J's on Jackson (Former Passport)

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:20 am

I saw on Facebook last night that Passport restaurant has closed. Supposedly the space will be subdivided, with the front part eventually becoming a new, casual restaurant, and the party room being sold off to other building tenants.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:55 am

Not surprising. In 7 years back in Omaha I never met anyone that ate there more than once, let alone regularly.

Sad to see another downtown staple go, but some of these places simply aren't keeping up with the times.

Globochem · Post by **Globochem** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:15 pm

nativeomahan wrote:I saw on Facebook last night that Passport restaurant has closed. Supposedly the space will be subdivided, with the front part eventually becoming a new, casual restaurant, and the party room being sold off to other building tenants.

Here's to hoping.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:50 am

So may be they did Not close???

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120427/G ... -star-deli

Sarah Baker Hansen WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:Celebrity guest

The Passport Restaurant, in the Old Market, is playing host to celebrity chef and former “Top Chef” contestant Dave Martin. Martin is working with Row 11 and Stratton Lummis wines for a five-course dinner on May 22.

The menu includes an appetizer of jumbo prawns stuffed with bleu cheese, prosciutto and basil drizzled with sherry cream; a springtime New England-style chowder; a two-part main course of duck confit royale and Nebraska ostrich tenderloin with peanut sauce; and a warm chocolate truffle cake for dessert.

The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is $89 per person. Seating is limited. To make a reservation, call 402-344-3200 or email [email protected].

ThatGuy · Post by **ThatGuy** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:26 am

That place is the definition of enigma.

Professor Woland · Post by **Professor Woland** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:18 pm

ThatGuy wrote:That place is the definition of enigma.

It's horrible when a great space is home to a lousy restaurant (Passport, Vivace, Rick's Boatyard, Omaha Prime). I'm not asking for the French Laundry or anything, or even fine dining, but if a place is going to occupy a space like that it would be nice if it did whatever it does well.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:34 am

We always loved the atmosphere of the small bar at Passport. But the restaurant itself always left me cold. I think so much more could be done with that corner location.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 12:54 pm

There were people going in there on Saturday evening.

Murz · Post by **Murz** » Thu May 03, 2012 10:11 am

Passport was sold as of Sunday Night. The new owner had the keys Monday morning. I know the owner but he asked to keep it under wraps for a little while some of the bigger stuff is being worked. The new restaurant will be a nice option for downtown and should help revitalize Jackson St. He was trying to open up around late June-ish...

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Fri May 04, 2012 7:31 am

Murz wrote:Passport was sold as of Sunday Night. The new owner had the keys Monday morning. I know the owner but he asked to keep it under wraps for a little while some of the bigger stuff is being worked. The new restaurant will be a nice option for downtown and should help revitalize Jackson St. He was trying to open up around late June-ish...

Here's hoping.

Murz · Post by **Murz** » Mon May 28, 2012 3:33 pm

Passport will turn into J's on Jackson in about 6 weeks. They just started a Facebook page.

derog · Post by **derog** » Tue May 29, 2012 11:11 am

Murz wrote:Passport will turn into J's on Jackson in about 6 weeks. They just started a Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Js-on-Jac ... 1020356861

swgiust · Post by **swgiust** » Tue May 29, 2012 12:01 pm

I had dinner in their Fremont rest. a couple of weeks ago. Solid menu, good steak, I would
put it about with Upstream, maybe a little nicer. If their pricing and menu stay the same it
will be a good addition, if they go high end, I don't know.

derog · Post by **derog** » Tue May 29, 2012 2:37 pm

Passport Restaurant closes, new one moving in

Omaha World Herald wrote:The Passport Restaurant is the latest Old Market eatery to close its doors.

But its new owner, Jay Siers, has plans to reopen the space in July as J’s on Jackson.

Omaha World Herald wrote:The menu will be similar to his Fremont location: well-priced lunches, steaks, seafood, salads and a long wine list.

"We want to become a casual destination in the Old Market," Siers said.

Mr.Nuke · Post by **Mr.Nuke** » Tue May 29, 2012 7:15 pm

I had lunch at the Fremont J's for the first time this Saturday and was less than impressed.

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Tue May 29, 2012 11:03 pm

and what kindergartener came up with the name?

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed May 30, 2012 6:56 am

Actually I like the name. And we enjoyed dinner a year or so ago at their downtown Fremont restaurant. Easily the nicest place in all of Fremont to dine or do drinks.

derog · Post by **derog** » Wed May 30, 2012 9:10 am

justnick wrote:and what kindergartener came up with the name?

I'm more surprised by the logo.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:58 pm

Awnings are up. If anyone is interested the old chef at Marks left there to be head chef here. The old chef of Blanc Burger's is a Marks now I guess.

swgiust · Post by **swgiust** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:44 am

My wife and I walked through a week or so ago. Construction crew had left the door open!

Best thing we could see through all the dust was it looks like it is going to have a great bar.

A non corporate, mid to upper price range, will be a great fit for that corner.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:50 am

They have put a ton of photos on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Js-on-Jac ... 1020356861

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:31 pm

To take that marvelous location and to put in a drop ceiling is a crime against humanity.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:53 pm

nativeomahan wrote:To take that marvelous location and to put in a drop ceiling is a crime against humanity.

I wondered about that but Big E told me he thought it was only in the meeting/party room.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:20 pm

I do not swear under oath, but those pictures did not look anything like the main room I saw.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:02 pm

According to the hours on their Facebook page they are open, but there's no announcement I could find so maybe just jumping the gun...

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:13 pm

Brad wrote:They have put a ton of photos on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Js-on-Jac ... 1020356861

super cute photoshopped flower boxes.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:06 am

Looks legit to me

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 11:26 am

per their FB page, they're finally ready to open. This weekend is invite only soft opening, and they open to the public next Wednesday...

swgiust · Post by **swgiust** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:56 am

Took a private tour last Weds night (meaning I walked in an open door!!) Place looks nice, the bar area looks great!

I have eaten at J's in Fremont. Found the food good for what it was. I think they will be a good fit for the old market,
although I don't know how they plan to differentiate themselves from Upstream and Jackson St. Tavern.

Wishing them much success. Jackson is working it's way towards being another Howard st. Especially when we see what sort of street level retail/food is going into the new hotel.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:25 pm

We ate lunch there today. Decent crowd. Very good sandwiches and good soup. Friendly, fast service, too. Most lunches in the $10-15 range. We also looked at the dinner menu, which is available on their web site. A well rounded American menu, with lots of entree salads, a broad appetizer selection, some steaks, some pork, some chicken and some seafood. Separate vegetarian and gluten free menus are also available. Dinners mostly in the $20-35 range. The wine list has about 100 selections by the bottle, and about 35 by the glass. Very decent bottle prices. Most under $50 and many around $25. This is not a fine dining place but will be a special occasion place for many, I suspect. Others will go to nosh on the appetizers for about half the cost of a full dinner.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:08 am

Walked by last night, it was busy. I didn't realize the full name is "J's on Jackson Steak & Wine Bar". There was a chalk board advertising "wine wednesday" ,1/2 price bottles :twisted:

It looks very polished inside, but menu and pricing seems like a more diverse and accessible version of Passport.

derog · Post by **derog** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:18 pm

nebport5 wrote:Walked by last night, it was busy. I didn't realize the full name is "J's on Jackson Steak & Wine Bar". There was a chalk board advertising "wine wednesday" ,1/2 price bottles :twisted:

It looks very polished inside, but menu and pricing seems like a more diverse and accessible version of Passport.

I got the bleu cheese burger last night. It was delicious!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Feb 23, 2020 11:07 am

After more than a year, J's on Jackson reopens with new owner and menu

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Mar 07, 2020 4:04 pm

Has anyone visited since it re-opened?

BIGO88 · Post by **BIGO88** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:09 pm

Not sure if we have another thread for this but this was changed to "The brewery town at the Collins" and was open for a few years before it closed. Now there is a new sign up that said something Vino coming soon so guessing a new wine bar concept is opening up here.

43county · Post by **43county** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:07 pm

Italian concept. Experienced operators with no ties to the last regime from Fremont.

onelocalfoods · Post by **onelocalfoods** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:36 am

The layout of that space needs an overhaul. The buildout inside is whats costing new tenants their business. Its confusing and unwelcoming.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:53 am

onelocalfoods wrote: Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:36 am The layout of that space needs an overhaul. The buildout inside is whats costing new tenants their business. Its confusing and unwelcoming.

Yeah, it's a peculiar shape and layout for sure.

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