Remembering the Original Billy Goat Tavern

Feb 15, 2018 | Billy "Goat" Sianis

The happiest and healthiest person in Wise Guy’s corner is also the one who has been here the longest. Bob Borgstrom says, “When I was a teenager we’d go to hockey games at the Stadium, and between periods we’d sneak over to the original Goat. People were always four or five deep at the bar, so when we’d called out our drinks and pass over the money, nobody ever asked how old we were and that was a good thing. But boy, did that place smell. Really bad because of all the animals around.”

Bob and a couple of the other white-haired Billy Goat regulars remember all of the taverns and restaurants that used to pepper the neighborhood. And he remembers the day the Billy Goat opens: “It was painted a fire engine red. It was like sitting inside a firehouse.”

Read more stories like this in our book! Our good friend Rick Kogan wrote a complete history of the world-famous Billy Goat Tavern – A Chicago Tavern a Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream. This is the story of a real Chicago legend. It’s packed with tales that include:

• The antics of “Chicago’s Greatest Inn Keeper” – William Sianis
• The real story of The Billy Goat Curse
• Billy’s Nephew Sam Sianis
• The SNL skit that immortalized Sam and his tavern
• Mike Royko and the journalists who are regulars

Get it here! https://www.billygoattavern.com/product/book-a-chicago-tavern/