The latest casualty of last summer's flooding is the Anchor Inn, a riverfront bar known for its watermelon drinks and outdoor concerts.

The City of Omaha has ruled that the bar and other buildings nearby can no longer be used because of flood damage and zoning laws.

The owners can appeal, but for now, musical artists and drinkers must find a new venue.

The city said the structures near Freedom Park are so severely damaged that they would have to be torn down and rebuilt.

But the area is in a floodway, so city codes prohibit rebuilding, said Rick Cunningham, city planning director.

The Anchor Inn "does not conform with the land-use ordinance that says what can occur on a piece of property," Cunningham said.

The buildings were already in use when the area's zoning changed and were grandfathered in. But that exception does not allow them to be rebuilt.

The city cited the Anchor Inn owners after they began repair work on the bar and concert area. Cunningham said someone also has been sandbagging in the area illegally.

Anchor Inn owners could not be reached.

The owners can appeal the city's ruling about the extent of the damage, either administratively or through a lawsuit.

Cunningham said it's especially important that the city be vigilant about flood rules because the Federal Emergency Management Agency could otherwise impose sanctions that would affect the flood insurance of everyone in the city limits.

The Anchor Inn has featured musicians such as the Black Keys, She & Him and Conor Oberst.

The venue was often used when promoters couldn't find an outdoor venue of similar size. Other locations, such as Westfair Amphitheater east of Council Bluffs, are considered too costly for small concerts.

The Omaha music promoter 1% Productions put on concerts at the Anchor Inn in the past, but its lone 2011 booking at the bar's riverside stage had to be moved because of flooding problems.

The company wasn't planning to book anything at the Anchor Inn this summer.

Co-owner Marc Leibowitz said 1% is looking at other places, including Sumtur Amphitheater in Papillion, for outdoor shows. Lewis & Clark Landing in Omaha is another option, but Leibowitz said it's booked just about every weekend.

"There's no reputable agent that would book a venue that doesn't exist," he said of Anchor Inn. "It (currently) has no stage and it hasn't been open, so it doesn't exist as a venue."

Contact the writer:

402-444-1084, roseann.moring@owh.com