The go-to, the stand-by, where grandma & grandpa had their first date – old restaurants built nostalgia the old-fashioned way. They earned it. We went looking in the way-back machine to figure out the oldest restaurants around.
In Riverside, it’s The Chew Chew at 33 E Burlington St. With “only” 30 years in business that still qualifies them for the title, according to the Riverside Historical Museum. The upscale American menu keeps customers coming back.
Goldyburgers, 7316 Circle Ave. in Forest Park, is celebrating 100 years in business this year. The burger, sandwich, fried cheese joint has a full bar and sports on the TV. What does it take to hit the century mark? Owner Michael Sullivan ponders the question:
“There’s the reliability and familiarity,” he said. “The fact that you’re around for as long as we have, it’s like, ‘Where can we go? There’s always Goldies.’”
Goldyburgers opened in 1926. The Goldstein Family served burgers, thus the name. Their motto that persists today was, “Never had a bad one.” They had a bar back then too. It was during prohibition, but they didn’t let that get in the way. Sullivan figures the right people were paid to keep the heat off.
After 55 years in business the Goldsteins sold to Sullivan in 1981.
“I thought it was nuts that anybody was in this business for that long. And now I got 45 in it myself, so time flies when you’re having fun,” he said.
Brookfield’s oldest is Irish Times, 8869 Burlington Ave., which opened in 1991. According to the village, the restaurant became an anchor for the downtown business district. It expanded in 2008, while still holding a spot as one of the most beloved Irish restaurant and bars in the Chicago area.
Poor Phil’s in Oak Park at 139 S Marion St. has been at it since 1985. The bar, which serves an extensive beer and seafood menu among other things, was a continuation of restaurants owned in the area by the Murphy family.
“The average life of a restaurant ain’t great,” founder Dennis Murphy said, “The average with luck, 5 years! Forty years is like ancient.”
In the Austin neighborhood, it’s harder to come by specifics on what might be the oldest spot, so we are going with old, plus revered. MacArthur’s Restaurant, 5412 W. Madison St. opened in 1997, then moved across the street. Their Southern cuisine has stood the test of time and touches the soul, according to diners.
Did we get any of these wrong? We’d love to hear about it, so we can write more about these mainstays.