Philip Barker, legendary Nye s bartender, dies at 74 He started there in 1969 after finishing a stint in the Navy, and it was the only job he ever had. May 19, 2021 5:38am Text size Copy shortlink:
If you were one of Phil Barker s regulars, he d be pouring your drink as you walked through the door.
And a lot of them walked through the door of Nye s Polonaise Room, the legendary bar in Minneapolis that was like a never-ending neighborhood party.
Barker was behind the bar at Nye s for 47 years, two months, three days and a few hours, said his daughter, Robin Thorsen of Brooklyn Park. He started there in 1969 after finishing a stint in the Navy, and it was the only job he ever had. When Nye s closed in 2016, it was the last call for Barker s working life.