Johnny's Cafe
Omaha • United States
Overview
Johnny's Café opened in 1922 as a small eight-seat saloon located next to the Omaha Stockyards. Founder Frank Kawa expanded the menu and footprint as the Stockyards and the surrounding South Omaha community continued to grow. Jack & Tom Kawa, Frank's sons, took ownership of the restaurant in the early 1960's. At that time, Johnny's was open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, catering to the Stockyard clientele and Omaha locals. In the 1970's, Johnny's underwent a major transformation; the renovation included installing the world-famous brass steer horn front doors and improving the iconic dining room mural. In the 1990's, Jack's daughters, Kari and Sally, assumed day-to-day operations as the third generation to own and operate Johnny's Café. Together, they continue to preserve the nostalgic history as they move into past 100 years of operation.
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