Published November 27, 2025 | Updated August 28, 2026

The reinvention of old bars continues along Leavenworth. In recent years, the old Bud Olson’s Bar reopened as Secret Park and Marylebone as True American, which has since been renamed Another Cocktail Bar. This time it’s Meadowlark Lounge in former VFW Post 247 at 3302 Leavenworth Street.

Man Overboard Bar LLC opened the Meadowlark Lounge on the northwest corner of 33rd and Leavenworth Streets, just west of Alderman’s. The bar bills itself as an “upscale neighborhood dive,” a vibe that’s evident once you step inside. Garage doors face Leavenworth Street, a nice touch since there’s no patio. Inside, it features an eclectic retro layout that mixes booths, high tops, bar seating, chairs, and couches. A pool table and dart boards handle the entertainment in addition to a few TVs. The basement doubles as a party room.

For drinks, the Meadowlark leans into cocktails: the Carajillo, the Hibiscus Paloma, an Espresso Martini, and something called the Recession Bag. There’s no food menu, consistent with other bars on this stretch of Leavenworth, though the plan is to eventually bring in food trucks.

The one-story brick building has been through a few lives. It went up in 1940 as Aaron Shapiro’s Bungalow Inn. Morris Shapiro, who also operated the classic, old-school Interlude Lounge near 78th and Pacific Streets, took over the bar and grill from his father. It later became the American Sportsman Lounge and 33 Club, which was known for bikini-clad dancers, followed by VFW Post 247 from 1990 until around 2018, when the post sold it to get out of debt. This follows a trend of VFWs and American Legions closing across the country in recent years due to dwindling membership and increasing debt. Going back even further, it sits on ground that once held the old Redick farm home, per the 1926 photo from Durham Museum’s collection.

The popular midtown spot that sits just south of Blackstone offers a nice contrast to the swankier bars in the ever-popular nightlife district. It also does an admirable job of combining an old school bar vibe with current trends. As such, it stands out among a group of new bars in this part of town.

Meadowlark Lounge is located at 3302 Leavenworth Street. It is open from Mon thru Thurs from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Fri and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sat from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sun from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Its happy hour goes from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Fri.

In contrast to the historical deep dives that defined my early OE work, the Inside series spotlights contemporary businesses that bring something worth experiencing to Omaha’s neighborhoods or historic spaces.

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