Photos: Ybor breaks ground
A Lincoln pop-up known for giving former inmates a fresh start is putting down roots. Ybor broke ground April 1, 2026, on its first permanent restaurant.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Kitchen mentor Cody Shafer lays pork onto bread buns in the prep line on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln. Shafer began as a program participant about two and a half years ago before being promoted to his current position as a trainer/mentor last year. “It’s just been a gratifying experience knowing that I’m not just providing a service to people, but that I’m also providing hope to individuals coming through our program—giving them a chance to be successful when they re-enter the community.”
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Program member Michael Alexander (left) dumps some gravel with his shovel as fellow member Angela Roman (center-left), culinary worker and former inmate Becky Olson (center-right) and program kitchen manager Jordan Beyer (right) react on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln. “I like the atmosphere—we all have our own stations and our own jobs,” Alexander said. “To see people enjoy what we do is just so amazing.”
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) director Rob Jeffreys speaks on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Helmets stand on a row of shovels on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Project signage hangs on bare metal beams on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Ybor serves Cuban sandwiches with sides like banana chips.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Ybor program member Michael Alexander, left, halves hot sandwiches on the prep line next to kitchen manager Jordan Beyer, right, on Wednesday during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Cuban pop-up kitchen's future home at 1900 K St., Suite 150. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit which helps connect formerly incarcerated people with employment in the culinary industry.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Betsy Grindlay eats a sandwich at a table with friends on Wednesday during a groundbreaking for Ybor in the Telegraph District.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Program member Melissa Soto-Baker arranges prepped plates of food on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Culinary worker Becky Olson speaks on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Signage stands on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln.
Ybor Groundbreaking Ceremony
Signage stands on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for Ybor at 1900 K Street, Suite 150, in downtown Lincoln. The storefront will serve as the first brick-and-mortar location for the nonprofit, which has hosted two years of pre-release culinary training inside the Community Corrections Center–Lincoln.
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