Omaha Exploration

Before he got to see the world while serving in World War II, Frank Mlnarik worked in the South Omaha meat packing plants. When he returned, he opted to embark upon a new career by opening a bar in 1947. Now in his mid-30’s, it had to be a nice change of pace for the young man whose parents emigrated from Czechoslovakia and whose father also found work in the meatpacking industry.

His bar was located along Benson’s main street. The building at 5918 Military Ave was constructed in 1912. Its first few years it served as the home to funeral parlors, one of which was G. H. Tuttle Furniture & Undertaking. Yes, you read that right, when G. H. wasn’t working as a undertaker he was selling furniture though he closed that aspect of the business in 1919.

By 1924 it served as the home to The Benson Ladies Ready-to-Wear followed by a millinery and beauty shop operated by Mary A. Dunham. That same year, James C. Ford, a notorious bootlegger, bought the building and later and opened a soft drinker parlor. In 1931 his building was padlocked and forced to close for a year after alcohol was discovered in violation of the prohibition act. For the next few years it became the home to the Benson Paint Store.

It started its long life as a bar in 1935. Until 1946 it had different owners and operated under various names including Benson Buffett, Hayes Bar and Trudy’s Inn. After Frank took over, it was referred to as the World Famous Frank’s Musette Bar. He renovated the bar in 1949 by replacing the lighting, seating, flooring and decor. One thing that didn’t change, he said, was the bartender and the same old friendly atmosphere. By this time, sports bars were getting started and the Musette played the “sports of yesterday” every Friday night. The bar also offered recreation in the form of shuffleboard of which Frank was an avid player and league member. The bar also advertised music and dancing which were likely the inspiration for its name.

Frank and his wife Lucille operated the bar until at least 1981. Frank passed away in 1986 followed by Lucille in 2000. The next few years aren’t well documented but it seems to have continued to operate as the Musette Bar after the Mlnarik’s sold it. Bernyce Paltani who owned Paltani’s Restaurant on 45th and Center also owned it for a period of time. After that Vern Huntley operated it through much of the 1990s.

Michele (Shelly) Hagen bought it in 1996 and moved it one block west to 6020 Maple Street in 2002. As a result of the move, she went from a 2,000 sq ft to a 6,000 sq ft space. I suspect this was in part to increase the number of pool and shuffleboard tables. Another factor may have been increased foot traffic in the new location which was in the busiest section of downtown Benson between 60th and the portion of Military that juts off towards Maple right before turning into Northwest Radial Highway.

While the bar had a good reputation, several businesses and neighbors contested the move from the east side of the Benson Community Center to the west side. Most of the concerns had to do with parking. The library, located directly behind the new location, was concerned that bar patrons would use its parking lot. As a condition of the move, the bar had to agree to several conditions including playing only karaoke, DJ and acoustic music, only using its back door facing the library for emergency use, leasing a 15-stall gravel lot, posting signs not to use the church lot, join local organizations and to watch adjacent areas for litter.

The Hagen family continues to operate the old school bar which was around long before Benson became the hot spot it is today. It has a long reputation of being a go-to spot for those looking to partake in bar games including pool, shuffleboard and billiards. The Reader even mentioned it as one of the best places for billiards as recently as 2023.

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