The former Joe Banana’s corner along busy 10th Street south of downtown Omaha looks like it will remain a restaurant, though renovated and likely with a neighboring retailer.
Philanthropist Nancy Mammel, who had a hand in developing the neighboring Blue Barn Theatre and other artful places on the corridor, has purchased the longtime bar and grill to modernize yet preserve its commercial use.
“We need more restaurants and retail in the neighborhood,” said Mammel, whose mission in part was to avert an apartment structure. “As much as I love contemporary, it’s important to keep these old buildings.”
Turns out that underneath the stucco shell of the former Joe Banana’s — a longtime fixture that we wrote about as it was closing — are multiple buildings with roots dating back to around 1890.
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Their original addresses, and that of an adjoining courtyard, were: 1024, 1022, 1020 and 1018 S. 10th St.
Joe Banana’s had leased the property at 10th and Pacific for a quarter of a century. Mammel, under Ole’s Big Note LLC, bought it from the Yano J. Bonofede Trust for $600,000. She expects to invest an additional $400,000 to rehabilitate and get the strip into shape before she then sells or leases three segments.
Her vision:
The corner structure likely would become a restaurant space with new south-facing windows and patio area along Pacific that would look toward the Blue Barn.
The connecting building to the north would be converted to a storefront home for a retailer or office user.
North of that stands a less solidly built portion, formerly used as a party room, that would be torn down. (That would allow the office/retail building to have north-facing windows.)
Mammel said she’d retain about 10 feet of ground under that soon-to-be-demolished part and package the rest with the outdoor courtyard where Joe Banana’s patrons used to socialize on breezy evenings.
“I care about this neighborhood, and I wanted to protect the corner,” said Mammel.
In addition to the northwest corner, Mammel also bought land on the northeast corner and donated it for parking for the Blue Barn. It’s all a continuation of her infatuation for the history-rich 10th Street corridor.
In addition to developing the contemporary and landscaped C02 apartments south of 10th and William Streets, Mammel helped spearhead the 10th and Pacific Streets complex that includes the Blue Barn, its urban park backyard, the Boxcar 10 loft apartments and Via Farina pizzeria.

Downtown Nutrition now occupies the storefront bottom level of the spot next to the former Joe Banana's at 1016 S. 10th St. The upper level is a condo.Â
New tenant is shaking up 10th Street corridor
A merchant that serves up healthy shakes and energy teas has moved into the commercial storefront of a newly rehabbed 119-year-old building along 10th Street.
Downtown Nutrition now leases about 1,900 square feet on the street level of the L-shaped building at 1016 S. 10th St., just north of the former Joe Banana’s restaurant and tavern.
Lexie Bates and fiancé Reagan Nikkel, who own the nutrition business, said they liked the proximity to the Old Market, Little Italy and 13th Street.
The remodeled two-story property — with a residential condo on the upper floor — gives off a Little Italy vibe, with iron scroll gating and a brick front. Owner Terry Waschinek of Tenth Street Bridge Properties said he wanted a Brownstone look to help fit with the neighborhood.
He bought the property from the estate of Nunziata Caniglia. Douglas County records show the property’s value today at $219,000. In all, the structure is about 3,500 square feet.
Tenth Street Bridge Properties also owns a commercial strip to the north that has as tenants Tenth Sanctum Tattoo, Rain Salon and Burlington League bar and grill (which is run by Waschinek’s fiancé, Jamie Pogge). Another 2,800-square-foot bay was recently renovated and is open to lease.
Waschinek said he is fond of the Little Italy area where his mom grew up. He bought his first property along 10th Street a decade ago and said he’s been impressed with the corridor’s evolution.
“It’s been a pretty amazing transformation,” he said. “It’s great to see people coming to this neighborhood, walking around and revitalizing it.”

The property at 1101 S. 10th, across the street from the Blue Barn Theatre, was purchased for $399,000.Â
Cabinet designer to build personal residence, more
An Omaha cabinetmaker has purchased the long-inactive southeast corner of 10th and Pacific Streets and envisions a multilevel residential building topped with his own personal residence.
Curt Brannon is founder and chief executive of Sympateco Inc., a manufacturer that supplies national franchises with cabinetry and other items.
He now wants to design (with help from two architectural firms) a downtown dwelling for himself and like-minded tenants that features amenities otherwise not so plentiful in downtown. That would include, he said, “obnoxious amounts” of indoor parking.
County records show he paid $399,000 for the property at 1101 S. 10th, across the street from the Blue Barn Theatre. He plans to demolish the former gas station.
Still in preliminary stages, the new residential building would rise perhaps five stories, he said, and would include upscale rentals or for-sale condos or a combination.
Brannon’s business and workforce is based in the former Pamida headquarters, which he repurposed at 88th and F Streets.

The new Dahlman Flats Apartments at the former Grace University administration building. The first phase opened this past week, and the final wave is expected to open in May 2020.Â
Move-ins start at Dahlman Flats, a former Grace University building
The first wave of the new Dahlman Flats apartments has opened at the former Grace University administration building.
Urban Village Development had preleased 50 of those first 56 market-rate units, said co-founder Jerry Reimer, so they expect a “mass move-in” this weekend.
“We’re super excited,” Reimer said. “They’ve turned out really nice.”
In all, the $16 million Dahlman Flats — so named for the neighborhood it’s in — will have 167 units. The last phase is expected to be done in May of next year.
Before it was Grace University, the renovated structure at 1311 S. Ninth St. was St. Catherine Hospital. It spans nearly 3 acres and contains 142,000 square feet, including the basement.

Rendering of the new apartments coming to 10th and Pierce Streets.
10th and Pierce Streets apartments aim for mid-2020 opening
The 89-unit apartment structure that’s rising at 10th and Pierce Streets should be open by mid-2020, said developer Eric Wieseler.
“We’re swinging away there,” Wieseler said of the $15.3 million project.
He said there’s no name yet for the multilevel structure that is to have a detached fitness center and underground parking.
Previously, PJ Morgan Real Estate worked on a now-ditched $7 million plan that envisioned fewer dwellings — 19 for-sale upscale townhouses, some with two-car garages, as well as a rooftop deck and private courtyard.
That so-called Avanti project had gone through several city approval stages before the Morgan company pulled out, saying costs had grown too high.
Dodge Street

Dodge Street: Dodge was believed to be named for U.S. Sen. Augustus Caesar Dodge, of Iowa, who championed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 — along with Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, for whom Douglas Street is named. The 1854 act established the two territories, opened new lands, repealed the 1820 Missouri Compromise and allowed new settlers to decide whether they would allow slavery. But, over the years, it became less clear of the origin of the street name, and many took issue with what they called Augustus Caesar Dodge's pro-slavery stances. And so, in 2016, an effort was launched to officially name Dodge Street in honor of Civil War Brig. Gen. Grenville Mellen Dodge and his brother, real estate pioneer N.P. Dodge. Those efforts were approved by the city, county and state in 2016.
Jones Street

Jones Street: Alfred D. Jones did Omaha City’s first survey in 1854. It was said that, as Omaha’s first postmaster, the lawyer carried the mail in his hat.
Johnny Rodgers Street

Johnny Rodgers Street: Marlin Briscoe, left, and Johnny Rodgers pose for a photo before a ceremony to rename a section of Burt Street, between 30th and 33rd Streets, Johnny Rodgers Street on July 30, 2015. Read more
Capitol Avenue

Capitol Avenue: This route led from the Missouri River to the second Nebraska territorial capitol, located on top of a hill near 20th and Dodge Streets. That building was replaced by Omaha High School in 1872, then by the school’s second building, which was completed in 1912. Omaha High School is now known as Omaha Central High School.
Mike Fahey Street

Mike Fahey Street: Fahey, pictured in 2009 at the ceremony renaming seven blocks of Webster Street from 10th Street to Creighton University as Mike Fahey Street, was the city’s longest-serving mayor since the City Charter was approved by voters in 1956.
A.V. Sorensen Parkway

A.V. Sorensen Parkway: Omaha businessman Axel Vergman Sorensen, mayor from 1965 to 1969, chaired a convention in 1956 that wrote the city’s current governing charter.
Farnam Street

Farnam Street: Originally the main drag in Omaha, Farnam Street was named for railroad promoter Henry Farnam.
Bob Gibson Boulevard

Bob Gibson Boulevard: Bob Gibson speaks after the unveiling of the street named after him in 1999. Deer Park Boulevard near Rosenblatt Stadium was renamed Bob Gibson Boulevard after the former St. Louis Cardinal pitching great and Hall of Fame member. Read more
Neal Mosser Boulevard

Neal Mosser Boulevard: The stretch of Cuming Street from 30th to 33rd Streets was named after longtime Tech High basketball coach Neal Mosser in 2005. His coaching tenure stretched from 1948 to the late 1960s, and he was recognized as a positive influence on countless athletes, including Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson and NBA star and Olympic gold medalist Bob Boozer.
Bud Crawford Street

Bud Crawford Street: Larimore Avenue between 31st Avenue and 33rd Street was designated Terence "Bud" Crawford Street. The professional boxer was born and raised on that stretch of Larimore. Read more
Millard Avenue

Millard Avenue:Â Ezra Millard was president of the Omaha National Bank, which he organized in 1866. In 1871, he bought the land that was to become Millard.
Carol Van Metre Lane

Carol Van Metre Lane: Named in honor of the late Carol Van Metre, who worked to help ensure that the children of Omaha had parks and fields in which to play. It winds east from 24th Street at Woolworth Avenue and leads to Columbus Park, the Columbus Community Center, and Van Metre Field, which is named for Carol’s husband, Dave. Read more
College World Series Avenue

College World Series Avenue: The section of 13th Street between Cuming Street and Mike Fahey Street was renamed College World Series Avenue in 2011 as a permanent reminder that TD Ameritrade Park is the home of the CWS. Read more
Dave Rimington Street

Dave Rimington Street: Mayor Mike Fahey with football great and philanthropist Dave Rimington, an Omaha South grad, during the dedication of the 20th Street to 24th Street section of L Street as Dave Rimington Street in 2002. Rimington redefined the center position at Nebraska, winning two Outland Trophies and a Lombardi Award before launching a seven-year NFL career. Read more
Boyd Street

Boyd Street:Â James E. Boyd was twice mayor of Omaha in the 1880s. The Irish immigrant became governor of Nebraska in 1890.
California Street

California Street: Gold seekers headed west for California landed near this street after crossing the Missouri River.
Cuming Street

Cuming Street:Â Secretary of the Nebraska Territory and acting Gov. Thomas B. Cuming convened the first Nebraska Territorial Legislature in Omaha in 1854, making Omaha the capital.
Harney Street

Harney Street:Â At the outbreak of the Civil War, Gen. William S. Harney was commander of the Department of the West.
Kyle Wayne LeFlore Street

Kyle Wayne LeFlore Street: The block of 29th Street between Fowler Ave and Meredith Ave was renamed Kyle Wayne LeFlore Street in honor of Sgt. LeFlore on July 20, 2018. LeFlore was slain in Omaha while on holiday vacation from the military. Read more
Marlin Briscoe Way

Marlin Briscoe Way: Marlin Briscoe, the first black starting quarterback in the NFL and an Omaha South High School graduate, was honored with a street named in his honor. Read more
Military Avenue

Military Avenue:Â This part of the original Overland Trail twisted through Omaha and Benson starting in 1857. It was used to move military supplies to Fort Kearny and by settlers heading to the Northwest. In 1994, part of Military Road near 82nd and Fort Streets was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Minne Lusa Boulevard

Minne Lusa Boulevard: Minne Lusa is a Native American term meaning “clear water.” A Florence pumping station was on the street. An elementary school of the same name is located near Minne Lusa Boulevard today.
Paxton Boulevard

Paxton Boulevard: William A. Paxton, known as the “real founder of South Omaha,” organized the Union Stockyards Company. He co-founded Paxton & Gallagher Wholesale Grocery, became co-owner of the Paxton & Vierling Iron Works and served in the Nebraska legislature. The Paxton Hotel was named for him.
Poppleton Avenue

Poppleton Avenue: Andrew Jackson Poppleton, a member of the first territorial legislature, was involved in deciding the territorial capital’s location. The attorney successfully represented Standing Bear in the Ponca chief’s 1879 trial. Poppleton served three times as mayor of Omaha.
Saddle Creek Road

Saddle Creek Road: This one sounds like it could be a tall tale, right? Details are sparse, but a man was apparently heading west out of Omaha to make his fortune mining gold. He didn’t get very far before a saddle fell off his wagon and into a creek that then flowed in the area. Hence the name Saddle Creek.
Woolworth Avenue

Woolworth Avenue: Attorney James Woolworth helped develop South Omaha’s stockyards. He wrote and published “The History of Omaha” in 1857. The city was only three years old.
Fred Astaire Avenue

Fred Astaire Avenue: On May 11, 2019, the day after what would’ve been dancing and acting legend Fred Astaire’s 120th birthday, Omaha honored its native son with his own street. The Fred Astaire Avenue sign is visible on 10th Street at Martha Street, less than a block from the house where Astaire was born. The family moved from Omaha to New York City in 1905. Read moreÂ
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Cindy, thank you so much for the good article on South 10th Street. It will be interesting what kind of development will occur to the immediate South of Pine Street, where the new school will be built, and when.
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