Omaha Exploration

Bars can be found scattered throughout the neighborhoods of South Omaha. While not as numerous these days, some, including one nicknamed the House of Z, continue to thrive in these residential areas. This is the story of the bar that is now known as Andy’s Place.

Before it became the House of Z, the 1,600 sq. ft. brick building on the southwest corner of 37th and F Street belonged to Agnes Miller. Built in 1923, Miller sold it to Adolph Skibinski just two years later. The Polish immigrant opened a grocery store in the building along with his wife Rose. Just five years later he sold the building at 3701 F Street to Zygfryd (Ziggy) Zagozda. While the name contains not one but two Z’s, Zagozda didn’t start the House of Z.

Like Skibinski, Zagozda was a Polish immigrant who worked in the nearby meatpacking plants. His wife Mary took over the grocery business while the family lived in it until 1934, when they moved to a house that sat behind it. While Zagozda received a permit to raise and repair the house, he did not get permission to move it to a new foundation. He was busted while the structure was halfway between the new and old foundations. After appearing in court, he was allowed to move it. Once finished, the family moved in, giving themselves a little extra breathing room.

When Prohibition ended, Zagozda, like many others in South Omaha, pivoted to the bar business by opening Zyggie’s Bar. After retiring, the bar moved away from the letter Z for a time. His son-in-law James Kankovsky, the husband of daughter Bernice, took over the family business briefly before losing his liquor license for improper operation. I suspect it remained open on Sundays, which was a no-no at the time. Zagozda reclaimed his bar and eventually moved it to 4802 L Street.

It changed hands frequently after that: Joe Galas turned it into Joe’s Bar, after which Stanley Placzek turned it into Stanley’s Bar. In 1965, partners Charles Buller and James Rezal opened their B&B Bar.

By 1967 it became Andy’s Tavern and then Andy’s Place, named for Andrew Kochanowicz. From what I’ve gathered, he originally opened his namesake bar at 4516 S. 27th Street around 1929. Since the construction of Highway 75, 27th Street just south of J Street has become 27th Circle. The building is now home to the Hell’s Angels clubhouse. Andy passed away in 1956, at which point his son Bill, nicknamed “Dirty Bill,” continued to run the bar.

Since Kochanowicz relocated Andy’s to 3701 F Street more than 50 years ago, it’s retained the Andy’s name. After Bill passed away in 1986, it became the House of Z, run by Norbert Zimmerer and his wife Grace. She acted as the matriarch of the South Omaha bar scene and was affectionately known as “Mama Z” by regulars. Eventually the Zimmerers’ son Tom took over operation of the family-run neighborhood bar.

The Zimmerer name is well known in these parts due to former Husker fullback C.J. Zimmerer, the grandson of Norbert and Grace. It was C.J.’s idea to have a pediatric brain cancer patient named Jack Hoffman run for a touchdown during the 2013 Spring Game. C.J. also served as his lead blocker for the 69-yard run. His jersey hangs on the wall of the bar to this day.

These small neighborhood bars can be difficult to piece together, and Andy’s was no different. They don’t attract much attention, but one exception with this one was a review by “Scuba” Steve Gates, formerly of Hit That Dive, and recognition of it as one of the best neighborhood taverns by The Reader in 2012.

Andy’s is a classic, humble South Omaha bar that remains true to its SOB roots. It’s an old-school, cash-only establishment that makes up for its lack of an ATM with what Gates describes as the friendliest bartenders in town, as well as affordable drinks, cleanliness, and good conversation. Andy’s claims that “after you stay for a while, it’ll become a home away from home for life.” After frequent changes in ownership, the bar has found some stability as the House of Z and continues to serve the SOB community.

Please feel free to comment to share your thoughts and memories.

Until next time, keep exploring!

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