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 21, 2017 | Michigan Avenue
Mink is out. Goat is in.
We’re excited to be featured at #63 in Chicago Magazine’s “Why We Love Chicago!” Their series of spring fashion specials —“Diners, Dresses, & Dives” features a video with Bill Kurtis and photos of what happens when high fashion meets a The Goat. Check out the article. http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/March-2017/Why-We-Love-Chicago/Billy-Goat-Tavern/
Feb 7, 2017 | Michigan Avenue, Sam Sianis
“It was a big day,” says Sam. “I come in early that morning and I see two guys in suits just looking around the place.I ask if they need help and they say no so I just do what I always do and then go ti a lunch meeting. I’m there and I get a call and they say Bush is coming. I am shocked and I hurry back and they are all getting ready for the president. When he gets there he eats and sits with me and four regular customers and talks about family and politics. He wants to know the history of Billy Goat and he wants to know about Mike.”
Jan 24, 2017 | Cheezborger
Billy Murray is hungry and that is why we are walking towards 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.
“Bill 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 awhile. A couple of pictures are taken.
“I saw the 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.
…from the book A Chicago Tavern a Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream
Jan 19, 2017 | Michigan Avenue, Mike Royko
This story is from the book “A Chicago Tavern” and was told by Tim Weigel:
“One night after a loss, we headed to the tavern to lick our wounds and gargle a few beers. After a while Sam brought a goat in for a drink. The goat smelled pretty bad and Mike kept feeding the goat $1 bills. Then some one hands Mike a $10 bill and the goat eats it. Just a couple of minutes later the goat lets loose with a fusilade of pellets on Mike’s shoes. Seeing this, Sam yells from behind the bar, ‘Hey Mike. He gave you change.”
