The old building at the intersection of Leavenworth and Saddle Creek has been a bar as far back as 1935. While that makes it among the oldest bars in town, the building itself goes back decades further. According to the Douglas County Assessor, the front portion nearest Leavenworth was constructed in 1868. While I can’t find evidence that it goes back that far, I do know that John and Lena Boyer purchased the lot in 1915 and filed a building permit. Perhaps that accounts for the back portion of the building that extends southward toward Marcy Street.
In addition to residing at this address from 1915 until they divorced in 1928, the Boyers also operated a boarding house and restaurant. After the divorce, John continued to work at the meat packing plants in South Omaha while Lena continued to operate the business. Lena lived here until 1946, including for a time with her son William, who worked at nearby Omaha Steel.
After closing the boarding house, Lena allowed Miriam Holland to open the Ye Old Corner Bar at 4689 Leavenworth Street starting in 1935. Despite having divorced her husband Guy in 1932, the two remained business partners and operated the West Side Pharmacy next door. This was before 48th was bisected by Saddle Creek Road, causing the two buildings to the west to be demolished. Things turned nasty after Miriam opened the bar, as Guy sued to dissolve their partnership claiming she had not paid him his share of the profits. I suspect that played a role in the bar closing just two years later in 1937.
Thomas Lanning, who had operated other bars, opened another called Lanning’s Bar in this building. He operated it for decades before retiring around 1962. Afterwards, John Bukacek opened Zest Bar. When Saddle Creek was widened in 1964, the bar was moved 25 feet east to get it out of the right of way. Jim Harm opened yet another bar, cleverly named Harm’s Way, in this building.
In 1988 Dottie Howell opened the bar that we all recognize today, The Neighber’s. She made what may be the biggest change to the building’s exterior since it was enlarged after she added a patio. Originally, she wanted it built on the east side of the building, but plans changed after neighbors whose backyards would have faced the bar complained it would be a nuisance. Instead, the patio was constructed on the west side instead.
I suspect the bar has always been popular with nearby shift workers at Omaha Steel, Union Pacific and the Med Center. That tradition continues today as the bar opens at 6 AM every day to accommodate third shift workers who want a drink after getting off work. Dottie also made the bar a popular destination for College World Series crowds despite it not being particularly close to either Rosenblatt Stadium or Schwab Field.
The Neighber’s has managed to survive even though its location has always been a challenge. From being moved back when Saddle Creek was still an actual creek and the foundation slowly eroded, to its western neighbors being demolished when the creek was covered over with a road, to the ongoing expansion of the nearby University of Nebraska Medical Center. For the foreseeable future, the old bar still stands and continues to quench the thirst of the workers and neighbors nearby. As for the origins of its name, Neighber’s, drop in and ask the bartender.
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Sources
- https://www.ketv.com/article/unmc-expansion-omaha-plans-to-acquire-some-saddle-creek-businesses/43557043
- Omaha World-Herald archives
- Omaha Daily Bee, Building Permits, 1915
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