Holiday Lights Festival – Gene Leahy Mall Lighting Ceremony (Downtown Omaha)
Lighting Ceremony at 6:00 PM
1302 Farnam on the Mall, Omaha, NE 68102 https://holidaylightsfestival.org
Feeding Community, Preserving Legacy: An Interview with Gladys Harrison of Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering
Few restaurants in Omaha carry a legacy as rich—or as rooted in love—as Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering. Since opening its doors in 2007, Big Mama’s has become a destination for soul food, community connection, and generational entrepreneurship. We sat down with Gladys Harrison, owner of Big Mama’s Kitchen, to talk about her family’s history, the evolution of the business, and the vision driving its future.
Gladys Harrison
Growing Up in Big Mama’s Kitchen
My name is Gladys Harrison, and I’m the owner of Big Mama’s Kitchen and Catering.
Gladys laughs when she says she “started working at the restaurant basically at birth.” Before Big Mama’s was a brick-and-mortar restaurant, it was an in-home catering service run by her mother, Patricia “Big Mama” Barron, for over 40 years. Everyone in the family had a job—including the little ones.
As a child, Gladys washed dishes, helped fill piping bags, traced wax-paper liners for cakes, and even learned to make icing roses by hand. “I was licking the cake batter off the spoon too,” she adds. “Food and family were always intertwined.”
When Big Mama began catering outside the home, the whole family pitched in—prepping, loading, delivering, and setting up events. Later, when weekend food sales began out of Big Mama’s home kitchen, Gladys became the designated emailer, flyer-maker, and menu creator.
“I was born into Big Mama’s Kitchen,” she says.
And by the time the family opened their first official restaurant in 2007, Gladys and her sisters were already seasoned veterans.
Finding Their First Location: A Leap of Faith
In the mid-2000s, conversations about revitalizing North Omaha were gaining momentum. Gladys and her mother attended community meetings hosted by organizations like the Empowerment Network, eager to be part of rebuilding the neighborhood Big Mama had grown up in.
During one meeting, they met Gail Ross, director of Turning Point, an organization housed on the former campus of the Nebraska School for the Deaf. Gail heard they were looking for a restaurant space and repeatedly encouraged them to consider a cafeteria space on the campus.
Big Mama refused—three times.
The fenced-in campus looked too much like an old school, and the dining room still smelled like 1960s cafeteria food. But after prayer, reflection, and much persistence from Gail, Big Mama agreed to take a look. Once they stepped into the enormous, fully equipped production kitchen—complete with walk-ins, a tilt skillet, ovens, and the beloved pellet-ice machine—the vision finally clicked.
Gladys remembers: “My sisters and I said, ‘Mom, this is it.’”
They stripped out the cafeteria furniture, repainted, brought décor from Big Mama’s home, and created a warm, kitchen-table atmosphere. Big Mama’s love of yellow and leopard print made its way into the dining room, because—as she always said—“leopard is not just a print, it’s an attitude.”
They opened on December 4, 2007, and held their grand opening on February 4, 2008—Big Mama’s birthday.
Overcoming Challenges and Gaining National Attention
Financing the restaurant was a battle. Banks told Big Mama she was “too old” and that her daughters didn’t know enough to run a restaurant. But with help from the Omaha Small Business Network, a small loan, retirement funds, and credit cards, the family opened their doors.
Then came the surprise that changed everything:
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”.
“Had it not been for that show, we wouldn’t be here today,” Gladys says. “It brought people then, and it still brings people now. Every single day, someone walks in because they saw us on Triple D.”
In 2016, Big Mama’s was invited to join the new 75 North development, a mixed-income, community-focused neighborhood on 30th Street. The new restaurant—a bright, modern, window-lined space—was designed to be part of a food-hall environment. Big Mama participated in the design, though she passed away before the new space opened in January 2020.
A few months later, COVID-19 arrived.
Everything changed. Large gatherings vanished. Full-service catering disappeared overnight. Customers wanted individually boxed meals. The team had to reinvent processes—again and again.
“We’ve pivoted more in the last five years than at any point in our history,” Gladys says. “But we’re still here. The food is still made the way Big Mama taught us.”
A Vision for the Future: Feeding the World, Creating Opportunity
Big Mama’s dream was clear:
Feed people all over the world.
Gladys doesn’t envision franchising—not when the food is real, hand-seasoned, and handcrafted. Instead, she and her sisters expanded in a different direction:
The Seasoning Line
The signature fried chicken seasoning—passed down from Gladys’s great-grandmother—was once blended in-house by hand. Now it’s professionally produced, labeled, and ready for retail nationwide.
The line includes:
Fried Chicken Seasoning
No-Salt Seasoning (a family favorite)
“Pitmaster in a Bottle” Dry Rub
“On Anything” Seasoning
Cornbread Mix (over 100 years old)
Golden Fry Mix
This expansion opens the door to grocery stores, specialty markets, and online national shipping.
Prepared Meals & SNAP Accessibility
Gladys also envisions heat-and-eat meals—healthy, low-sodium, home-style dishes that families, seniors, and caregivers can easily warm at home. She hopes to see them available in local markets, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and eventually via SNAP benefits.
“This can create living-wage jobs and real economic opportunity,” she says. “Food can lift families out of poverty.”
The Heart of North Omaha
Beyond the restaurant, Gladys speaks passionately about the cultural and economic importance of North Omaha.
“North Omaha has always been vibrant,” she says. “There’s immense talent, deep history, beautiful culture. We’ve contributed so much to the city’s growth.”
Events like Native Omaha Days and Christmas in the Village showcase the community’s strength and draw people from across the country. Big Mama’s, thanks to its national exposure, has long been a quiet tourism engine—bringing visitors, hotel stays, and local spending into the city.
“We once had a couple fly here from England just to eat at Big Mama’s,” Gladys recalls.
Encouraging the Next Generation
When asked what advice she has for aspiring entrepreneurs, Gladys offers a simple truth:
“Whatever you love to do—find a way to monetize it. When you enjoy the work, it doesn’t just create income. It brings joy.”
Holiday Offerings
Big Mama’s is preparing for a busy holiday season with a full heat-and-eat Thanksgiving catering menu, including:
Smoked, roasted, or deep-fried turkeys
Cornbread dressing
Macaroni and cheese
Sweet potato pudding
Red beans and rice
Sweet potato pie
And more family favorites
All dishes are prepackaged in oven-ready containers with heating instructions.
The team will close Thanksgiving Day through the following Saturday for a much-needed rest and reopen December 1.
Black Friday Seasoning Sale
All seasonings make excellent holiday gifts, and several items—including recipes from Gladys’s upcoming digital cookbook—will be available at special Black Friday pricing.
A Legacy of Love
As we wrapped up our conversation, Gladys reflected on her mother’s mission:
“My mother was adamant about making the world better than she found it. That’s what my family and I are trying to do—use our gifts to make Omaha better for everyone.”
Big Mama’s Kitchen continues to honor that legacy—feeding the community, creating opportunity, and proving that soul food is more than a meal. It’s connection. It’s culture. It’s love served hot.
Big Mama’s Kitchen
2112 North 30th Street Highlander Accelerator, Suite 201
Omaha, NE 68111
(402) 455-6262
Hy-Vee
Offer: Free breakfast for veterans and active-duty (6–10 a.m.)
City: Omaha / Papillion / Bellevue
Event Date/Time: Nov 11 – 6 a.m.–10 a.m. https://www.hy-vee.com/
Mission BBQ
Offer: Free sandwich for veterans on Nov 11 (Military Appreciation Day)
City: Omaha / La Vista
Event Date/Time: Nov 11 – All Day https://mission-bbq.com/
From: Jennifer Frauendorfer, Executive Assistant to Mayor John W. Ewing
“… now through November 5th, and it’s time to show the nation how we tackle hunger!
If you’ve been meaning to donate, now is the time to act. Let’s make sure our local food banks are stocked up for the high demand.
One quick trip to the pantry can make a huge difference. Every can, box, and non-perishable item helps a local family.”
FOOD COLLECTION SITES
Adams Park | 3230 John A. Creighton Blvd.
Hours: M-Th, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fri, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
AV Sorensen | 4808 Cass St.
Hours: M-Th, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Benson | 6008 Maple St.
Hours: Th, F, Sat: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Camelot | 9270 Cady Ave.
Hours: M-Th, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Common Ground | 1701 Veterans Drive
Hours: M-Fri, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Florence | 2920 Bondesson St.
Hours: M, Fri., Sat., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; T, W, Th., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hanscom Tennis | 3220 Ed Creighton Ave.
Hours: M-Th, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mockingbird Hills | 10242 Mockingbird Drive
Hours: M, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; T, Th., 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; W, Fri., 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sat., Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Montclair | 2304 S. 135th Ave.
Hours: M, W, F, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; T, Th., 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sun.11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Motto McClean Ice Arena | 5015 S. 45th St.
Hours: M-F, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat. and Sun, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saddlebrook | 14850 Laurel Ave.
Hours: M-Th., 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Subby Anzaldo Columbus Park | 1515 S. 24th St.
Hours: M-Th., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sarah and Shawn Dunsmore hold Clover in front of their building with words,”THE CATIOS, A QUIRKY CAT HOTEL”.
We want cats to feel safe here so that they can get into the enrichment, including the outdoor catios (cat enclosures that extend outdoors). So initially when we check them in, we put them in the smallest space available.
This is so awesome.
Oh, thank you.
The glass wall opens up like a garage door.
Yes. It opens all the way up. As you can see, the catios are totally secure, so there’s no way anybody could get in or get out.
Oh, nice.
It’s so nice. So it’s open air during the nice weather.
They can watch everything.
The cats just love it. And in the winter it’s perfectly fine to keep the glass wall in place because they want the view.
They want stimulation. That’s what cats need.
Absolutely, yeah. We’ve got nothing in here that could hurt a cat and nothing the cat could hurt. This little cat grass catnip bar is one of our favorites. Clover likes to sit in it, so it’s a little trampled down at the moment, but the cats love to just kind of walk up and put their paws up and nibble up high, but they can do it down low. These cat trees are just about as sturdy as they get. We have some really big cats that come in, but we’ve got little, small kittens as well.
Clover and Tanner enjoy lounging on a carpeted cat structure.
Clover’s going to demonstrate that.
Yeah, he’ll show off for sure. Full disclosure: Clover is my cat, so he’s kind of the Catios cat.
He’s the boss cat and a benevolent dictator.
Kind of. He’s huge. He’s only seven months old, so he’s a big guy.
This is so cool. It’s like “Take Your Cat to Work Day” every day.
Trixie, an orange and white cat, licks her nose in front of a potted plant.
It’s the absolute best. And here’s Miss Trixie. She’s a little bit bashful, but she actually only has three legs, so we have two here that have only three legs, but she’s just about as sweet as they come.
Is she a resident here?
She is not. She’s a guest from far out in rural Nebraska. Her parents are on a beach vacation.
So now she has a nice place to have the stimulation.
Yes. And Bella is here for five weeks.
She looks like she’s right at home.
Her mom’s in the military. Oh, she’s so at home. She’s even become a little bit territorial about the place because she really feels at home.
This is a nice place and she wants to be in charge.
She does want to be in charge, but she’s a great cat, so it’s pretty good. Everybody’s got choices. The cats have their choice to go in their suite. They know that that’s where their food is. They know that’s safe.
Because they’re territorial. But they don’t have to stay inside their space. They’re not penned in.
Exactly, and they’ve got choices. They’ve totally got choices. Now everybody’s coming out. All these three guests are super comfortable, so they’ll kind of explore each others’ space a little bit, which is hilarious. And then every night, every guest, I send their parents a detailed report card. It has a full report of what they did during the day… photos, videos… which is super, super well received because when your cats are not with you, you want to know what they’re doing.
Clover’s doing a demonstration, I see (enthusiastically playing with a spinning ball toy).
He’s just the happiest cat, and with him being disabled (Clover has three legs), it makes him non-threatening to the guests that come in. He makes the shy cats feel comfortable because he’s not aggressive and he’s very playful. You can tell he’s eaten all the feathers off that toy, but he still enjoys it. He’s a very simple guy.
Is he a Maine Coon cat?
He is a little Maine Coon.
He has the tufts on his ears, and different paws.
They’re a little bit webbed, so they’re very good with water and they’re very into water. We’ve got a little running water fountain. He loves that, too.
Very cool.
This little area over here, we try to make it like a living room where they can feel comfortable. My staff is comfortable and wants to come and kind of hang out so that the cats are just around.
They’re sociable.
Bella, a black cat, studies the photographer. She is perched on a scratching pad with plants in the background.
They’re so social. Bella’s mom that went for the military training, she lives in an apartment and she’s like, “She’s way too social for me to just have somebody come in once a day.”
Some cats are okay with that, but I don’t think they’re totally happy with that.
And for a long-term solution, she was like “She needs to be here.”
This is much better for stimulation.
Yes. And what I find is even people that are like “My cat does not get along with other cats. You’ve got to keep them away”… those cats even really enjoy just being in the presence of other cats, even if they just kind of admire from a distance. They might stay in their suite…
And just observe, yeah.
Absolutely. So it’s a pretty good model. It has worked out really well, and I’ve had so many pet parents tell me they’ve learned so much about their cat and what they need to improve at home. A lot of people realize they don’t do enough enrichment at home, and their cats are having behavior problems at home.
Right, because of that.
Yeah, absolutely. So it’s a pretty good gig. We have a good time around here and the feedback thus far for this sort of model has been really, really positive. People have seen their cats have a good time while they’re gone, which is just peace of mind.
Oh, yeah, you can enjoy your vacation much more when you’re not worrying. And the cats are happy.
So happy. Look at Bella. Clover is kind of on the payroll, but these are not paid actors. They really enjoy their… boy, he’s really hamming it up.
Doing the demo, yes. I love that fluffy tail.
Oh, yeah. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, and he’s easily entertained. He’s a perfect cat as sort of the ambassador for this place, because he really puts other cats at ease. Trixie was not used to being around other cats. She’s been here three days, and she knows she’s safe here.
So when did you open?
I opened in early spring of 2024. We’ve actually had the building for almost 2 1/2 years, but two years ago I had a health scare where I went into cardiac arrest and my heart stopped and had to be re-started. I had worked in a really stressful job up until then and I was trying to get out of it and move into something calmer. My health scare was almost like confirmation that we were totally on the right track. It just took us a little longer to open because when we bought this building it had been uninhabited for a long time. It was initially built as a service station in the ’50s, and when the service station stopped operating, the owner of the building used it for storage.
How did you come up with the concept of The Catios?
My husband and I have a company called CDE Animal Cages, and we install animal enclosures for animal shelters all over the nation. CDE stands for “Cats, Dogs, and Everything.” On a local level, we can come out to people’s homes in the Omaha area and install custom-built catios like the ones that we have here.
The neat thing is that if someone is interested in adding a catio to their home, they can schedule a visit here and see how much the cats are enjoying the sunshine and the fresh air.
Yes, absolutely. I had it open yesterday, and every guest that I have in here was out there basking in the sun. The cats are just like us humans, and they are so excited about the nice weather.
When we talked earlier, you mentioned that some of your guests are so happy here that they aren’t in a hurry to go home.
Totally. Just recently, one of our guests really gave her mom a run for the money when she tried to get her into the carrier to go home. She usually gets into the carrier with no problem at all, but this time she was hiding from her mom. Our guests do have a lot of fun here. We’ve had several customers that have sent me emails or written a review and said that they learned so much about what their cat likes, just by reading the report cards that I give them every night. Many people have gone out and purchased items like the ones we have here or they’ve planted their own little cat grass bar at home. They didn’t realize their cats actually were interested in more enrichment until they saw how happy and engaged their cats were while they were staying here.
Oh, that’s really wonderful. So you’re enriching cats’ lives after they go home, too, by exposing their people to what their needs are and how they can have an optimal life.
Yep, absolutely.
And cats can live a long time. We had a cat that lived to be 21 human years old.
Oh, goodness, yeah. Well, if you can believe it, I had a guest here back in December, and she was 25.
Wow, I never knew there were any cats older than 21.
We’re very comfortable hosting cats with special needs, whether they are elderly or need medication administered. Our goal is to meet both the cat and the pet parent where they’re at. Your cat doesn’t have to be super social. We can cater to their specific needs.
Lord Huron with Kevin Morby
Tags: Music / Concert / All Ages
Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St, Omaha NE 68102
Time: Doors 6:00 PM • Show 7:00 PM
Description: Indie-folk band Lord Huron (with opener Kevin Morby) performs at downtown Steelhouse—general admission, all ages welcome. https://steelhouseomaha.com/
Omaha Symphony: Movie Music Live!
Tags: Music / Cultural / Family
Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St, Omaha NE 68102
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Description: The Omaha Symphony performs iconic film scores from classics to modern favorites. https://www.omahasymphony.org/
24 October, Friday
Whatever’s Clever – Family Friendly Improv
Tags: Family / Comedy / Free (or low cost)
Blackstone Theater, Blackstone District, Omaha NE 68131
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Description: Short-form improv show by Big Canvas crew—fast, funny and family-friendly. https://www.blackstonedistrict.com/blackstone-calendar-events-omaha
Baseballoween (Free Family Event)
Tags: Family / Free / Halloween / Community
Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion NE 68046
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Description: Trick-or-treating and family activities hosted by the Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park. https://www.milb.com/omaha
Come to your local Hy-Vee on 25 October, Saturday, between 10 AM and 1 PM for the Kids Club Halloween Scavenger Hunt and Trick or Treating!
From our friends at Hy-Vee:
Media Contact:
Zach Tecklenburg
Media Relations Manager
Mobile: (515) 230-6091
zach.tecklenburg@hy-vee.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hy-Vee to Host Kids Club Halloween Scavenger Hunt and Trick or
Treating on Saturday
First event since launch of new initiative
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 22, 2025) — Little ghouls and goblins will
soon be roaming the aisles of your local Hy-Vee, but there’s no need to
be frightened. The newly launched Hy-Vee Kids Club is hosting its first
event, a Halloween trick or treat scavenger hunt.
Members of the Hy-Vee Kids Club are invited to put on a costume, go to
their local Hy-Vee store, search for items listed on a Halloween-themed
scavenger hunt list, enjoy treats and have some spooky fun. Each store
will hold the event on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Hy-Vee Kids Club is a new initiative that launched earlier this
fall. The club is bringing big smiles to little shoppers with activities
throughout the year to educate and engage children around food and
wellness.
The Hy-Vee Kids Club is open to kids of all ages. The free membership
comes with a host of benefits that make shopping more enjoyable for
children and their families. Kids receive personalized name tags,
birthday cards with special perks, and access to exclusive treats like
free cookies, fruit and stickers during store visits.
Along with the upcoming Halloween trick or treat scavenger hunt, the
Hy-Vee Kids Club is planning other themed events including seasonal
celebrations, character events, Noon Year’s Eve, Grill Out with Dad and
more.
Hy-Vee Kids Club members will also regularly receive fun freebies, like
birthday cupcakes, balloons and stickers. Parents can enroll their
children into the Hy-Vee Kids Club anytime by visiting their local
Hy-Vee store.
###
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 560
business units across nine Midwestern states with sales of more than $14
billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality,
variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and
superior customer service. Hy-Vee was recently named one of the top
grocery stores in America by USA TODAY. The company’s more than 70,000
employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every
day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com .
Hy-Vee, Inc. * 5820 Westown Parkway * West Des Moines, IA * 50266
