Mr Toad's, Omaha

Mr. Toad’s is a long-running English-inspired pub that has been part of Omaha’s Old Market entertainment district since 1970. Founded by Rusty Harmsen, it opened during the early transformation of the former wholesale market into a district of restaurants, shops, galleries, and entertainment venues.

The pub takes its name from the character in Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. It occupies the ground floor of the former Hotel Howard, a Classical Revival building completed in 1909 that served as a hotel until 1969. The interior was designed to resemble a traditional English pub and retains many original decorative features introduced by Harmsen. These include dark wooden beams, stained glass, shelves of old law books, a hand-carved fireplace mantel, handcrafted tiles, and seating made from reused oak pews. The pub expanded into an adjoining space in 1972, doubling its capacity. Its outdoor Mr. Toad’s Courtyard, opened in 1983, is recognized as Omaha’s oldest outdoor pub patio. Trees, flower boxes, and wooden tables create a relaxed setting closely associated with the establishment’s character.

Music has remained an important part of Mr. Toad’s identity. Jazz musician Luigi Waites began performing there weekly in 1975 and continued for nearly 35 years until his death in 2010, giving more than 1,700 performances. His ensemble, Luigi, Inc., continues the Sunday jazz tradition. Today, the venue is best known for its historic interior, courtyard, social atmosphere, and long connection with live jazz rather than for a traditional restaurant menu.