The Early Bird concept was born in 2016 when Jamie Burrow and Andrew Meirer, former college roommates with experience in the bar and restaurant industry, teamed up to pursue a new venture. Both had young families and, while they wanted to re-enter the hospitality industry, they were no longer interested in the late-night shifts typical of the business. They envisioned a breakfast, lunch, and brunch concept that allowed them to focus on mornings and early afternoons, creating Early Bird.

Inspired by their love of travel and family-friendly dining, Jamie and Andrew noticed that breakfast was often an easier, more affordable option while on vacation. However, they also wanted to enjoy adult beverages during breakfast. Thus, Early Bird was designed to be a modern take on the classic diner, offering diner staples like chicken fried steak and chicken and waffles, but with creative twists such as cinnamon roll pancakes, hash holes, and breakfast pot pies.

After identifying a gap in the Omaha market for a strong brunch concept, they opened the first Early Bird location in late 2017 in the Blackstone Neighborhood. This successful venture fueled their ambition to grow the brand locally, regionally, and eventually nationally, establishing Early Bird as a scalable and unique dining experience.