Pat Foley’s Holiday Lounge

February 6, 2024

When it opened, The Holiday Lounge was on the western edge of a city that continued to move in its direction. 70 years later, some might even refer to its location as midtown.

The Holiday Lounge opened in the brand-new Beverly Hills Plaza Shopping Center in 1955, likely making it one of the oldest bars west of 72nd Street. At that time, it was surrounded by a number of key attractions, including Peony Park to its north and the 76 West Dodge Drive-In to its east. Its location at 7846 West Dodge Street was perfect for those who lived in the developing suburban neighborhoods, traveling to or from downtown for work, or spending a day at the amusement park or taking in a movie.

1955 Durham Museum photo of Beverly Hills Plaza Shopping Center. The bays for Puritan Cleaners and Franco Beauty Salon are displayed.

While the strip mall today is entirely connected, it was actually two buildings when it was first constructed. Anchored by Big Chief Supermarket, the mall’s first two tenants were Varly Drug and a Socony-Vacuum service station. By the time it opened, there were a total of 14 tenants which also included Yergey Variety Store, George Sevick’s Western Goods Store, Martin Donut Company, Commercial Savings and Loan, Franco Beauty Salon, Willoughby Barber Shop, Daniel Furniture Store, Roffman’s Delicatessen, King’s Candies, Town and Country Investment Company, Puritan Laundry, and a Mobil service station.

1955 Durham Museum photo of Beverly Hills Shopping Center. King’s Candies is on the far right while the empty bay to the left would become the home to Holiday Lounge in 1956.

The Mainelli brothers, John C. and Robert J., saw an opportunity to capitalize on the mall’s location that offered plenty of foot traffic and commuters. It only made sense then that they opened a bar called Holiday Lounge in the one vacant storefront. Perhaps this was always part of the plan, as their father, John P. Mainelli, was in charge of both the construction company that built the strip mall and the corporation that was formed to oversee the project. A review of the newspaper archives doesn’t produce anything notable about the bar during the 10-year timeframe in which they owned it.

1955 Durham Museum advertisement for the Beverly Hills Shopping Center.

In 1965, Pat Foley took over the Holiday Lounge when he was nearly 40. Born in Greeley, Nebraska, Pat served in the Merchant Marine and became an avid hunter and golfer. In the late 1940s, he was a partner of a popular Las Vegas-style nightclub called the Colony Club at 1914 Farnam Street until it was destroyed by a fire in 1963. While completely renovating The Holiday in 1968, he auctioned off gold vinyl booths, formica tables, wood and vinyl upholstered chairs, wall plaques, a baby grand piano, and a 40-foot L-shaped bar. The refreshed bar would go on to become a popular gathering place for politicians and businesspeople. Pat would also go on to start the Holiday Golf Classic, named after the bar, in 1979.

1956 advertisement for Holiday Lounge. This is before Pat Foley took it over.

The successful proprietor of numerous cocktail lounges, Pat was open-hearted, generous, and seemed to know everyone by their first name. He was also known to help struggling employees pay their college tuition. In 1985, he opened the Erin Court Convention Center, a banquet and reception hall near 120th and Fort Street. He turned the business over to his son, Tom, in 1986 before retiring in 1992. To this day, the bar remains in the hands of the Foley family even though Pat passed away in 1997.

Current photo of the Holiday Lounge in its familiar spot on 78th and Dodge.

According to its website, the Holiday Lounge is open 362 days a year. Outside, the classic design of its neon sign helps it stand out from the rest of the storefronts within the strip mall. Inside, it offers a casual yet cozy environment with an interior that takes a minimalist approach, letting its large U-shaped bar dominate the space and take center stage. The curved white chairs and large south-facing windows help brighten the space. Otherwise, it has a few golf posters and horse racing pictures that harken back to the days of Aksarben. It also has a standard variety of entertainment options, from televisions to a jukebox and dartboard. Aside from the retro aesthetic, its drinks are what really stand out, as it has been recognized as one of the best cocktail lounges in town by Omaha Magazine. Its spot along one of the busiest stretches in town ensures you’ll encounter everyone from students to professionals and retirees.

Interior pics courtesy of Holiday Lounge.

Not much has changed at the Holiday Lounge since Pat Foley renovated it in 1968. The consistency of a bar that calls itself “A Foley Family Tradition” is remarkable given that everything around it has changed. No longer is it on the western fringes of town, but it now finds itself centrally located and further east than anyone could have imagined. Its neighbors, including Peony Park and the 76 West Drive-In, have closed. The Crossroads has since come and gone and is in the process of being redeveloped, while the new Central Public Library goes up just down the street.

Despite the changes, it remains the longest-operating tenant of Beverly Hills Plaza and still offers a welcome respite from the ever-changing city around it.

Please feel free to comment and share your memories. Until next time, keep exploring!