Tavern burns in Hillside

A Hillside tavern was consumed by flames early Tuesday morning just off the Eisenhower Expressway.

[brian]

I was at Brauerhouse on Friday, it was a decent spot. Sucks that it burned down.

[Chicago ExPat]

Saw the U.S. Bombs playing their "Vote Ron Paul" show here back in Feb. Looks like both the campaign and venue are faring about the same.

Shame to lose another punk venue, though.

[Garry N]

Was that place near Wolf and Roosevelt?

[Lindz]

Nooooooo! I love this bar. Hope they have good insurance!

[Two Buck Tim]

It was not a very nice place.

It had been going downhill in the past several years. You could see they neglected maintenance; didn’t clean it very much and just let it get run down. The usual stuff that precedes a fire of undetermined origin.

They did have good pizza, but not so good service. They used the pizza recipe from the old Round Up on Roosevelt Rd. They did a pretty good job of replicating it.

As for the smoking, they did allow smoking after the ban. If you complained, you were cut off.

They also promoted illegal all you drink specials.

I'll miss the pizza, but I won't miss the Brauerhouse.

Good riddance.

[Then Move]

Garry N wrote:

Was that place near Wolf and Roosevelt?

Yes it was. The place was a dump known for people traveling out to hillside to get one extra hour of drinking in before they had to go home. They did have smoking there after the ban. They said anyone can smoke but you pay the fine if your caught.

[Mike]

I never went there, but there is a street-level view on Google Maps. It looks like a residential (apartments) neighborhood except for the club. Were there any complaints about the club regarding music or clientele from the residents? Could this be a case of "Neighbors 1, Brauerhouse 0"? Just wondering...

[Richard]

Probably burned down for the insurance money. Or Outfit types torched it because the owner would not go along with what they wanted.

[The Legend]

I'm actually repulsed by these negative comments. Brauerhouse was awesome...great drinks, great friends, great times. If you don't know what you're talking about, don't comment.

[friend]

I've been going there for years and yes, it was a run-down hole in the wall...but it was Brauer....

For those of you who say they DIDN'T allow smoking, I believe you were in the wrong place. Take it from someone who knows from the inside. Smoking was definitely there. Who was gonna complain??? Nobody.

I feel like I just lost a best friend. I was there Monday night and apparently 20 minutes after I left, this happened. What a mess.

[Tim]

Gee, with all that illegal smoking going on, maybe some idiot threw a still-lit cigarette butt in a garbage can.

[chisang]

;THE LEGEND''
comment is human right

[Mr Houston]

As a child I was taught when buildings burn down in the Hillside area, it means an owner forgot to pay for their "protection". Lilac Lodge anyone?

[Dang]

I've only been here a couple times but, had 2 great times. For those talking about what a dump it was, that's how most who know how to party like it. Take your bland selves to Friday's......

[Fire Marshall]

friend wrote:

I was there Monday night and apparently 20 minutes after I left, this happened. What a mess.

We want to talk to you.

[WRETCHED GRAVE ROBBER]

This was by far our favorite venue in the midwest. We got paid what was fair everytime, we were treated extremely well, we were fed, and drank them out of the imported Ginger Ale they tried to keep in stock while we were there.
Steve has become more than a bar owner, but a friend to us. We are deeply saddened by the loss of this venue. We always got just a bit more excited about a show at The Brauerhouse than a "normal" gig (Yeah, like GR has normal gigs). We have great friends that all gathered there for Grave Robber shows and the staff was awesome.
Two Buck Tim is full of it. As far as comments about the cleanliness is concerned... IT WAS A FREAKIN' PUNK ROCK BAR!!!! What do you expect? Yeah, the restrooms left a little to be desired, but that place had character. It was homey and comfortable.
Bottom line: THIS JUST SUCKS!
Steve, you have my number. Call me if you need anything. I mean A N Y T H I N G!!
Brauerhouse, you will be missed.

[damn]

I was planning on going there and drinking tonight.

This place was awesome, Steve I am really sorry for your loss. Benefit concert anyone??

[Dan]

Sorry to see it go. It was one of the last local hangouts. I remember when it was Ba Ba's.

I used to work at the Round Up and loved the pizza so after it closed down it was nice to get a pizza from the Brauerhouse once in a while. Somehow they got the recipe and they did a decent job.

[Drinker]

So Sad-yes this place may have not been in the best shape but it was your "local bar" you came to know everyone there-yes Steve has became a friend-all the Brauer's have!
Hope they rebuild our Brauerhouse!

[Friday drinker]

I'll miss Brauer. Even tho it was stinky and dirty, it was a great place to hang out w/friends for a few drinks and cigs. They also had the BEST buffalo chix pizza. I can say on behalf of the Proviso West lushes that we will miss our hangout.