Omaha Exploration

The location of a longtime Benson bar, now known as the Fullhouse, was first the site of a business empire built by one of the neighborhood’s most prominent residents: Joseph McGuire.

After moving to Nebraska from New York in 1881, Joseph 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, a 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 Avenue. Operating the business alongside his son Thomas, Joseph expanded into lumber and building materials by 1911, which were needed 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 earned a reputation for slinging some tasty burgers.

In 1965, 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 ’90s theme and decor, the bar had a bright red tin ceiling and brass antique lights suspended from 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, which eventually became the Backstreet Five when they added a new member. The band was formed by brothers John and Jim Howard. It featured John as the singer and banjo player and Mike Messerly as the drummer. Other musicians played the piano, tuba, and trumpet. To add to the atmosphere, the bar handed out songbooks so customers could participate in a sing-along as the band played from a small stage on the south wall.

Bill Bailey’s quickly became one of the most popular places in Benson, if not all of Omaha. Customers would line up outside and often wrap around the corner. Once inside, they filled the long, narrow tables, where the wait staff provided bowls of popcorn and peanuts in the shell, which customers were encouraged to throw on the floor.

After Bill 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 it 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 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 sits just north of the main strip along Maple Street. Its location means that 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 strict enforcement of its parking policy. They ended up losing the parking lot after it was zoned commercial.

The building at 6135 Military Avenue has witnessed its share of changes, from the time the surrounding area was a rural community outside of Omaha to now becoming one of the city’s liveliest hotspots. Joseph McGuire’s old building, however, remains a spot where neighbors gather just off the main strip.

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

Until next time, keep exploring!

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Sources

• Omaha World-Herald archives
• Benson Times, Benson’s Early Residents, 1937.
• Benson Times, Up and Down the Street, 1957.