Eldred (Al) Liesche did his homework when he built the strip mall that sits along Military Ave right before it splits into 63rd St to the south or Northwest Radial Hwy to the east. From atop this perch, everyone driving along Military Ave to either Benson or downtown could see his bar. It was better situated than his previous location across from Benson Park at 7005 Military Ave.
The new bar, Liesche’s, operated from the southernmost storefront of the strip mall from 1955 until 1960. At that point, Al leased the space to Bill McArdle and Ray McGrath who opened Mac’s Bar at 6301 Military Ave. Mac’s also had a relatively short life at this location as it closed after a fire in 1967 caused extensive damage to his bar as well as Frank’s Fruit Market, Coniglio Dry Cleaners and Benson Venetian Blind Company.
It didn’t become the bar we know today – Jerry’s Bar – until 1968 when Gerald (Jerry) Whalley returned home from California. After dropping into Mac’s Bar one night, he learned that the owners were ready to retire. Undeterred by the fact he had never owned or even worked in a bar, the man that had long dreamed of working for himself bought the neighborhood dive that was only steps from his childhood home.
Within stumbling distance, Jerry’s became a neighborhood favorite. It was also frequented by postal workers whose office was just down the way on Maple as well as those that worked at the car dealership next door not to mention countless others.
Opposite the package liquor section, the bar offered a variety of seating options including booths, tables or stools in front of the wooden bar. With large a window facing Military Avenue, the bar had a jukebox, cigarette machine, trophy case as well as a television to watch the Cornhuskers play on Saturdays. The corner bar would finally enjoy some consistency as Jerry would go on to operate his bar for 33 years before calling it quits in 2000.
It continued to operate as Jerry’s even after its namesake passed away in 2001. Another Benson kid, Rob Rutar, bought the bar in 2012. Unlike Jerry, Rob had lots of experience working in bars though he had never owned one. He moved back to Omaha in 2009 after some international travel to the Czech Republic and Croatia.
Rob quickly made some changes to the old neighborhood bar such as the addition of tap handles to attract the craft beer crowd that tended to hit up Benson proper at night. He acquired the sign that hung outside his beloved 49’r which he frequented before it was razed and replaced by CVS in 2011. He also installed vinyl booths and added vintage bar signs to give the bar a retro feel. He left the original green, yellow and white tile floor which unbeknownst to him at the time was installed by his father years earlier.
Despite the changes, Rob was careful not to change the neighborhood feel of the bar too much. This allowed him to bridge the gap between the regulars and the younger crowd. Like its owner and the surrounding area, Jerry’s is accepting of everyone and employs some of the friendliest bartenders in town. Its regulars even created a non-profit to help the less fortunate. The bar also hosts a number of events to raise money for non-profits such as the Nebraska Humane Society and Mustaches for Kids.
Special thanks to Rob Rutar for reaching out to me regarding this article.
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