B&G Tasty Foods — a diner-like midtown restaurant famous for its loose-meat sandwiches — is about to open again after a long and challenging rebirth.
The new B&G will be at Nebraska Crossing in Gretna in a space that’s considerably larger than the original location near 80th and Dodge Streets. And unlike the first restaurant, it has a drive-thru.
The logos for the new B&G Tasty Foods at Nebraska Crossing are similar to the original, yet updated, managing partner Nick Bartholomew says.
The original B&G closed in 2019 after operating for 66 years, leaving patrons with fond memories and cravings for bygone foods.
In April 2020, Omahan Nick Bartholomew bought the rights to B&G’s name, logo, recipes and other materials from owner Eddie Morin.
And he has been trying to reopen the restaurant ever since.
Last year, he announced that he had purchased the former location of a Godfather’s Pizza near 90th and Blondo Streets for the new B&G. But negotiations with the city about renovations stalled that project.
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“We were heartbroken that 90th Street didn’t pan out as expected," Bartholomew said as he conducted a tour of the Nebraska Crossing site. "But (in Gretna) we have a great opportunity to grow something generational between Omaha and Lincoln.”
Nick Bartholomew, a managing partner with B&G Tasty Foods, which will open soon at Nebraska Crossing.
He plans to open additional B&G locations across the metropolitan area.
“We will be able to serve all parts of the city,” he said.
Bartholomew did fairly extensive renovations on the Nebraska Crossing space, which used to be Local Beer, Patio and Kitchen. It has a walk-up window with an express menu on the side so people can order food to eat while strolling through the mall. You also can order online and either you or a DoorDash driver can pick up your meal at the window.
“You can grab your B&G (loose meat) by the pound, because that’s the way they had done it (at the original eatery),” he said.
Behind the takeout area is a wall featuring B&G merch — T-shirts and other items.
Most of the front counter is a full-service bar with 10 beer taps featuring local and domestic brews. The bar will also serve a variety of wines and other cocktails.
Glassware used for floats and sundaes at B&G Tasty Foods. The restaurant will serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic ice-cream creations.
The dining room has sturdy tables and chairs that were made and donated by Williams-Sonoma, which provides all the furniture for the mall, Bartholomew said. The area will seat about 100 people and the new restaurant will employ about 30 people. Bartholomew re-created the old B&G’s orange, blue and yellow color scheme on the walls.
The restaurant also has two huge big-screen televisions and there’s another one on the patio. Bartholomew plans to have family movie nights in that space, which also has an area for music performances. He said he hopes the patio will attract Nebraska Cornhuskers fans on their way to and from football games each fall.
B&G Tasty Foods will have a patio and the first drive-thru at the Nebraska Crossing mall in Gretna.
The drive-thru, courtesy of Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates, is lined with trees.
Original logos and other signs are much the same, yet updated, Bartholomew said, and food trays will be lined with paper that honors other legacy Omaha businesses such as Peony Park and the Short Stop cafe.
“We are really trying to be a hybrid model — it’s sit-down but it isn’t, takeout but it isn’t. That’s the really cool part of all this,” he said.
The menu, of course, will feature the restaurant’s famous loose-meat sandwich, but also has innovations from Bartholomew, who operated the breakfast and lunch cafe Over Easy for a number of years before closing it a couple months ago. At B&G, he plans to serve loaded potato puffs, chili, buffalo chicken nuggets, hand pies, a peanut butter and jelly sundae and much more.
He will also offer shakes and floats, some made with the alcohol-laced ice cream he sold at the former Switch food hall in the Blackstone district. Heavy Brewing Co. of Gretna is making a special root beer that will only be sold at B&G, and, eventually, in some grocery stores.
Bartholomew has heard from several B&G fans who are excited it’s reopening.
One family bought two vintage bicycles that used to be displayed at the Dodge Street restaurant at an auction, then donated them for the new location after touring his work-in-progress a few weeks ago.
Workers renovate the former Local Beer, Patio and Kitchen at Nebraska Crossing into a new B&G Tasty Foods.
A couple who got engaged at the original B&G also reached out to him with well-wishes. And members of Omaha Westside High School’s Class of 1973 — who spent more than a little money and time at the classic Dodge Street diner — are including the new B&G in their 50th reunion weekend this fall.
“These are all the families that will make this establishment fun,” he said.
Bartholomew’s persistent dream to rekindle memories — and create new ones — appears to be coming true.
“B&G is an iconic, family-friendly household name," he said. “We have been waiting so long to make this happen.”
The 10 longest-running restaurants in Lincoln
1942: Lee's Restaurant
Lee's Restaurant, shown in 2014 when the mascot Pete was welcomed home after being stolen, is Lincoln's oldest full-service restaurant. It is located at 1940 W. Van Dorn.
1957: Valentino's
Valentino's, the second-oldest restaurant, has multiple locations in Lincoln. The restaurant chain got started on Holdrege in 1957.
1963: Misty's
Misty's (the sign for the original at 6235 Havelock is shown) is Lincoln's third-oldest restaurant.
1965: Virginia's Travelers Cafe
Virginia's Travelers Cafe at 3280 Cornhusker Highway is Lincoln's fourth-oldest full-service restaurant. In this picture, Rich "Rob" Robinson eats breakfast at Virginia's in 2008.
1976: Tico’s
Tico's, 317 S. 17th St., is Lincoln's fifth-oldest full-service restaurant.
1978: daVinci's
DaVinci's has multiple Lincoln locations, all serving pizza, pasta and sandwiches. The Knudson family began their restaurant business in Lincoln in 1978 with Pontillo's Pizzeria downtown. The first daVinci's location opened in 1984 on South 48th Street.
1982: Piezano's
Piezano's, 2740 South St., is Lincoln's sixth-oldest restaurant. In this photo, Shawn Watters takes down a ticket at Piezano's on Super Bowl Sunday in 2016.
1984: The Isles
Isles Pub & Pizza, 6232 Havelock Ave., tied for seventh-oldest full-service restaurant in Lincoln.
1986: Billy's
Billy's Restaurant, 1301 H St., is Lincoln's ninth-oldest restaurant.
1988: Hi-Way Diner
Lincoln's Hi-Way Diner, 2105 Nebraska 2, has plenty of homestyle favorites such as meatloaf on the menu. The restaurant opened in 1988.
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