May 4, 2017 | Michigan Avenue, Mike Royko
In 1964, the original Billy Goat Tavern on Madison St. closed. By this time, the new place has been open for seven months in what was a quick-to-fail Chinese restaurant on Hubbard Street in the basement of the year-old Apollo Savings % Loan building. This gives the new Billy Goat Tavern a classy formal address, 430 N. Michigan Avenue, though the tavern is in the process of becoming a cave within a cave as construction begins on an upper level off Michigan Avenue, creating what is called the Plaza of the Americas. It will contain 25 flags, a patch of greenery, a huge statue of Benito Juarez, and will forever hide the Billy Goat from sunlight.
Nevertheless, this location delights the employees of the four newspapers who find themselves within crawling distance of the tavern: The Tribune and American, housed in a Gothic tower and its stocky sidekick on Michigan Avenue and to the west, in a seven-story modern building on the banks of the river at Wabash Avenue and meant to resemble a boat, the Sun-Times and Daily News.
Feb 16, 2017 | Billy "Goat" Sianis, Madison
One morning in the early summer of 1934, a baby goat falls off a truck traveling east on Madison Street. Dazed and limping, it wanders into the Lincoln Tavern. Sianis sees the goat and sends one of his waiters out to get a baby bottle. While he is feeding the goat, a lawyer sitting at the bar suggests that Sianis adopt the goat, saying: “You’ll get a million dollars worth of free publicity.” This seems like a very good idea to Sianis since his cash register is taking in only seven dollars a day. David Condon, a Tribune columnist who becomes one of the most prolific and imaginative chroniclers of Sianis’ activities, writes that the tavern owner went to courts where” the attorney ad judge conferred. The judge paroled the goat ‘into the custody of William Sianis for life.'”
Immediately, Sianis renames his tavern the Billy Goat Inn and begins to grow a spade goatee to fit the part. There is a small patch of grass in the yard behind the tavern, and there the goat lives and happily nibbles, the first of many goats to call the place home. “All of the Chicago police, if they find a stray goat, and a long time ago there wre lots of goats wandering around, they bring them to my uncle,” says Sam. “They know that my uncle will take good care of the goats.”
…from the book A Chicago Tavern a Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream
Dec 22, 2015 | Jeff Magill
Say it ain’t so! Bartender Jeff Magill’s last day is here. Join us at Billy Goat’s on Michigan on December 23rd at 6pm as we celebrate and Roast his 35 years of service. Buy a side and drink, get a FREE Cheezborger!
“Jeff was able to perpetuate the true essence of a local bar, a classy bar, to downtown and it will never be the same.” – Tim, longtime customer
Aug 18, 2015 | Cheezborger, Michigan Avenue
The following is an excerpt from Rick Kogan’s book “A Chicago Tavern. A Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream.”
Bill Murray is hungry and that is why we are walking toward one of the Goat’s red-and-white-checkered tables. He is here in June 1999 to promote a book he has written, Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf. Waiter Tito Chacon recognizes him immediately.
“Billy Murray,” he says. “You are the funniest.”
“The funniest what?” Says Murray.
Sam sees Murray and walks over. The two men hug.
“How’s your oldest boy?” asks Sam.
“He’s huge,” says Murray, whose two grown sons have been coming to the Goat since they were kids. “He could swallow both of us. All he needs is a couple of tattoos.”
The two men talk for a while. A couple of pictures are taken.
“I saw that new place of yours over by the United Center,” Murray says. “For a minute I thought they’d run you out of here.”
“No, no,” says Sam. “I always will have this place.”
“Sam, you’re the most successful Greek in the world,” Murray says.
“You help make that happen,” says Sam.
“Don’t blame me,” says Murray.
Check out the book “A Chicago Tavern.” You’ll find the most complete set of Billy Goat Tavern stories available. Buy it now in our online store! https://www.billygoattavern.com/souvenirs/index.php/all-products/book-a-chicago-tavern.html
Aug 10, 2015 | Cheezborger, Lake Street, Madison, Michigan Avenue
After a tough day at work, you can’t beat a hot burger, a cold beer, and a great bartender.
Folks have been stopping here after work even when there wasn’t any.
Billy Goat. Chicago’s after-work tavern since 1934.
