Committee on Finance
City Council Meeting February 22, 2017 Alderman Brendan Reilly, 42nd Ward
Resolution
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern was originally opened by Paul Risolia in 1957, previously having been named Suzy's and then The Allegro, before being named, The Lodge Tavern in 1962; and,
WHEREAS, in February of 1957, The Lodge Tavern was the first bar that F. Owen McKeaney purchased, which became known as the "flagship" bar managed by Lodge Management Group, Entertainment Enterprises; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern is the first bar to be a part of the Division Street Merchants, founded by F. Owen McKeaney in 1989; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern is still proudly owned by the McKeaney Famliy- to include Owen's wife, Lyn Z. McKeaney and his two daughters, Lauren A. McKeaney and Shanan A. McKeaney; and,
WHEREAS, Lyn Z. McKeaney, along with her team at Lodge Management Group, has worked diligently to continue the vision of her late husband, in growing the legacy and iconic brand of the Lodge Tavern, for future generations to come; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern is known worldwide as a local Chicago staple tavern, with visitors hailing from all corners of the globe; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern has been featured in a documentary called "Madness in the White City," produced by National Geographic and directed by Bill Kurtis, which details the Dr. H. H. Holmes murder spree at the Chicago's World Fair in 1893; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern's "bullpen" door is a living prohibition artifact; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern is host to conventioneers, suburbanites, tourists, and local night owls alike; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern has been frequented by many celebrities and famous athletes, to include: Mickey Mantle, Eddie Vedder, Theo Epstein, Charles Barkley, Chris Chelios, John Cusack, Vince Vaughn, Alex Rodriquez, Bill Murray, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jay Cutler, Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane, George Wendt, George Brett, Geraldo Rivera, Johnathan Winters, Paul Hornung, Jim McMahon, Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael, Mark Grace, Fergie Jenkins, and Chris Farley; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern served one of Chris Farley's last drinks on his last night alive; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern was one of the first bars to employ female bartenders once the "Barmaids Ordinance" lifted in 1974; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern possesses the longest running, most infamous Wurlitzer retro juke box and the original line up of tunes is often requested by private collectors; and,
WHEREAS, one would probably find numerous Lodge Tavern tables in Eddie Vedder's home-as they are one of his favorite souvenirs; and,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern's customers have kicked their way through 15 million peanut shells over the last 60 years; now therefore,
WHEREAS, The Lodge Tavern has served over 6 million people in the last 60 years; and,
BE IT RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Lyn McKeaney and the staff of The Lodge Tavern.
