A new pub promising burgers, cocktails and line dancing swung its doors open in Bellevue today, with the Donkey Barn Pub & Grub set to welcome its first guests at 4 p.m. at 2902 Samson Way. The bar and grill is kicking things off with a packed entertainment lineup, and admission tightens up later in the evening for anyone hoping to stick around for the nightlife crowd.
According to Grow Omaha, the bar and grill will feature food, drinks and live entertainment, with doors opening at 4 p.m. and admission restricted to guests 21 and older after 8 p.m. That cutoff suggests the venue is angling to be a family-friendly dinner stop early in the evening before shifting into a straight-up night-out destination once the bands take the stage.
The 8 p.m. cutoff is the venue’s own age policy, not a statewide rule requiring bars to exclude younger guests. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission says state law does not generally prohibit minors from being in bars, though local ordinances may set restrictions; state law does prohibit minors from possessing or consuming alcohol in a tavern. The distinction means younger guests may be allowed before the cutoff, but the venue’s policy shifts to an adults-only crowd later in the evening. The commission’s guidance on minors in bars and Nebraska’s statute on minors and alcohol draw that line.
Opening weekend is stacked with music, with performances scheduled from DJ Chris Worms, Silas Creek and Whiskey River, the same report notes. Silas Creek and Whiskey River are among the acts scheduled for opening weekend.
A Pub and Grill With Live Entertainment
The Donkey Barn is a pub and grill offering food, drinks and live entertainment. The mix gives Bellevue residents a place to eat and catch a show.
The venue grew out of an idea Dave and Brandy Blamble developed after a 2021 visit to a country-themed entertainment spot in Kansas City, then built with partners Patrick Knobbe, Terry Hurt, Patrick Rigg and Rick Swarbrick. The owners envision more than a weekend band room: planned offerings include DJs, karaoke, music bingo and line-dancing lessons, alongside games such as pool, darts and cornhole. The Bellevue-born project also plans to host private gatherings and offer a 10% daily discount to active-duty military personnel and military retirees.
The Donkey Barn is at 2902 Samson Way in Bellevue.
With opening weekend now underway, the Donkey Barn joins Bellevue's dining and entertainment scene with a built-in test: two nights of live bands to draw in the crowds right out of the gate. For anyone curious whether the new country bar lives up to its billing, Friday and Saturday night's shows from Silas Creek and Whiskey River figure to be the first real measure.
