“The ultimate drive for the Jewell is to make sure that each person that walks through our doors feel like they are experiencing an intimate, relaxing evening while spending time dining or just listening to the spectacular music,” said Denise Baker.
“At the end of the night, we want each guest to feel that they were well taken care of, enjoyed their time, and are anxious for their next visit.”
The name “The Jewell” pays homage to local music impresario, Jimmy Jewell, and the Jewell building at 2221 N 24th St. named after him. On any given night, guests can experience a one-of-a-kind celebration with musicians from all over the country to provide Omaha with a connection to music in a relaxed upscale atmosphere.
“We expect each and every staff member to know the club, the menu, the drinks, and the care required to meet the full expectations of our customers. We make sure that at the end of the night, our guests walk away with a night to remember.”
Even though the Jewell can bring in star-studded jazz virtuosos from all over the country, they are equally committed to the Omaha music scene.
“We’re constantly bringing in local bands and musicians so we can help promote them and advance their careers. We’re not just here to provide the Omaha community with excellent music, but to help build careers as well.”
But local artists aren’t the only ones the Jewell aims to promote. Employees are also the recipients of a culture that aims to help them grow and succeed.
“Our CEO Brian McKenna gives each and every staff member the tools, guidance, support, and freedoms needed to perfect their roles and responsibilities,” said Baker. “We are allowed to grow as a person as well as an employee. This is carried on through management down to our servers. The doors are always open to suggest improvements to the processes, ways to better serve customers, and to maintain the elegance of the venue.”
Centrally located in the Heartland, The Jewell aims to be a destination unlike any other; one that is revitalizing the Omaha jazz scene and adding to the downtown’s burgeoning nightlife.
Winning Insights from Our Winner:
Best Practice Tip For a Small Business Owner: Find and keep staff willing to give their heart and soul into your company the same way you would. We survived this pandemic thanks to the dedication of our staff and owners. It has made us one big family and kept us going through both the good times and the hard times.
Cultivating a Strong Company Culture: Our CEO Brian McKenna gives each and every staff member the tools, guidance, support, and freedoms needed to perfect our roles and responsibilities. This allows us to grow as a person as well as an employee. The doors are always open to suggest improvements to our processes, ways to better serve customers, and to maintain the elegance of the venue.
The Value of Chamber Involvement: We feel proud to be part of the Omaha Chamber, and therefore our customers know that our establishment is worthy of the community. It has helped us thrive and made us want to be a part of something larger than ourselves.
Approach to Customer Service: We expect each and every staff member to know the club, the menu, the drinks, and the care required to meet the full expectations of our customers. We have and will always continue to run as a family, helping each other, and doing what is necessary for our customers to have fantastic customer service whether they order dinner, apps, or just drinks while they visit our venue. We make sure that at the end of the night, our guests walk away with a night to remember.
Overall Operating Philosophy: Our ultimate drive is to make sure that every person that walks through our doors feels like they are experiencing an intimate, relaxing evening, while spending time dining or just listening to the spectacular music. At the end of the night, we want each guest to feel that they were well taken care of, enjoyed their time, and are eager for their next visit.