Omaha Exploration

Many of us have driven by the bar that was known as the Wayside Tavern for decades. While the current building was constructed in 1969, the site located just east of the Little Papio Creek was originally Horton’s grocery. Walter Horton was born in Massachusetts in 1870 before making his way to Omaha and opening his grocery store by 1924. The old store located at 8503 Maple Street remained in the hands of the Horton family for decades.

It wasn’t until 1956 that grandson Lee Horton filed for a liquor license thereby converting the one-time country store into a neighborhood bar called the Wayside Tavern. Just one year later the longtime owner-operator of Christensen Dairy Products, Hank Christensen, took over the bar. 

By the time the area was annexed by the City of Omaha in 1964, the farmland surrounding it was converted to an industrial/manufacturing area. Hank decided to raze the old building in 1969 and replaced it with a new modern structure. The Wayside proved popular with workers and residents of the area. The bar was targeted by armed robbers in 1979 who, after demanding customers line up against the wall, collected their wallets and the money from the cash register. Fortunately the four men involved were later arrested following a chase of a getaway car and motorcycle.  

2007 and 2017 photos of the Wayside Tavern before being turned into Rudy’s Christmas Bar.

Jerry Hayek’s long run at the Wayside started in 1981 and continued for 40 years. He said that the secret to his success was to keep the bar clean and the prices low. He was proud that his bar remained in business for decades despite increasing competition from newer bars. Jerry’s old-school dive shunned the emerging craft beer scene and its seasonal offerings by keeping just three beers on tap: Budweiser, Bud Light and Miller Lite. Perhaps the Wayside’s best kept secret, however, was its pizza. 

It wasn’t until 2022 that Jerry turned the keys over to a new owner who had a new vision for the old bar. That marks the year that Benson native Rob Rutar took over, renovated and renamed it as Rudy’s Christmas Bar. Some of you may recall that Rob also took over Jerry’s Bar in Benson 10 years earlier. Named one of the best new bars of 2023 by The Reader, Rudy’s, of course, is named after the famous reindeer whose nose is red. 

Don’t confuse Rudy’s as a holiday pop-up. No, Rudy’s proudly keeps its Christmas decorations up, year-round – even on the St. Patrick’s Day. Its Facebook description sums it up perfectly: Rudy’s provides the feel of an old-school restaurant in the glow of a Christmas memory.

I’d love to hear what you have to say so please feel free to comment. Until next time, keep exploring!

More pictures