Omaha Exploration

In the first of a multi-part series, we’ll explore the history of buildings that sit along the streetcar route and get acquainted with the businesses being impacted by its ongoing construction.

Today, we’ll explore the Farnam Building which is home to Table Grace Cafe and Block 16.

Located on the south side of Farnam between 16th and 17th Streets, the Farnam Building has seen a number of notable businesses reside within its walls over the years. It was constructed in 1929 near the end of Omaha’s “Golden Age,” just before the Great Depression. The seven-story building was designed by MIT-educated architect George Prinz, who worked for a time under Thomas Rogers Kimball before starting his own practice.

Prinz designed the Farnam Building with elements of Art Deco, Sullivanesque, and Gothic Revival styles. It contains both a full basement and a sidewalk vault, a subterranean room beneath the sidewalk. The seven-story building was constructed for the Byron Reed Company, which holds the distinction of being the state’s oldest real estate company.

The building features brick pilasters flanking the windows, with ornamental bronze spandrel panels in between. Above the top-floor windows are limestone crowns with decorative relief, all topped by a monumental Art Deco-style battlement.

Byron Reed used the second floor as its corporate offices while leasing the remaining floors as both office and retail space. The ground floor included six commercial bays for retail tenants. Among the original tenants were the ticket office for the Milwaukee Road Railroad, Loftis Bros. Jewelry Store, Mangel’s, W. L. Douglas Shoe Store, and Northrup-Jones.

In 1939, Northrup-Jones, a cafeteria-style restaurant and bakery that was popular with judges, lawyers, politicians, and office professionals, wanted a distinct look for its storefront on the western half of the building. Architect John Latenser renovated the space in a Georgian Revival style with a glazed terra cotta facade, making it architecturally significant in its own right.

While Byron Reed moved out in 1966, Northrup-Jones continued to lease its space until closing in 1994. By that time, the building was deteriorating and half empty when NuStyle Development purchased it and converted the former office space into 30 residential units for low-to-moderate-income tenants. That same year, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The street-level retail storefronts have changed over the years but remain in use today. The former Northrup-Jones space at 1617 Farnam Street was converted into what is now the most unique post office retail location in Omaha.

Table Grace Kitchen is located near the center of the building in the former Milwaukee Road ticket office at 1611 Farnam. Opened by Matt and Simone Weber in 2011, the restaurant aims to foster a healthy community by providing freshly prepared food served with dignity. It offers both breakfast and lunch and operates as a pay-what-you-can restaurant that also provides opportunities for personal and spiritual transformation through hospitality, music, and fellowship.

Block 16, meanwhile, is located at 1609 Farnam in a space that was home to two different jewelry stores: Loftis Bros. and Takechi. In 2012, Paul and Jessica Urban set out to open a fine dining establishment in this space. Instead, they opened the chef-driven, farm-to-table street food restaurant called Block 16. The restaurant has received numerous accolades over the years, and its Croque Garcon burger is a favorite of celebrity chef Alton Brown. It is also well known for its innovative daily specials.

If either business appeals to you, consider paying them a visit so they can remain open when streetcar construction is finished in 2028.

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