oklahoma Joe's.

https://www.omaha.com/omahadines/plus/r ... 2537c.html

Greg

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 4:42 pm

Greg S wrote: Thu Jan 31, 2019 3:43 pm Good article. I get tired of people telling me there is no reason to eat at Joe's Kansas City because we have Oklahoma Joe's.

LOL! I've never had anyone tell me that, but if they did, I would laugh in their face and say "you've obviously never been to KC Joe's".

WBR_Tom · Post by **WBR_Tom** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 5:14 pm

Greg S wrote: Thu Jan 31, 2019 3:43 pm Good article. I get tired of people telling me there is no reason to eat at Joe's Kansas City because we have Oklahoma Joe's.

https://www.omaha.com/omahadines/plus/r ... 2537c.html

Greg

Solid review by SBH, and I agree with her analysis. I'd add that the confusion you mention (and that she writes about) is exactly what the franchise spin-off is banking on -- they're hoping enough people don't know the backstory, don't know that they're two totally different companies, and assume it's the same as the one that wins all the awards and plaudits from food critics. And based on how many people have said the same thing to me about this being an Omaha location of Joe's Kansas City, it's working.

There's similarities, to be sure, but in all the ways that matter the franchise version is vastly inferior -- I'd put a "IMHO" qualifier on there, but it seems like so many people agree with that assessment that it's almost factual at this point. Joe's KC is one of the best BBQ joints in the country. Oklahoma Joe's Omaha isn't even the best BBQ joint in a metro area with slim pickings for good BBQ joints.

I will say the Omaha one is a lot better than the ill-fated Lincoln location that lasted six months, and seems to be busy enough that with Cutchall bankrolling it they'll stick around long enough to (hopefully) iron out the kinks in their smoking process and become a better version of what they are now.

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 5:55 pm

I may be one of the only people around here who has not gone down to KC for bbq. I enjoy it but I"m not going to go out of my way for it. Maybe that will give me an ability to try this place without any preconditions. Might wait a bit though, based on the review.

onelocalfoods · Post by **onelocalfoods** » Fri Feb 01, 2019 2:05 pm

Someday Cutchall will realize the trend is not buying franchises from elsewhere and bringing them to Omaha. Support a lsuccessful local and grow that business into a franchise.
Hes chasing his tail and trying to force a winner.

bigredmed1 · Post by **bigredmed1** » Fri Feb 01, 2019 7:01 pm

onelocalfoods wrote: Fri Feb 01, 2019 2:05 pm Someday Cutchall will realize the trend is not buying franchises from elsewhere and bringing them to Omaha. Support a lsuccessful local and grow that business into a franchise.
Hes chasing his tail and trying to force a winner.

Too many franchise type businesses in food. Would much rather go somewhere local and experience a unique flavor.

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 3:23 am

There was a post on the Facebook page of Lettuce Express, on 145th and Maple, saying their last day is December 31. It went on to say an Oklahoma Joes drive thru location would be opening there in the spring.

Post by **nebugeater** » Mon May 15, 2023 12:52 pm

The Greenbelly location S of Elkhorn that closed has a banner on it that I saw for the first time on Sunday. It says that Oklahoma Joe's is coming soon.

1405 S 204th St Elkhorn, NE 68022

ChadJK · Post by **ChadJK** » Mon May 15, 2023 2:00 pm

Greg S wrote: Tue Sep 18, 2018 3:39 pm This is not affiliated with Joe's Kansas City at all. It does include the same owner that years ago, that had the location in Stillwater and his partner had the one in KC. He only last a year. This place may be good but really doesn't share anything with Joe's Kansas City.

We lived in Tulsa when Oklahoma Joe's opened their Broken Arrow location there back in 2011. Joe Davidson (the "Joe" in Oklahoma Joe's) would be standing there in the dining room and you could chat him up while you waited in line to order. The Broken Arrow location was his first restaurant after the split from KC. IIRC, he was one of the partners in KC's original "Oklahoma Joe's" but when that partnership broke-up and Joe wanted to go into the restaurant business for himself years later he reached an agreement with the KC location so that they would change their name to "Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que." So, there's an old affiliation there, but they went their separate ways like 30 years ago.

I really liked the Broken Arrow Oklahoma Joe's and ate there regularly until we moved away in 2013. I've not tried the Omaha locations yet. Honestly, I don't have a lot of faith that BBQ made outside of Joe Davidson's supervision is going to be on par with what I ate back in the day. I'll give it a try one of these days.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon May 15, 2023 2:35 pm

I’ve eaten at the Oklahoma Joe’s Aksarben Village location several times..

Is it among the best BBQ I’ve ever had? No. But it’s solid and worth an occasional visit..

It’ll likely do well in Elkhorn…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Post by **nebugeater** » Mon May 15, 2023 2:39 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon May 15, 2023 2:35 pm I’ve eaten at the Oklahoma Joe’s Aksarben Village location several times..

Is it among the best BBQ I’ve ever had? No. But it’s solid and worth an occasional visit..

It’ll likely do well in Elkhorn…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I have eaten at AV, too, a few times. Agree with your assessment. For me, the plus they have that not every BBQ place has is they are consistent. That holds for at least the times I have been there. Would love to hear of others who may not had that experience.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon May 15, 2023 5:16 pm

nebugeater wrote: Mon May 15, 2023 2:39 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon May 15, 2023 2:35 pm I’ve eaten at the Oklahoma Joe’s Aksarben Village location several times..

Is it among the best BBQ I’ve ever had? No. But it’s solid and worth an occasional visit..

It’ll likely do well in Elkhorn…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I have eaten at AV, too, a few times. Agree with your assessment. For me, the plus they have that not every BBQ place has is they are consistent. That holds for at least the times I have been there. Would love to hear of others who may not had that experience.

Great point regarding consistency. 100% agree!…

Ciao..LiO…Peace