Omaha
Benson
Benson is the bar-and-arts strip along Maple Street in Omaha, and it's one of Nebraska's state-certified Creative Districts. It built that reputation on a scrappy, DIY arts scene and a slogan locals mean literally: Keep Benson Good Weird. Come for tacos, a beer, a gallery crawl, or the monthly art walk that takes over Maple Street.
A Little History
Benson was its own town before Omaha annexed it in 1917. It went through a rough patch and then a comeback: the 2005 Maple Street Corridor Project was part of the revitalization that's still visible today, and the neighborhood built a reputation for community spirit that locals still sum up in two slogans, "Keep Benson Bent" and "Keep Benson Good Weird."
Benson First Friday's founding overlaps with that comeback. BFF Omaha, the nonprofit behind Benson First Friday, credits founders Alex Jochim and JD Hardy with launching the art walk along Maple Street in 2012, on its own site. The group gained nonprofit status in 2015 and took the name BFF Omaha in 2019. Soon after Nebraska's 2020 creative-district legislation, Benson secured its official Creative District designation.
Where to Eat
Maple Street's restaurant lineup runs from puffy tacos to sushi to pizza.
Taco Co.
Has served Omaha's puffy tacos since 1976, and it's closed Sundays and Mondays.
Ted & Wally's
The Benson location of Omaha's homemade ice cream shop, and it also serves food from A Taste of New Orleans. Its posted Friday–Saturday closing time looks off, so check tedandwallys.com before you go.
Edge of the Universe Cafe
A self-described "theme changing art cafe," rotating its décor around a different theme while pouring lattes, cocktails, and dessert. Its own site posts two different sets of hours in two different spots, so confirm which one is current on edgeoftheuniverseomaha.com.
Snowy Sundaes
Serves bubble tea and Korean shaved ice.
Yoshitomo
An intimate sushi-ya serving Japanese small plates, nigiri, and maki sushi alongside an extensive sake list.
Au Courant
A modern European kitchen built around a chef's tasting menu that changes weekly, open Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m.
Virtuoso Pizzeria
A family-owned neighborhood pizzeria in Benson. It is open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. until it sells out.
Where to Drink
This is still the biggest reason people come to Benson.
Benson Brewery
Has been a Maple Street fixture since 2013, pouring its own beer alongside gastropub food, and it's closed Mondays.
The Sydney
Books ticketed live shows several nights a week, 21+, and runs happy hour Monday through Friday, 5 to 7 p.m.
Burrito Envy & Tequila Bar
Pours margaritas alongside street tacos and burritos, with happy hour all day Sunday and Monday through Friday until 5 p.m.
Reverb Lounge
A mid-century-styled lounge built around tiki drinks and craft cocktails, with shows that run mostly all ages, though some nights are marked 18+ on its calendar.
Waiting Room Lounge
A live-music room inside a building that started life as a 1920s car dealership, and its shows run mostly all ages, with some marked 18+ or 21+.
Shops Worth a Stop
Benson's retail is limited, but Shop Five Nine is worth the stop. On Maple Street, it sells stationery, paper goods, and what it calls practical art, and keeps shorter hours Monday through Thursday and longer hours Friday through Sunday.
Things to Do
Venues, Galleries, and Landmarks
Benson Theatre
A restored 1923 theater that now runs as a nonprofit stage for concerts, comedy, and film, seating 180 or standing 235.
Ming Toy Gallery
Keeps limited, specific hours — Wednesday and Friday afternoons, Thursday evening, and Saturday morning — and it's closed between exhibitions, so check ahead rather than dropping by on a whim.
Benson First Friday
Benson First Friday is the monthly art walk that helped shape the district's identity: galleries, live music, food, and vendors across Maple Street and beyond, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on the first Friday of the month. From May through September, First Friday moves outdoors onto the street; from October through April, it moves indoors to Benson Theatre.
What's on
Coming Up in Benson
Getting There and Parking
Parking
Parking rules for the district come from Benson Theatre's own getting-here page, which covers on-street parking across Benson, not just its own lot. Street parking on Maple and Military runs a two-hour max from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., opens up with no limit from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and closes to parking entirely from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. A public lot sits at 2729 N. 61st St., a short walk away, and the Benson Business Improvement District (the BID) maintains the district's sidewalks, alleys, and that lot. The theatre also lists two partner lots for its events: the Cavanaugh Law Firm lot evenings and weekends, and the Immanuel Lutheran Church lot from 7 p.m. to midnight. The Haney Shoe Store lot and the area directly behind Benson Theatre are not available for parking.
Getting Around by Bus
Metro Transit's Route 4 runs along Maple Street and connects Benson to Westroads and downtown Omaha.
Plan a Visit
An Evening Out
Eat first — Taco Co. for the puffy tacos — then walk Maple Street for a drink. Benson Brewery and The Sydney are both an easy stop, and Reverb Lounge or Waiting Room Lounge covers you if you want live music with it. Park on the street; after 5 p.m. there's no time limit.
A Daytime Visit
Confirm Ming Toy Gallery's hours ahead of time, browse Shop Five Nine, and grab bubble tea at Snowy Sundaes or a cone at Ted & Wally's. During the day, watch the two-hour street-parking limit.
Walk it once during Benson First Friday and you'll understand what the "Good Weird" is about.