Omaha Exploration

Updated: February 12, 2025

The oldest continuously operating tavern west of the Missouri River is located right here in Nebraska. Before opening the bar, Joseph Bucher worked at his father’s flour mill in Switzerland. Born in 1845 Joseph immigrated to the U.S. in 1873. First settling in Chicago, he moved to Columbus, NE in 1876 and built a flour mill, bowling alley and saloon with his brother William at 2301 S 11th St. Bucher’s Saloon was best known for selling cigars and tobacco in its early days.

William “Buffalo Bill” Cody would occasionally drop into the bar from 1883-1915. Rumor has it that in 1883 he dropped in with his Wild West troupe and bought a round of drinks for everyone before paying the tab with a $1,000 bill. In 1892 the brothers Glur installed a beer garden with eight tables, sixteen benches and electric lights. It was shaded by large trees and gave it an appearance of a retreat in the woods. 

In 1894 Joseph sold his share of the business to William due to his wife’s health issues. Joseph purchased 33 acres of land near Escondido near San Diego where he grew lemon, orange and olive trees in addition to peaches and apricots. They later relocated to San Bernandino where he would ship barrels of wine back to Columbus for the tavern. William continued to operate the bar until 1914. Afterwards he founded Farmers State Bank in 1917. 

William hired Louis Glur in 1903 when he was just seventeen years old. 11 years later in 1914, Louis took over the bar and renamed it Glur’s Tavern. After prohibition started in 1920 it operated as a soft drink and ice cream parlor. Its owner also brought in decks of cards, cribbage boards, slot machines and started serving food in an attempt to keep it open. The effort paid off as the bar has remained open ever since. It also started a tradition of playing cards in the bar that continues to this day.

Joseph Bucher passed away in 1925 followed by his brother William in 1938. Louis Glur, meanwhile, passed away in 1931. From there his sons Louis and Conrad took over. The biggest renovation occurred in the 1960’s when the bar was moved from one side to the other. It was around this time that they added a ladies room. Conrad sold it after brother passed away in 1968. Their sister, Elinor Glur Viergutz and her husband Gus ran the bar until 1977. They made several improvements including installing the wooden railing around the building and replacing the bar with one from the old Ivanhoe Bar in downtown Omaha. That marked the end of its long run being owned by the Glur family as Brian Gaver took over. He enlarged the kitchen in the 1980’s. In 1992 he sold it to its the former owners of McFly’s Center Street Tavern in Omaha, Todd and Carrie Trofholz who worked hard over the next 24 years to keep its legacy intact. While they sold the business in 2024, it remains open under new ownership.

The two-story frame building with a large wraparound porch looks nearly identical to the photo from 1899. Its original oak floors remain in place in addition to its limestone foundation. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Widely believed to be the oldest continuously operated tavern west of the Missouri River, today it is known as a reliable place that attracts family gatherings, weddings, funerals and family reunions. Its history is a draw for tourists and has seen its share of politicians including Bob Kerrey and Ben Nelson not to mention former heavyweight champion boxer Leon Spinks who married a Columbus native. Glur’s is known for its famous burgers and fried potatoes. It still features a beer garden, basketball hoop and sand volleyball court. Inside the walls are lined with stuffed deer, pheasants and geese in addition to beer signs and other memorabilia. 

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