Lunch At Mike's Tavern

Okay, today I’m meeting some friends at Mike’s Tavern in West Peoria. Mike’s was the last stop on my 365 bar crawl last year and was my Grandpa Seitz’ preferred watering hole for his entire life. It’s going to be a bit of a bittersweet trip, as the owner, Tony Ward died somewhat unexpectedly a little bit ago. But I think he’d be happy to know that we all picked Mike’s Tavern to meet and have a few holiday drinks to celebrate the past, present and future.

And here we are, Mike's Tavern. The great thing is that this place never changes.

Let's step inside and see what's happening at Mike's.

And here's the familiar bar and I spy a familiar face behind it.

It's Tom the bartender serving up an ice-cold can of Miller Lite in honor of Biff.

Here's Roy, Tony's son-in-law who is helping to run Mike's these days.

This has been hanging behind the bar for as long as I can remember.

The infamous two-doorknob bathroom!

Here's a framed metallic tribute to Tony that was written by my friend Phil Luciano in the Peoria Journal Star.

And speaking of Phil, here he is pulling a Gene Simmons imitation with his beautiful fiancée, Karen. Now the party can begin!

Phil told me that originally this place was a barbershop for a brief time and these are the original tin tiles on the ceiling. The design is made up of circled shaving brushes. Very cool.

And if you want to have a seat in Mike's, here's some school desks to rest at. I think my Grandpa Seitz sat at the third one from the right. But only when he misbehaved in here. Which was often, from the stories I've heard.

I notice something while glancing back at the bar.

Butch's pizza! I haven't had one the whole trip, time to fix that...

I got one with everything and Tom cooked it to perfection. One thing happens when you put out a Butch's pie...

A crowd will show up. And here they are, from left: Moon, Webby, Joe Waugh and George Voorhees, who's shoes I scuffed years ago and he still harbors a grudge. (Not pictured are Homer and Erica, who trust Julie's version of the ending of Midnight Cowboy. Oh, they will be proven wrong!)

And here's the guest star of honor, the founder and guiding light of Waugh Foods, Joe Waugh, Sr. with his son, Joe Waugh, Jr. Thanks to everybody for showing up and sharing memories and stories from the past and present!

And of course we must end this with a toast to Tony Ward: To Tony, you're greatly missed! R.I.P.

December 6, 2011

Last year when I did my 365 day bar crawl, there was only one bar I went to twice. That bar was Mike’s Tavern in my hometown of Peoria, Illinois. Mike’s Tavern is the bar that I remember my Grandpa Seitz going to for as long as I can remember. The original ower was Mike Jacoby, and I remember my Grandpa speaking fondly of Mike. Tony Ward bought the bar back in 1976 and Mike Jacoby was never mentioned by my Grandpa again. My Grandpa was a little fickle and reserved high praise for whoever was pouring the beer and shots at Mike’s Tavern. From 1976 on it was Tony Ward and the high praise from my Grandpa was well deserved. He took good care of my Grandpa as time marched on and watched out for him. I’ve thanked him many times through the years for this.

Last year I was continually asked asked what bar was going to be the last one on the 365 bar crawl. I had established a rule that I could revisit a bar on that day. From the very beginning, I knew it had to be Mike’s Tavern. I called Tony a few weeks prior and told him and he was excited that Mike’s would be the last stop on the bar crawl. When the day came, there was a sign outside congratulating me and Tony was the first person who’s hand I shook. I probably could’ve gotten more publicity by going to a bar in New York, but I didn’t care, it had to be Mike’s Tavern. It was a great day and Tony set it all up and I’ll be eternally grateful to him for such a great closing day. It couldn’t have been any better and the person to thank for that is Tony Ward.

Yesterday I got an email and it was a link to Tony’s obituary in the Peoria Journal Star. It seems Tony passed away on Sunday, December 4th. He was 62-years-old. Condolences to Tony’s wife, Donna, his daughter, Shannon and the entire Ward family on their loss, I’m so very sorry.

I don’t know what happens when you die, but I hope somehow Tony and my Grandpa Seitz are drinking a beer together right now.

I’m going to have more than one tonight in Tony’s honor. Cheers to Tony Ward, a great barkeep a wonderful guy and a friend to many in West Peoria and beyond. You’ll truly be missed, Tony. R.I.P.

Further Reading: 365 Bars, Peoria Journal Star and Peoria Bar Review.

To everything,
Turn, turn, turn,
There is a season,
Turn, turn, turn.