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, its life goes back decades further. According to the Douglas County Assessor, the front of the building 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, then, this was the back portion of the building that extends southwards towards Marcy St. I’ve read on My Omaha Obsession that this building may have belonged to W. T. Hammand but after further research, I discovered that his was located at 4681 Leavenworth.
In addition to residing at this building from 1915 until they got divorced in 1928, the Boyer’s 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 this business. Lena lived here until 1946 including for a time with her son, William, who worked at Omaha Steel across the street.
After closing the boarding house, Lena allowed Miriam Holland to open the Ye Old Corner Bar starting in 1935. Despite having divorced her husband Guy in 1932, the two remained as business partners and operated the West Side Pharmacy next door. This was before 48th was bisected by Saddle Creek causing the two buildings west to be demolished. Things turned nasty after Miriam opened the bar as Guy sued to dissolve their partnership claiming that she did not pay 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 at 4689 Leavenworth. He operated this bar for decades before retiring around 1962. After Lanning’s closed, John Bukacek opened Zest Bar. When Saddle Creek was widened in 1964 the bar was moved 25 feet east so that it was out of the right of way. Jim Harm opened yet another bar in this building. His bar was cleverly named Harm’s Way though it didn’t last nearly as long as his predecessor.
In 1988 Dottie Howell opened the bar that we all recognize today, The Neighber’s. She made perhaps the biggest change to the building’s exterior since it was enlarged when she added a patio. Originally she wanted the patio to be built on the east side of the building. Plans changed and it was constructed on the west side of the building after neighbors whose backyards would have faced the bar complained that it would be a nuisance. The patio was originally built to accommodate smokers that could no longer light up indoors due to the city’s smoking ban.
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 those third shift workers who want to enjoy a drink in the morning after getting off work. Dorothy also made the bar a popular destination for the College World Series crowds despite 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 10 feet due to its slowly eroding foundation when the Saddle Creek was an actual creek to its western neighbors at 4693 and 4695 being demolished to accommodate the creek being covered with a road. It’s even managed to survive the expansion of the nearby University of Nebraska Medical Center. So for the forseeable future, it still stands and continues to satiate the thirst of the workers and neighbors living nearby. As far as the origins of it’s name, Neighber’s, drop-in and ask the bartender.
Content written by Omaha Exploration. Feel free to leave a comment or a suggestion. Until then, keep exploring!
Bonus pics
Subscribe
Type your email address below to be notified when a new story is posted.
Omaha Exploration 
Leave a comment