According to legend, in 1934, Billy Goat Tavern was opened by a good man with a bad check.
Like many of the stories that surround the Billy Goat, the tale of how Billy Goat Sianis comes to own the tavern and it’s three story building is massaged into myth by imaginative reporters told and retold like this: Sianis plunks down a $100 personal check and $5 bill as down payment on the property. And when the check bounces three days later he convinces the buildings owner to carry him until he can pay it off.
The real story is this: “My uncle, he does not have enough money to buy any place,” says Sam. “But he is able to borrow $500 from a business man he know. That’s what he used to buy the Lincoln Tavern. But after awhile when save the money to pay the man back he goes to this house and a lady answers the door. She asks what he wants and he tells her that he’s here to pay the man back the man back $500. She tells him she is the man’s wife and that the man has passed away. He tries to give her the money but she says no. She tells my uncle to keep the money for good luck.”
