By the time Early Bird opens its first Lincoln location sometime in early January, the better part of two years will have been spent in planning.
There are some things — like a two-minute egg — that can't be rushed. That's especially true for a breakfast chain with an aim of putting a modern take on classic diner food.
The restaurant, which will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will feature breakfast, brunch and lunch items.
Dan Kavan, a vice president with the restaurant's corporate office in Omaha, said the menu is being expanded to include more flatbread items and sandwiches for those stopping by during the lunch hour.
Alcohol also will be served.
Early Bird began six years ago and has two Omaha locations, one in Papillion and two more in Iowa.Â
The Lincoln restaurant will be on the ground floor of the apartment building at 1900 K St. And as construction continues on retrofitting the space into an eatery, Early Bird officials are finalizing a menu while beginning the challenge of hiring a restaurant staff.
Plans for the new Lincoln location began in spring 2022, Kavan said.
"It has been in the works for longer than I thought, but Lincoln is just such a good market," he said. "It's growing, but it's still untapped. We really wanted to be there."
Kavan said the number of apartments in Lincoln in general — and in the vicinity of the near-downtown Early Bird location — has its appeal to the restaurant chain.
"It's amazing the number of apartments that have gone up in Lincoln," he said.
Having the state's flagship college in Lincoln is a big reason for the number of apartments, particularly downtown. In addition, he said rising housing costs are keeping a lot of people in rentals.
"I think it's just ... the way the city is trending," Kavan said.