Grow Lincoln report shows double the amount of restaurants opened in 2025 than in previous years

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Across the capital city, the restaurant business is booming.

According to a Grow Lincoln report, 2025 saw more openings than in previous years.

“Last year we saw a record number low of restaurants opening, and this year, it was very different,” said Robin Eschliman. “We nearly doubled what we had last year. I think last year we had 19 restaurants that opened. This year it was 32.”

Eschliman and David Albers lead Grow Lincoln and also specialize in commercial real estate.

They said that with more openings come more closures.

The number of restaurants that closed in 2025 was 18, just 7 more than in 2024.

One of the biggest reasons for the increase is the economy and the timing.

“As we remember, last year, interest rates went down,” Eschliman said. “Whether it was a coincidence or whether it tracked with it directly, we definitely did see them open more later in the year as interest rates improved.”

Locally owned Crazy Fork opened its doors in South Lincoln in September.

For the owners, they said it takes time, but their key to success so far comes from spreading the word on social media and community support.

“I would say in the beginning, it was kind of slow; it did kind of worry us,” said Vianka, one of the managers. “But we had an amazing support system, working with our entire family and really, really close family friends. We decided to just be patient.”

And for 2026, Eschliman and Albers say it should be a good year.

According to them, nine or 10 restaurants are planning to open.

“The number of restaurants that we already know about, starting to go into next year, is higher now than what it generally is,” Albers said. “So one would assume that we’ve got some momentum going forward.”