Berghoff closing :(

[snoopy369]

Chicago denizens will recognize this famous name ... the Berghoff Restaurant, at State and Adams, opened back in 1898, is closing its doors February 28, 2006.

Opened in 1898 by Herman Joseph Berghoff to show off his now-famous beer, this restaurant was the first Chicago establishment to receive a liquor license post-prohibition, and also serves a world-class root beer, thanks in part to the restrictions of Prohibition.

Since the 1950s, this has been considered one of the great Chicago style ethnic restaurants, with great sandwiches being the cornerstone of their great German and American cuisine. Not to mention the beer ...

Finally, this was the site of the most recent Chicago Polymeet, yet one more reason to decry its closing.

Anyone interested in a last Chicago Berghoff's Polymeet sometime in January?

[FrostyBoy]

Why is it closing?

[Ming]

Re: Berghoff closing

Originally posted by snoopy369
Finally, this was the site of the most recent Chicago Polymeet, yet one more reason to decry its closing.

Anyone interested in a last Chicago Berghoff's Polymeet sometime in January?

I would be interested... I'm sorry to see it close.

[Dinner]

You rarely hear about a great restaurant closing though you often hear about a washed up has been of a restaurant closing.

Still, I've never tried it and I normally like to try places like that even if they're surviving on decades old fame which is no longer deserved.

[GePap]

While the food there is average, the beer and root beer are great.

I also have to ask, why are they closing? Bad business?? High rent???

[Sava]

Re: Berghoff closing

Originally posted by snoopy369

Anyone interested in a last Chicago Berghoff's Polymeet sometime in January?

[Q Classic]

I'm up for it.

And gorram it. First it's the Marshall Fields thing (not that it matters to me, outside of Macy's being a haven for Communist traitors, what with its Red Star logo...), now it's the Berghoff... what's next, some other city building the tallest building in the world?

I mean, come ON!

[loinburger]

I heard on CNN that the owner is retiring, and his daughter doesn't want to maintain the place as a restaurant (it'll be strictly catering from here on out).

[Dinner]

That's lame. With over 100 years of reputation it seems like they could sell or lease the actual restaurant operation but retain the rights to the catering business. The city keeps a landmark and the owner gets a nice check for selling out. It is a win-win situation.

[lord of the mark]

i ate there once in the early 80s. Sauerbraten, not bad, nothing overwhelming. Unfortunately wasnt really into quality beer then, and hadnt heard about the root beer.

[Ecthy]

Opening a German restaurant in America is actually something that I have pondered doing at some point in the future

Brewing skills might help I see

[Ming]

So we still need to pick a date for an Apolyton Meeting before it closes.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Originally posted by GePap
While the food there is average, the beer and root beer are great.

I also have to ask, why are they closing? Bad business?? High rent???

My guess ... unsavory clientelle.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Ming
So we still need to pick a date for an Apolyton Meeting before it closes.

anytime is good for me

[chequita guevara]

If we do a weekend, I can fly up.