The wait is over for bar patrons in Omaha. Closing time is now 2 a.m. instead of 1 a.m., as it has been for many years. The ordinance, passed on July 15, allows bars to close one hour later than they were previously permitted. The change is mostly due to Omaha’s growth and the desire to keep patrons in Nebraska.
Before the change in closing time, Omaha watched as its patrons crossed the river into Iowa to partake in the extra hour of drinking. The new closing time should stifle some of this movement.
UNO graduate student Meggan Mattingly is excited about the new closing time. As a former Iowa resident, Mattingly is used to staying out until 2 a.m.
“For me, I was used to going out at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. and in Nebraska I’d have to go out earlier to get a good bar experience,” she said.
Fellow UNO graduate student Lindsey Eilers feels the same way. Eilers, also a former resident of Iowa, recalled her first time out in Nebraska with the old closing time of 1 a.m.
“I remember the first night I went out and they said they were closing so early,” she said. “I was stunned and asked the bartender ‘Well, what I am supposed to do now?'”Â
Eilers also likes the fact that she can go out later now, especially if she has to work late.
“It [the new closing time] means when I work until 11 p.m., I still have time to go out and meet up with friends on the weekends,” she said.
Eilers went out the weekend of the bar closing, and noticed a lot of conversations about the new time. Mattingly went to the bars the weekend after the new time.
“I had forgotten it [the new closing time] and was excited. It was one big surprise for me,” Mattingly said.
Mattingly doesn’t worry about the law creating more accidents.
“I’m used to Iowa having it and it hasn’t affected them,” she said. “You can still go somewhere after [the bars close] and keep drinking and drinking.”
Eilers has a different opinion.
“I think that, in the beginning, the driving may be more dangerous since people may not realize that an extra hour means extra drinking,” she said. “People may not know how to pace themselves at the beginning.” Yet she is hopeful that, after a couple of months, the dangerous driving threat will diminish.
The students think Omaha bars should see a revenue increase with the new time. If Omaha keeps the later last call going with the new time, Mattingly states that Omaha bars should make more.
“Last call used to be five minutes to 1 a.m. in Omaha, whereas in Iowa City it was a half-hour last call,” Mattingly said.
Eilers agreed. “A whole extra hour is an extra hour of sales,” she said. “Plus, it may keep Omahans in Omaha the whole night rather than trekking over to Iowa mid-night.”
As far as Iowa bars go, Mattingly believes a decrease in Omaha patrons frequenting these bars is imminent. “They [Omahans] might [still go to Iowa] because the casinos are there, but I think it will decrease for sure,” she said.
Eilers thinks Omaha people will visit Iowa bars less, but some Nebraska residents will go to Iowa despite the new closing time.
“I think there are certain bars in Iowa that people genuinely enjoy or even prefer,” she said.