Omaha Exploration

Updated: February 14, 2025

Built in 1935, the cement block building at 3528 Center first opened as a Reed’s Ice Cream shop. Just one year earlier, Walter Evans opened an ice cream shop of his own next door. After Claud Reed moved to Omaha from Des Moines where his father manufactured ice cream, he would go on to open more than 60 shops across town.

By 1930 he had already built 10 bungalows which along with prepackaged ice cream became his formula for success. While most of his locations to this point had been located in North Omaha, he continued to operate this location until 1948. All Reeds locations closed in 1959 as its business was being squeezed by supermarket chains.

Despite that, its days as an ice cream shop weren’t over quite yet. In 1948 it became Omaha’s first Dairy Queen which only lasted for six years when they auctioned off the equipment in 1954. After that it had become a dry cleaner, bakery and laundromat.

In 1969 the Huntzinger family which already operated a restaurant along 32nd Ave to the east decided to open a second location which they named Richie’s Pizza & Chicken. The popular neighborhood restaurant changed its name a few times before dropping pizza and becoming Richie’s Chicken and Hamburgers. Richie’s closed in 2019 when the owner and landlord could not come to an agreement on the updates needed. After that, Richie’s Chicken relocated to Pop’s Place on 35th and F St.

In 2021 the building underwent extensive renovation along with other buildings in the West Center District. When it was finished, the original design was largely restored. That year it opened as a popular neighborhood breakfast cafe called Sunnyside on Center. The restaurant quickly became known for its breakfast burritos before closing in October 2024.

The building found new life once again as Know Good Eats, a concept by Sweet Magnolia’s Bake Shop. The bakery and brunchette focuses on bagels and sandwiches in addition to a small cafe menu.

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