Saddle Creek launches a city of its own
OMAHA — Anyone plugged into Nebraska’s music scene knows the name Saddle Creek.
That’s the Omaha label that brought bands like Cursive, the Faint and emo icon Conor Oberst’s Bright Eyes to national prominence, securing a spot for the state’s lone metropolis on the independent music map.
But the leaders of the label —University of Nebraska-Lincoln grads Jason Kulbel and Robb Nansel — can no longer be known just for spotting rising musical talent.
The latest addition to the 30-somethings’ resumes: real estate development.
Their new club, Slowdown, debuted Friday near 14th and Webster streets. It’s the first business open in a new living, retail and entertainment complex owned by Saddle Creek Records.
Besides the live-music venue, the Saddle Creek compound will house Film Streams, an independent film theater; a Blue Line coffee house; Nebraska’s first Urban Outfitters store; and apartments that can double as independent shops for their inhabitants. A restaurant space is available, but the owners say they are “waiting for the right offer.”
“Our initial reaction was, ‘We’d better get a sense of community out here,’” Kulbel said of the varied offerings in the block. “We felt in a way we had to control our own destiny and make sure we were surrounded by like-minded people.”
The two buildings that will eventually house all this are still under construction. But Kulbel and Nansel say they hope to open each addition as it finishes. Film Streams’ two-screen theater plans to screen its first film in late July. The coffeehouse should open some time this summer, and the Urban Outfitters should open in the fall.
The businesses could be the beginning of revitalization efforts north of Omaha’s downtown, known as NoDo. A potential Rosenblatt Stadium replacement could land in the area, and city leaders hope other national retailers will invest in the neighborhood.
Regardless of if that happens, the 470-capacity Slowdown — with glossy stained concrete flooring, oak tables and maroon leather rolling chairs — is open as a bar on the nights without live music. The developers hope shelves of books and board games and old PacMan and Galaga games in the corners will give the brand-new bar a more intimate vibe.
“It’s hard to get that dive feel when you have to buy everything brand new,” Nansel says. “You’d think you’d be able to find hundreds of used black bar stools, but it just isn’t that case.”
Kulbel and Nansel say they hope, given time, Slowdown will attract premium national acts — beyond Saddle Creek’s bands — and push this Midwestern mecca of music further into the limelight.
So far, turnout has been good. Slowdown manager Val Nelson said crowds Friday and Saturday night were at capacity, and Oberst played a secret show June 7 for about 350 people.
“We’re really lucky that we’re able to do this,” Nansel said. “Not that long ago this would have been impossible.”
Reach Drew Kerr at 473-7223 or dkerr@journalstar.com.
That’s the Omaha label that brought bands like Cursive, the Faint and emo icon Conor Oberst’s Bright Eyes to national prominence, securing a spot for the state’s lone metropolis on the independent music map.
But the leaders of the label —University of Nebraska-Lincoln grads Jason Kulbel and Robb Nansel — can no longer be known just for spotting rising musical talent.
The latest addition to the 30-somethings’ resumes: real estate development.
Their new club, Slowdown, debuted Friday near 14th and Webster streets. It’s the first business open in a new living, retail and entertainment complex owned by Saddle Creek Records.
Besides the live-music venue, the Saddle Creek compound will house Film Streams, an independent film theater; a Blue Line coffee house; Nebraska’s first Urban Outfitters store; and apartments that can double as independent shops for their inhabitants. A restaurant space is available, but the owners say they are “waiting for the right offer.”
“Our initial reaction was, ‘We’d better get a sense of community out here,’” Kulbel said of the varied offerings in the block. “We felt in a way we had to control our own destiny and make sure we were surrounded by like-minded people.”
The two buildings that will eventually house all this are still under construction. But Kulbel and Nansel say they hope to open each addition as it finishes. Film Streams’ two-screen theater plans to screen its first film in late July. The coffeehouse should open some time this summer, and the Urban Outfitters should open in the fall.
The businesses could be the beginning of revitalization efforts north of Omaha’s downtown, known as NoDo. A potential Rosenblatt Stadium replacement could land in the area, and city leaders hope other national retailers will invest in the neighborhood.
Regardless of if that happens, the 470-capacity Slowdown — with glossy stained concrete flooring, oak tables and maroon leather rolling chairs — is open as a bar on the nights without live music. The developers hope shelves of books and board games and old PacMan and Galaga games in the corners will give the brand-new bar a more intimate vibe.
“It’s hard to get that dive feel when you have to buy everything brand new,” Nansel says. “You’d think you’d be able to find hundreds of used black bar stools, but it just isn’t that case.”
Kulbel and Nansel say they hope, given time, Slowdown will attract premium national acts — beyond Saddle Creek’s bands — and push this Midwestern mecca of music further into the limelight.
So far, turnout has been good. Slowdown manager Val Nelson said crowds Friday and Saturday night were at capacity, and Oberst played a secret show June 7 for about 350 people.
“We’re really lucky that we’re able to do this,” Nansel said. “Not that long ago this would have been impossible.”
Reach Drew Kerr at 473-7223 or dkerr@journalstar.com.
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