From Classic Bar to Barrett’s Barleycorn

October 13, 2023

As the Nebraska Medical Center steadily grew around it, one small building on Leavenworth Street endured. Constructed in 1952, the building that now houses Barrett’s Barleycorn was designed from the start to be a neighborhood bar, standing apart from its surroundings with a modern look. Its history traces back to Bill Growney and a successful tavern known simply as the Classic Bar.

The original location of the Classic Bar sits just a couple of doors east at 4312 Leavenworth in what used to be a Piggly Wiggly grocery store and the Harmonica Bar.

Business was so good that Growney decided to build a brand-new home for his bar at 4322 Leavenworth Street. As one of the main arteries to and from downtown, Leavenworth Street attracted business owners eager to catch the attention of commuters. Many, like La Casa and Bronco’s, installed neon signs. Growney instead opted to let the building itself do the work with its mid-century modern design. It stood out among its older peers due to a number of features including an aluminum marquee, offset entrance, and a planter box.

Construction of the Classic Bar in 1952. Photo courtesy of Durham Museum.

Always a favorite among neighborhood residents, the Classic Bar was also popular with the horse racing crowd. Bill embraced that connection by prominently displaying photographs of horses behind the bar. The bumper pool table was another favorite among patrons. When Nebraska instituted a sales tax in 1967, it was the Classic Bar that earned the state its first penny when a customer purchased a pint just after midnight.

1971 photograph inside the Classic Bar. Courtesy of Omaha-World Herald.

The bar continued to operate as the Classic Bar even after Bill passed away in 1972 at the age of 61. It is believed that his successor, Bob Price, installed the grill around this time. The bar was sold again ten years later and became the New Classic Bar, a name that proved to be temporary until Frank Barrett finally realized his dream of owning a bar.

2023 Omaha Exploration photo of Barrett’s Barleycorn on Leavenworth Street.

Barrett was nearing the end of an illustrious career when he opened the establishment that would become a gathering place for friends, family, and neighbors. In addition to serving as president and chief executive officer of Central National Insurance Company, he was deeply involved in local politics and often used the bar for political rallies and fundraisers.

2025 Omaha Exploration photo looking towards the entrance at Barrett’s Barleycorn.

Proudly Irish and hailing from Greeley, one of Nebraska’s Irish capitals, Barrett may have named the bar after the Irish band The Barleycorn. It is also possible the name was inspired by the Jack London novel. Either way, the bar he opened alongside his daughter Mary quickly earned a reputation for hosting one of the best Saint Patrick’s Day parties in town. The celebrations did not stop in March, however, as fans of the Louisiana State Tigers baseball team made Barrett’s their unofficial headquarters whenever they came to Omaha for the College World Series.

2025 Omaha Exploration photo looking inside Barrett’s Barleycorn. The small kitchen is on the other side of the bar on the right.

By the mid-2000s, word had spread that the tiny kitchen tucked into the front corner of the bar was serving some of the best bar food in town. The Philly sandwich developed a devoted following, as did the Reuben, which was often named the best in Omaha.

2023 Omaha Exploration photo of the Barrett’s patio during St. Patrick’s Day.

The Barrett family has made numerous improvements to the bar in the decades since opening Barrett’s Barleycorn. In the 1980s, they added a sand volleyball court. After purchasing an old warehouse located west the bar with plans to demolish it for parking, they instead converted opened a reception hall named Castle Barrett. As the Barleycorn developed a reputation as a restaurant with a bar, the basement of the warehouse was transformed into the B Bar. The patio, offering a welcome respite along busy Leavenworth Street, was added in the 2000s, followed by the Irish-themed mural on the east wall in 2013.

2024 Omaha Exploration photo of the mural on the east wall of Barrett’s Barleycorn.

Although Frank passed away in 2019, his namesake bar remains true to its claim as “the friendliest pub and grill around.” The family-owned establishment continues to be a destination not just on March 17, but year-round, frequently earning spots on “best of” lists for its burgers, Reuben sandwiches, and sand volleyball.

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