Omaha Exploration

Joseph McGuire was among Benson’s most prominent residents. After moving to Nebraska from New York in 1881, he would spend time in both Blair and Irvington before settling in the newly established town of Benson just five miles west of Omaha. He went on to open a number of businesses in the area including the first grocery store, grain elevator and a livery that also sold farm equipment, wagons, buggies, coal and other goods. 

Located across from the grain elevator, the livery called McGuire & Son was located at 6135 Military Ave. Operating the business alongside his son Thomas, he expanded into lumber and building material by 1911 which was needed in order to support the growing town.

With his son pursuing business interests of his own and Joseph in his early 70s, he turned his old livery into McGuire’s Cigars and Soft Drinks. This being 1932 he likely saw an opportunity to pivot to the bar business with the impending repeal of prohibition the following year but ended up selling the business in 1933. During the course of his life, Joseph acted as the town’s postmaster, served on the village board and served as its mayor for 12 years before passing away in 1937.

Niels Holst opened Nel’s Place in 1933. His establishment served sandwiches and cold keg beer. Good ol’ Nels survived a robbery attempt by two bandits without injury in 1940. When they tried to enter his bar, he kicked and struck the two men while avoiding being hit with gunfire. Over the next couple of decades it served as Bob’s Benson Bar owned by Bob Metz and Ed Post’s Bar and Grill. After Ed installed a new grill to serve lunches, the spot seems to have earned a reputation for slinging some tasty burgers. 

In 1966 Gene Corcoran and Dick Duda took inspiration from successful banjo bars in larger cities such as Chicago and Kansas City when they opened Bill Bailey’s. With a gay 90’s theme and decor, the bar had a bright red tin ceiling and brass antique lights suspended from the ceiling above. From the walls hung old pictures and paintings. Everyone from the musicians to the bartenders and wait staff were dressed in black pants, striped shirts, bow ties, armbands, red vests, and black bowler hats. 

The main attraction was its band, originally the Backstreet Four but eventually became the Backstreet Five when they introduced a new member. The band was formed by brothers John and Jim Howard. It featured John as the singer/banjo player and Mike Messerly as the drummer. Other musicians played the piano, tuba and trumpet. To add to the atmosphere, the bar would hand out songbooks allowing its customers to participate in a sing-a-long as they played from a small stage on the south wall. 

The banjo bar quickly became one of the most popular places in Benson, if not all of Omaha. Customers would line up outside the door and form a line which often went around the corner. Once inside they would fill the long, narrow tables at which point the wait staff provided bowls and popcorn and peanuts in the shell which they were encouraged to throw on the floor. 

After Billy Bailey’s closed in 1977, it had a brief run as the Post Bar. The name was inspired by Ed Post’s Bar as one of his former employees, Bonnie Nelson, took it over and operated the bar with her husband Bob. In 1980 Lee Cantwell took over and operated Lee’s Corner until 2001. 

For the last 20 years or so, Joseph McGuire’s old building has been the home to the Husker themed Fullhouse Bar. In addition to its love for Nebraska football, it has become a popular karaoke spot with a small stage that is a holdover from its days as Bill Bailey’s. Far from the gay 90s decor of its predecessor, the bar today is full of beer signs, sports memorabilia and some old photographs. Like most of the old school bars in Benson, it has a shuffleboard table along with pool tables, darts, keno, arcade games and televisions from which to cheer on the Cornhuskers!

Fullhouse being off the main strip, it doesn’t attract the same crowd as some of the others. It’s mostly visited by locals both young and old. Until recently, the bar had its own parking lot, a rarity in Benson, which caused it to develop a reputation for its strict enforcement of its parking policy in which they would tow cars if customers left the bar and went elsewhere in the area. They ended up losing the park lot after it was zoned commercial. Either way, this old school dive still has plenty of fans.

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Until next time, keep exploring!

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