Chicago’s oldest bar has quite an interesting story; it wasn’t always the oldest. Initially, that distinction belonged to Schaller’s Pump, a Bridgeport tavern that opened in 1881. However, when it closed in 2017, the title of the oldest bar in Chicago passed to Marge’s Still in Old Town.
Marge’s Still opened in 1885 as Victor Caruso’s Soft Drinks. It was more than just a bar; it was a combination barber shop and corner saloon that gained notoriety during the prohibition era as a speakeasy.
Patrons entered through the staircase attached to the side of the building, which can still be seen outside today, along with the original…..