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.