Fifth House, a downtown Omaha restaurant that owner Mark Gregory feared he would have to close, is reopening after an anonymous donor provided funds that were routed through the Nebraska Enterprise Fund and its Streetcar Business Impact Fund.
Relief for businesses along the streetcar route
Gregory said he had been preparing for the worst after revenue slumped while the city’s streetcar construction continued. The restaurant opened in October of last year, meaning it has operated entirely in the shadow of the project. While Gregory said it is difficult to attribute all of his financial strain to the construction, he and many other business owners identify the streetcar work as a significant factor.
The anonymous contribution was facilitated by Nebraska Enterprise Fund officials, who operate the $5 million Streetcar Business Impact Fund created to support businesses affected by the route’s construction. Dr. Michael Young, NEF’s chief operating officer, said the private donor approached the organization and asked it to distribute assistance to impacted businesses.
"A private donor stood up and said, 'Nebraska Enterprise Fund, will you facilitate a mechanism to reach out to businesses?'"
The fund has been used in a mix of larger and smaller awards tailored to documented losses. According to NEF, the program has distributed both forgivable grants and smaller recovery awards to help keep storefronts open while construction continues.
How the fund has been used
- 67 grants of $50,000 each, described by NEF as 100% forgivable and with payments not required until January 2028
- 48 grants of $10,000 awarded to businesses showing a documented loss of 10% or more
- Recipients include local favorites such as Crescent Moon Brewery, Mercury Bar and Block 16, as well as Fifth House
NEF officials said $4.1 million of the $5 million fund has already been paid out. With most of the pool committed, Dr. Young urged other donors to consider stepping forward to help additional businesses that remain vulnerable during the construction period.
"If there's any way that another donor would step up, no matter any amount, just to support maybe a business, come in,"
Local consequences and next steps
For Gregory, the infusion allowed him to rehire staff, finalize a new menu and plan a reopening that he hopes will reconnect the restaurant with its neighborhood diners. He described the moment as both humbling and a relief.
For other business owners lining the streetcar route, the fund has been a lifeline, but NEF officials warn the money is finite. Information about applying to the Streetcar Business Impact Fund is available at NebBiz.org/streetcar, and NEF staff remain a point of contact for businesses seeking support.
| Grant type | Number awarded | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Forgivable grants | 67 | $50,000 each |
| Smaller emergency grants | 48 | $10,000 each |
Citywide, the streetcar project has produced mixed reviews: officials cite long-term mobility and development benefits, while small-business owners point to short-term disruption and revenue loss. The NEF fund represents one local attempt to bridge that interim gap, but its remaining balance — roughly $900,000, based on NEF’s reported $4.1 million disbursed from the $5 million pool — may not be enough to cover all applicants who document losses.
As construction continues, Omaha business owners and community leaders will likely weigh continued private support against other options for relief. In the meantime, Fifth House’s reopening underscores how a single donor — anonymous or not — can influence the survival of neighborhood restaurants during prolonged public works projects.
