It happened fast. One day the neon was buzzing on Webster Avenue, and the next, the windows were dark. If you've spent any time in Lincoln Park over the last forty years, the closure of McGee's Tavern & Grille Chicago IL feels less like a business shuttering and more like a landmark being wiped off the map.
Honestly, it’s hard to wrap your head around a Saturday morning in Chicago without the sea of scarlet and gray spilling out of those doors.
The End of an Era on Webster
For nearly four decades, McGee’s was the undisputed headquarters for Ohio State alumni and DePaul students looking to blow off steam. Established back in 1987 by Tom Piazza, it survived economic crashes, the gentrification of Lincoln Park, and a global pandemic. Then, in December 2025, it just... stopped.
The news hit the neighborhood like a ton of bricks. People walking to the Fullerton ‘L’ stop found the doors locked. No big farewell party. No "last call" victory lap. Just a quiet exit for a bar that was famously loud.
What Really Happened?
Rumors always fly when a legend dies. The bar was actually sold in 2023, though Piazza’s name stayed attached to the property. While the official line is a bit vague—Piazza mentioned working on a "new project for the neighborhood"—the reality is that the massive space at 950 W. Webster Ave is now up for sale.
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Some folks point to the changing landscape of Lincoln Park. When McGee's opened, the area was a different beast. Now? It’s surrounded by multimillion-dollar brownstones and high-end boutiques. Maybe a rowdy sports bar that bleeds Buckeye blood just didn't fit the 2026 vibe of the street anymore.
The Buckeye Connection
You couldn't talk about McGee's Tavern & Grille Chicago IL without talking about Ohio State. It wasn't just a bar that "showed the game." It was a piece of Columbus transported to the 60614 zip code.
If you ever braved a game day there, you remember the sensory overload.
- The Air Horn: A bone-rattling blast that went off every time the Buckeyes scored. You’d be mid-sip of a beer and suddenly your ears were ringing.
- The Mugs: Those 32-ounce red plastic mugs. They were cheap, they were sturdy, and they are probably sitting in a thousand kitchen cabinets across Chicago right now.
- The Confetti: Bartenders would blast confetti cannons after touchdowns. You'd be picking shiny strips of paper out of your nachos for the next hour.
It was communal. It was sweaty. It was exactly what a college bar should be.
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More Than Just a Sports Bar
While the sports fans owned the Saturdays, the DePaul crowd owned the weeknights. It was the quintessential "first bar" for a lot of kids moving to the city. You’ve probably got a friend who spent their 21st birthday there, or maybe you were the one singing "Hang on Sloopy" at 1:00 AM on a Tuesday.
The menu wasn't trying to win a Michelin star, but it hit the spot. They did a Crispy Chicken on Croissant that had a weirdly loyal following. And the "Irish Nachos"—fries smothered in cheese, chili, and jalapenos—were the ultimate late-night fuel.
The "How I Met Your Mother" Confusion
Here’s a fun bit of trivia that usually gets mangled: there is a McGee's Pub in New York City that inspired MacLaren’s from the show How I Met Your Mother. People often mixed them up.
While the Chicago McGee’s wasn't the TV inspiration, it shared that same "third place" energy. It was the kind of spot where you didn't need a reservation, and you definitely didn't need to dress up. In a city that’s increasingly full of polished, "concept" bars, McGee’s was refreshingly unpretentious.
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What’s Next for 950 W. Webster?
The building itself is a piece of history. It was originally a Schlitz tied-house from the early 1900s. These buildings were designed to only serve one brand of beer, and you can still see that old-school Chicago architecture in the bones of the place.
Piazza has hinted that whatever comes next will be "family-friendly." In developer-speak, that usually means a gastro-pub or a curated market. It’ll likely be nice. It’ll probably have better wine. But it won't have an air horn, and it won't have 500 people screaming "O-H-I-O" at the top of their lungs.
Actionable Insights for the Displaced
If you're one of the regulars left wandering Lincoln Park wondering where to go, here is the current state of play:
- For the Buckeyes: The Ohio State Alumni Club of Chicago has mostly migrated toward Gaslight Bar & Grille or Vaughan’s Pub. They lack that specific "McGee’s grime," but the energy is still there.
- For the DePaul Crowd: Most of the late-night traffic has shifted toward Kelly’s Pub or The Halligan. They’re nearby and still hold onto that old-school Lincoln Park dive feel.
- The Memorabilia Factor: Keep an eye on local estate sales or restaurant auction sites. When a place this big closes, the signage and those iconic red mugs often end up in the wild.
The loss of McGee's Tavern & Grille Chicago IL is a reminder that neighborhood staples aren't permanent. If you have a local spot you love, go there. Buy a beer. Tip the bartender. Because once the neon goes out, it rarely comes back on.