RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Steven Roy Strauss, age 76, passed unexpectedly on January 28, 2022; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed ofthis sad occasion by Alderman Thomas Tunney ofthe 44th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Strauss was born May 16, 1945 to Nate and Janet Strauss. The Strauss family, Steven and his two sisters, grew up in the Peterson Park neighborhood and he remained lifelong Chicagoan; and
WHEREAS, Steve started in the business early with his father who owned Symphony Liquors, a "shot and a beer" and package store, on the 4900 block of Chicago Avenue. He loved going to work with his Dad - so that much he made it his own life's work; and
WHEREAS, at the age of 27, Strauss opened his first establishment in the Lakeview neighborhood with the Double Inn on Sheridan Road under the CTA tracks near Irving Park Road. It was here that he began his journey of welcoming, entertaining, and conducting business in the area as a tavern owner; and
WHEREAS, Strauss became a pioneer of inclusivity and acceptance for what would ultimately become the LGBTQ community when he opened another Lakeview staple with one ofthe first premiere gay/alternative lifestyle bars/clubs in Cheeks, located on Clark just south of Diversey. He and the establishment were at the forefront of laying the groundwork for what would ultimately be known today as Boystown; and
WHEREAS, in 1985, Strauss opened Sluggers World Class Sports Bar & Grill, located at 3540 N. Clark Street, in what used to be an auto body garage, one of a handful of bars in the area at the time. Under his leadership, Sluggers became a Clark Street institution known for batting cages, arcade games and dueling pianos; and
WHEREAS, Steve went on to open a Sluggers in Vernon Hills, Orland Park, and across from Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. At the end of the day though, his heart and soul were always at the corner of Clark & Eddy where his passion and love for hard work and going to work every day were a call back to his tim...
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