Runza is not coming--FNBO Bank, instead.
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| Runza's standalone sign at the Loveland, Colorado location - Optopolis |
Not only is Runza not coming to the vacant lot next door to City Brew Coffee, but now, it appears there are plans for something else to come instead--First National Bank of Omaha.
What's the deal with Runza? Is Runza still coming?
Back in December 2021, several news outlets including 101.9KING and Oil City News were raving about Runza coming to Cheyenne; Runza had announced on their website that they were actively looking to come to the capitol city.
By January 2021, Runza posted a sign at the vacant lot between Taco Johns and City Brew Coffee on Dell Range Blvd (what would have been the then-soon-to-be location of Runza), looking for someone interested in owning the Cheyenne franchise.
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| Runza Coming Soon sign standing at the property in January 2022 - Optopolis |
Had things worked out quickly, this definitively would have been Wyoming's first Runza location. Unfortunately, the coming soon sign has been taken down, and according to Cap City News on August 25th, 2022, the property had been sold. Runza still advertises interest in a Cheyenne location on their website, but it's no longer clear where the Cheyenne Runza would be located.
So what will come of the property?
First National Bank of Omaha (often abbreviated FNBO) is actively looking to build a new location in Cheyenne. It appears this could be their first FNBO-branded Wyoming location (more info below); FNBO already has locations in Nebraska (their home state) as well as Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas.
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| A FNBO location that just opened in 2021, located in Overland Park, Kansas - Optopolis |
A glance at the Cheyenne City Development Projects map on Google MyMaps reveals a new marker next door to City Brew entitled FNBO Bank (in the main City Planning Website, it's referenced as First National Bank of Omaha). Plans were submitted on June 27th and approved on August 18th according to the City Planning website.
The project item includes site plans and elevation views that indicate the building would use a very modern, simple theme--somewhat similar to the Overland Park, Kansas location featured above--which many new businesses use these days when building new locations.
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| The vacant lot next to City Brew Coffee - Optopolis |
Remember the line above that went, "this could be their first FNBO-branded Wyoming location?" As a result of a merger with Western States Bank announced in late 2021 and which was completed in early 2022, FNBO actually already has a presence in Wyoming; it's worth noting that right now, plans can be seen in the City Planning website to rebrand the Yellowstone Road Western States Bank to FNBO. Time will tell if the rebrand happens before the supposed new FNBO is built.
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| Western States Bank, a division of First National Bank of Omaha, on Yellowstone Rd still displaying WSB signage - Optopolis |
Current status
Right now, there doesn't appear to be any physical changes made to the property yet, and that makes sense since there appear to be no permits under the permits section of the city website for this location--only items listed under the projects section. Time will tell if the Dell Range FNBO does get built, although it's more than safe to say they are officially planning on opening a branch at that location.
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