Omaha Exploration

My name is Patrick Wyman, join me as I explore Omaha and the surrounding area. With an emphasis on the origin stories of the places that define this city, I also cover new developments, attractions, events and whatever else catches my eye.

Food & Drink

Sam Vacanti’s Old Mill Lounge

Sam Vacanti may be a name that is familiar to some of you. He was one of few Nebraska quarterbacks to play professionally at that position. He was also the founder of one of Omaha’s oldest West Omaha bars. Sam opened the bar at 10944 West Dodge Road after the Old Mill Shopping Center opening…

Patrick Wyman

November 24, 2023

2–3 minutes

Bob Mackie, Cunningham’s, McArdle Mill, Nebraska Cornhuskers, northwest high school, Old Mill Centre, Old Mill Lounge, Old Mill Shoping Center, Sam Vacanti, Slingin’ Sammy

November 24, 2023

1958 Durham Museum photo for the Old Mill near 100th and Dodge. This is near where Old Mill Shopping Center and Old Mille Lounge are today.

Sam opened the bar at 10944 West Dodge Road after the Old Mill Shopping Center opening in 1972. The shopping center was named after the McArdle Mill which was built in 1865. In those days, the mill along the Big Papio Creek was eight miles west of Omaha. More than a century later, the city finally caught up at which point developers had the idea of turning this area on both sides of Dodge into commercial space.

1946 photo of Sam Vacanti appearing in the Omaha World-Herald in 1981. By 1974 he would open Old Mill Lounge.

While they built a business park on the south side, the north side was turned into the shopping center. Sam Vacanti’s Old Mill Lounge is the only original tenant of that shopping center. His mill themed bar featured exposed wood beams, three levels (not floors) with tables, a paddlewheel waterfall, brass chandeliers, leaded glass above the square bar and a small dance floor next to the jukebox.

1974 advertisement of the Old Mill Lounge in the Omaha World-Herald.

By the time its founder passed away in 1981, Bob Mackie the former teacher, coach, assistant principal and athletic director at Northwest High School took over for a period of time. Soon after it changed a hands again but the bar became a popular place for live music. In 1991 it was even voted as one of the best places to go for live jazz and blues by Omaha World-Herald readers.

Exterior of Old Mill Lounge in the Old Mill Centre on 108th and West Dodge Frontage Rd.

Unlike its neighbor to the east, Cunningham’s, Old Mill is a dark lounge that will remind you of someone’s basement from the 1970’s with the stone walls, dark wood, lead glass, and wood burning fireplace. The veteran and woman-owned spot has plenty to keep you entertained with darts, pool, music bingo, live music and a large screen tv with Husker as well as other games. It remains a rare hidden gem 50 years after it first opened its doors as a part of a shopping center that was re-converted into a business park in 2007.

Omaha Exploration photo of the back patio space at Old Mill Lounge.

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