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Allan Zeeck, owner of the Benson Grind, is closing his midtown operation and moving downtown.

The Benson Grind, at 6107 Maple St., will close Dec. 23. Zeeck's new restaurant and coffee shop, Cafe 110, will open Jan. 20 in the corner bay of the Landmark Building on the corner of 12th and Farnam Streets.

The Benson Grind has been in business in the midtown neighborhood for eight years. Zeeck said he was looking to move to Aksarben Village when the Landmark Building management approached him with its open spot, formerly home to MJ Java.

Zeeck said Cafe 110 will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner along with coffee, homemade cookies and desserts and sweet and savory pastries. An organic salad bar will be priced by the pound. Lunch will also feature a selection of homemade soup. A breakfast bar and a dinner bar will be set up in the same serve-yourself buffet but will feature different selections. The restaurant will not serve alcohol.

Zeeck said he plans to have live music, poetry readings and visual art in the space. He had a contest to select a local muralist to paint a piece in the restaurant and he will ask a new artist to create a piece for the space each year. He said he hopes to bring the community-driven atmosphere from the Benson Grind to the new location. The restaurant will be open seven days a week.

Open on Christmas Day

A handful of restaurants replied to our call for places serving meals on Christmas Day.

Big Red Restaurant and Sports Bar, 8100 Cass St., will serve dinner from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and the bar will be open until 2 a.m.

Sapp Brothers Cafe, 9905 Sapp Bros. Drive, will serve its normal Sunday breakfast buffet from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. It includes eggs, sausage, hash browns, breakfast casserole, bacon and an omelet station. The cafe also will have a special Christmas buffet from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. that will include ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and vegetables.

The Zin Room, 315 South 16th St., also will be open on Christmas Day. Chef Ryan Gish will serve a buffet-style dinner that includes brined and herb-roasted turkey, smoked pot roast, stuffing, squash casserole and dessert, among other items. The buffet is $30 per person without tax or tip and $15 for children 12 years old and younger. Reservations are required and the buffet runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For a reservation, call 402-991-0660.

Is your restaurant open on Christmas Day? World-Herald readers want to know. Email the name of your restaurant, the hours it will be open on Christmas Day and whether you will be serving a special menu to Sarah Baker Hansen at sarah.bakerhansen@owh.com. The list will be compiled for a second Dining Notes column if we receive more responses.

Kobe location is now open

Kobe Steakhouse's new location in Village Pointe is open and its location in Regency Court is closed. The new location has the same hibachi-centric menu the restaurant is known for, along with a new sushi menu that includes a variety of fish platters and appetizers. The new Kobe is at 16801 Burke St. and the phone number is 402-391-1755.

Pizza Ranch adding new location

The Pizza Ranch is opening a new location in Omaha. The 6,000-square-foot restaurant will be at 3010 S. 84th St. in the Frederick Square shopping center. It will seat more than 200 in a dining room modeled to resemble the old west. The restaurant has a dine-in buffet, carryout and delivery. The restaurant also has Nebraska locations in Columbus and West Point. The Omaha location is slated to open Dec. 27.

Dine at Cantina Laredo for a cause

Midtown Crossing's Cantina Laredo is honoring First Sergeants this Sunday. The restaurant will donate 20 percent of its Sunday brunch proceeds to the Offutt Air Force Base group that volunteers time to improve the health, morale and welfare of airmen and their families.

"At holiday time, when military families may feel additional stress, the First Sergeants are a lifeline," said Master Sgt. Charles Puffer from the 55th Security Forces Squadron. The brunch is served Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and each entree includes a complimentary mimosa or bloody Maria. For reservations, call 402-345-6000.

Whole Foods tasting events

Omaha's Whole Foods Market is having two holiday tasting events. "Taste of the Holidays" includes samples of some of the market's holiday dishes, and free samples will be available throughout the store Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

The market will have two holiday wine tastings on Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The informal event will help tasters learn more about the featured wines the store has for the holiday season and let them talk to in-house wine experts about the choices. The tastings are free.

For more information on any of the tastings, call 402-393-1200.

— Staff writer Sarah Baker Hansen