Despite rising food costs, labor shortages and erratic sales, 2021 was a good year overall for Lincoln restaurants according to Grow Lincoln co-host Robin Eschliman. “I fully expected that we would find more closings that openings, but we had about 26 restaurants that opened in Lincoln and 23 that closed.”
Over the past several years Eschliman says Lincoln has netted one opening. She says 2021 was a bounce back year. 28 restaurants opened in 2020 and 33 were lost. She says more than 60 percent of the new restaurants that opened are locally owned. The others are chain restaurants.
Eschliman is also encouraged that seven of the new businesses are in downtown. “Despite all the office people not being there at lunch time. It just goes to show that people really do believe downtown is going to come back.”
Eschliman says these are the restaurants that opened in 2021:
Relish Lunch & Catering, (601 Van Dorn)
Napolis (800 Q St)
Abelardos (48th & Leighton)
Charred Burger & Bar (Southpointe)
El Potro (3410 S 10th St)
Rendang Malaysian Cuisine (27th & O)
Burrito Express (831 N 48th St)
Bagels & Joe (215 N 14th)
Fortune (210 N 14th)
Taj Ali Middle Eastern Food (17th & Q)
IHOP (29th & Pine Lake)
Chipotle (70th & Pioneer)
A Taste of Soul (3111 O St)
KCG Venezuelan Restaurant (1113 N Cotner)
Wing Stop (27th & Superior)
Dammi Dammi Mediterranean (128 N 13th)
Itsumo Ramen (1451 O St)
Wing Stop (2801 Pine Lake Rd)
Jeanie’s Kitchen (70th & Hwy 2)
Peace, Love, Sushi (Gateway Food Ct)
Taco Bell (7355 Willowbrook Lane)
Box Car BBQ (6105 Havelock)
Wahlburgers (5020 N 27th Hy-Vee)
Vic’s Pizza (S. 84th & Glynoaks)
Rosie’s Bar and Grill DT (S. 10th & P)
Wing Stop (5001 O)
Restaurants that closed:
Danny’s Deli (941 O St)
Subway (505 N 27th)
Which Witch (6th & P St)
Jimmy John’s Haymarket
ChezSoDo Cafe (11th & K)
El Rancho Authentic (27th & O)
Pasta Place (Havelock)
Ramos (2701 N 48th)
Carlos O’Kelly (27th & Superior)
AmuManu Ramen Bar (1451 O St)
Taco John’s (48th & Vine)
Red Lobster (64th & O)
Valentino’s Grand Buffet (70th & VD)
Godfather’s (48th & Hwy 2)
Source, Eat, Fit (70th & Pioneers)
Brueggers Bagels (1205 Q Street)
Subway (SunValley Blvd)
Dino’s Restaurant (84th & Van Dorn)
Back Yard Burger (84th & Hwy 2)
Sebastian’s Table (84th & Glynoaks)
Brewsky’s (16th and South)
El Mejor (3111 NW 12th)
Rutabagas (14th & O)