Name: Butch McGuire's 65th Anniversary Celebration
Start: 2026-10-12
End: 2026-10-18
Location: Butch McGuire's

Local Bar Somehow Still Packed After 65 Years

When Butch McGuire opened his saloon on Division Street in June of 1961, he had one idea in mind, and it wasn't complicated: a bar where singles could meet and mingle. He sent an open invitation to the stewardesses in the neighborhood, put in bar-height tables and stools before anyone else in Chicago had them, and made one house rule non-negotiable — a man always offers his stool to a woman. It worked well enough that Butch spent the rest of his life joking he couldn't understand how, for a bar with such a reputation as a singles spot, so many of his customers kept ending up married to each other.

The other idea he had was just as simple, and it's the one that actually explains why the place is still standing 65 years later: hard work and hospitality were the same thing. “What can WE do for you?” wasn't a slogan Butch hung on the wall — it was the question he asked every day he worked there, which was most of them. When a blizzard buried Division Street too deep to walk through, he called his friend Billy O'Connor, who showed up with two snowmobiles, and they rode over the roofs of parked cars to make sure the bar opened on time. That's the whole philosophy in one story.

What that hospitality built, over 65 years, is something bigger than a singles bar. These walls have echoed with the conversations and laughter of generations of families — at christenings, weddings, bachelorette parties, birthdays, reunions, and memorials. Butch McGuire's has become a foundational place of communion for so many of them, a spot where families have shared their lives with us, and we have shared ours right back.

Sixty-five years, one kitchen addition, and three generations of McGuires later, the bar Butch built to help strangers meet each other has become the place where regulars bring their kids, and those kids bring theirs. His son Bobby has carried it forward since 2006, and in 2025 the family opened Mary Jo McGuire's in Lincoln Park, named for the woman Butch always said was the real secret to his success. What's kept it full for 65 years is the part Butch insisted on from day one — that everyone who walks in gets treated like they already belong.

65 Years, A Timeline

1961

Butch McGuire's opens in June, on Division Street.

1963

A kitchen is added.

1964

The bar expands into what had been Mayor Daley's campaign headquarters — later the Antique Room.

1965

Butch and a group of regulars found Santa Claus Anonymous, raising money for warm clothes and toys for children in need.

1970

Butch McGuire's joins the North Dearborn and Gold Coast Associations to support the neighborhood.

1973

10th anniversary celebration at Germania Place.

1978

15th anniversary celebration at Como Inn.

1980

Butch is named an honorary Girl Scout, and begins co-hosting WGN's broadcast of the St. Patrick's Day Parade with Tom Skilling, a run that lasts into the early '90s.

1984

Butch hosts a fundraiser for Northwestern Hospital's cardiac care program at the Ambassador Hotel.

1986

25th anniversary celebration at The Drake.

1993

Butch throws out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game.

1995

Butch receives a heart transplant at the Mayo Clinic.

1998

Michael Rich leads the “Have a Heart, Give a Heart” campaign for the American Transplant Association.

2004

The Cafe Patio is added.

2006

Butch passes away. His funeral and celebration of life are held on Division Street. Bobby takes the helm.

2007

The Christmas in Your Mouth shot is invented, and Butch's begins its partnership with Mercy Home for Boys & Girls.

2008

The back bar is installed — originally built by Butch himself in the 1970s.

2021

Mary Jo McGuire passes away.

2024

RIP short stalls.

2025

Butch McGuire's partners with grandsons Patrick and Connor to open Mary Jo McGuire's in Lincoln Park.

2026

Chicago — and possibly the country's — oldest family-owned tavern celebrates 65 years.

Meet the Legends

Hercules

Hercules was a Butch's original. When the kitchen opened in 1963, he was there — and from that day forward, his chili became as much a part of the place as the Christmas trains or the bar-height stools. Something you ordered without thinking about it.

Hercules worked at Butch's for nearly two decades, and the kind of impression he left on this place doesn't fade. The chili is still on the menu. That says everything.

Helen, Butch McGuire's longtime kitchen manager

Helen (Kitchen Manager, early 1980s–mid 2000s)

Helen came to Butch's in the early 1980s when the kitchen needed new blood. Butch hired her immediately — he liked her attitude and appreciated that she had no problem speaking her mind. It didn't take long for Helen to become the one in charge, running the Monday-through-Friday kitchen for decades: making soups from scratch, helping shape the menu, and training generations of employees.

New hires quickly learned the routine: sit down with Helen, have a Wild Turkey, and pay attention. Today, a Wild Turkey trophy with her name on it still sits behind the bar — a fitting tribute to a true Butch's legend.

Eddie Carr (Doorman, Waiter, Bartender, General Manager, Artist in Residence — 40+ years)

Eddie Carr came to Chicago after the Navy, walked into Butch McGuire's looking for work, and stayed for over 40 years. Starting as a doorman, he worked his way up to general manager — but his lasting mark is overhead. For nearly 15 years, Eddie handmade many of Butch's iconic decorations, from Christmas mobiles to St. Patrick's Day pieces.

More than an employee, he became a close friend, mentor, and trusted member of the McGuire family. Some of Eddie's creations still hang from the ceiling today.

Dave Cramer, Butch McGuire's first long-term general manager

Dave Cramer (First Long-Term General Manager — 20+ years)

Dave Cramer started at Butch McGuire's Mount Prospect in 1969 before making his way downtown full-time. A hands-on manager, Dave helped build many of the systems Butch's still uses today — from hiring and training to ordering and day-to-day operations.

He had a talent for finding the right people and keeping things running smoothly as the bar grew. Dave spent more than 20 years at Butch's and became a great friend and mentor, teaching Bobby much of what he knows about the business.

To Our Regulars

When my dad opened this bar in 1961, he had one rule that wasn't really a rule — it was just how he operated. Take care of people. Make them feel like they already belong. Everything else follows from that. Sixty-five years later, I look around this room and I see the same thing he saw: people who came as strangers and stayed as family. Some of you have been coming since before I was born. Some of you met right here and brought your kids back to show them where it happened.

Some of you have been here through things I have tried to forget — like a fire or two, a barroom brawl on occasion, or even a sewer main break. 65 years is a long time and things happen! But Butch's was your place and you came anyway. That's not something you build. That's something people give you. We don't take that lightly. In 2025 we opened Mary Jo McGuire's — named for the woman who really did run the place, whatever my father claimed. We hope to see you there too. My sister, Lauretta, my brother Terrance, and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for what has been 65 wonderfully unforgettable years. Cheers to 65 more!

Thank you. Genuinely.

— Bobby McGuire

A Christmas Story

Long before Christmas pop-ups were a thing, there was Christmas at Butch McGuire's. Every year, the saloon transforms into a holiday spectacle — ornaments cover the ceiling, elaborate decorative mobiles hang overhead, twinkling lights fill every corner, and the famous trains make their way through it all. People travel from across the city, the suburbs, the country and beyond to see it for themselves.

But the spirit of Christmas at Butch's has always gone beyond the decorations. Giving back has long been part of the tradition, dating back to Butch and his regulars founding Santa Claus Anonymous in 1965 to provide warm clothing and toys to children in need. Since 2007, that spirit of generosity has continued through Butch's partnership with Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, supporting Chicago kids and families not just at Christmas, but all year long. And, of course, no Butch's Christmas would be complete without a Christmas in Your Mouth — the famous holiday shot that has become a tradition all on its own.

A vintage Christmas family photo outside Butch McGuire's

A New Chapter

In 2025, the McGuire legacy took its next step forward. Butch and Mary Jo's grandsons, Patrick and Connor, opened Mary Jo McGuire's in Lincoln Park — named for the woman Butch always credited as the secret to his success. It was built to carry the same spirit their grandfather started on Division Street more than six decades earlier: a place where hard work and hospitality are the same thing, and where a stranger can walk in and leave a regular.

For Patrick and Connor, opening Mary Jo McGuire's wasn't about starting something new so much as continuing something that had never really stopped. The same values that kept the original bar packed for 65 years — treating every customer like family, remembering names, working the room the way their grandfather did — came with them to Lincoln Park. It's the third generation chasing the dreams of their visionary grandfather, following in the footsteps of their legendary uncle and, above all, honoring their grandmother who made it all work in the first place.

Anniversary Week: October 12–18

A full week of celebrations at Butch McGuire's and Mary Jo's — culminating in the Main Anniversary Party on Saturday.

Monday, October 12

Comedy Night

A headline comedian kicks off Anniversary Week at Butch McGuire's — the soft launch to a week of celebrating 65 years on Division Street.

Tuesday, October 13

Trivia Night: Division Street Edition

Test your Butch's knowledge — categories include Famous Quotes, The Timeline, The Legends, and Chicago Firsts. Stick around for a preview of tomorrow's Bourbon Raffle.

Wednesday, October 14

Whiskey Wednesday: Bourbon Raffle

Half-price whiskey all night, plus a five-tier bourbon raffle benefiting Mercy Home for Boys & Girls — capped by a grand-prize Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition. See full raffle details below.

Thursday, October 15

Singles Night: Anniversary Edition

Chicago's original singles bar celebrates the tradition that's brought 20,000+ couples together over 65 years. Come see the commemorative newspaper and share your own Butch's story.

Friday, October 16

65th Anniversary Charity Event — at Mary Jo's

Doors at 6PM at Mary Jo McGuire's, 2251 N Lincoln Ave. $19.61 tickets, proceeds to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. Live band, 65¢ beers the first hour, a throwback menu, and a costume contest judged at 8PM.

Saturday, October 17

Main Anniversary Party — All Day

Doors open at noon. From 2–4PM, beer, wine, and call drinks roll back to 1961 prices. Legacy food specials return for the weekend, including the Roast Pork Sandwich and the Prime Rib "Truck Driver." Bobby McGuire addresses the crowd at 6PM, with a live band, photo booth, and video montage running all day.

Sunday, October 18

Open Recovery Brunch

Casual, no tickets, no formalities — just come back and join us. Standard brunch menu, plus whatever legacy specials are left standing.

Wednesday Bourbon Raffle

Five tiers, one grand prize — every ticket benefits Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. Our goal: $10,000 for kids and families in Chicago. Tiers 1–3 go on presale online about a week before the event; Tiers 4–5 (Weller and the Baccarat grand prize) are in-person only, day of, with the draw that evening (time to be announced).

Bottle photos coming soon. Presale ticket links coming soon — check back closer to the date.

Tier 1 — Entry

Blanton's Gold Edition

$20 per ticket · Unlimited tickets. On presale online about a week before the event. The most accessible tier — get in the raffle and help us reach the $10,000 goal for Mercy Home.

Tier 2 — Mid

Colonel E.H. Taylor 3-Bottle Set

Barrel Proof, Small Batch, and Single Barrel, all Bottled in Bond. $30 per ticket · Unlimited tickets. On presale online about a week before the event. A strong set for bourbon enthusiasts — the Taylor name carries real weight.

Tier 3 — Specialty

Woodford Reserve Special Releases 3-Bottle Set

Barrel Strength Rye, Master's Collection Sweet Oak, and Double Double Oaked. $30 per ticket · Unlimited tickets. On presale online about a week before the event. For the collector crowd — each bottle has its own story.

Tier 4 — Premium

Weller 4-Bottle Set

Special Reserve, Single Barrel, Full Proof, and Aged 12 Years. $40 per ticket · Only 40 tickets sold — 1-in-40 odds. In-person only, day of. Must be present to win.

Tier 5 — Grand Prize

Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition

A Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in XO Cognac barrels, presented in a Baccarat crystal decanter. $100 per ticket · Only 25 tickets sold — 1-in-25 odds. In-person only, day of. Must be present to win. This is the draw of the night.

Celebrating 65 Years

Local Bar Somehow Still Packed After 65 Years

In His Own Words