The Former Krug Tavern at 1402 William Street

April 27, 2024

The ivy-covered two-story brick and stone building on the NW corner of 14th and William was one of two that Frederick Krug built in 1890. Both had living quarters upstairs while the main floor served as Krug Tavern. The tied house allowed him to sell the beer made from Krug Brewing Company, one of Omaha’s big four brewers. While the other building at 12th and Chicago was likely demolished to make way for the interstate, this one still stands.

1900 Durham Museum photo looking northeast from the corner of 14th and William. Our friend, 1402, on the NW corner is not captured in this picture. This is a picture of a Bohemian parade and gives a good idea of what William St once looked like.

By 1903, the building designed in the Italianate style and located in Omaha’s historic Little Bohemia neighborhood served as the home to the Johanek Brothers Saloon. The brothers we busted for violating a law that prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays. The discovery came after two officers in street clothes observed people entering through a side door. The officers followed and managed to order two beers. They arrested George on-site but he managed to escape when two other men interfered. Both George and his brother Peter were arrested the next day. The two ended up losing their liquor license in 1907. Both went on to find jobs as bartenders.

October 2023 photo of the east and south sides of 1402 William. The building here is covered in ivy.

After the Johanek Brothers Saloon closed, George D. Ablon opened Ablon’s Saloon. It was also short-lived as neighbors filed a petition in 1909 to close the saloon due to the class of its patrons. George was the president of Syrian-Greek Club which happened to be the same year as the anti-Greek riots in Omaha. Perhaps anti-Greek sentiment played a role.

October 2023 photo of the front entrance of 1402 William.

Krug’s old tavern continued its run of short-term operators when Joseph Marushak tried his hand at operating a saloon. In 1910 his establishment as well as others were robbed by men claiming to be with the Anti-Saloon League. They managed to keep the string of robberies quiet by threatening the owners with arrest for breaking laws related to gambling and selling liquor after hours. The thieves who entered as Joseph was playing cards managed to get away with several hundred dollars.

Roughly the same view looking east from 14th and William.

As far as I can tell, 1912 was the last year that our friend at 1402 William St served as a bar. In fact, it did a complete 180 after Anton Malik repurposed it into the home for his business, Holy Manufacturing. Even that business appeared to be short-lived. In 1917 there was a report of the husband of another “baby bride” whose husband disappeared after leaving home for work at the stockyards in the morning. She was the 19-year old wife of Joseph Franz who was 25. Charles Slavik also lived at this address and was severely wounded in France while serving in World War I. Charles, who arrived from Bohemia just six years earlier, was one of 15 young Bohemian men from Omaha to enlist. They were the first Nebraskans to accompany General Pershing to the front.

October 2023 photo of the north side of 1402 William completely covered in ivy.

Michael Kalcik opened a tailoring business here in 1927 while his family lived upstairs. His son, Ernest, was killed in action in the Philippines in 1945 during World War II. After Micahel passed away in 1966, the building was put up for sale. The advertisement stated that it had five rooms, bathroom upstairs, full basement and off street parking or loading dock. It seemed to have remained on the market for quite some time as it was listed for sale again in 1969-1973. Starting in 1978 it was home to Born Again Antiques for a time. In 1984 it was the studio of local fine art photographer Larry Ferguson.

2015 Preserve Omaha photo of 1402 William without all the ivy.

The building was vacant and showing its age by 2015 when Preserve Omaha (then Restoration Exchange) heart bombed the building. Heart bombing was a way to show historically significant buildings a little love in hopes of finding owners and preserving them. It worked as the building is currently occupied.

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