Peoria locals know the feeling. You’re driving down Big Hollow Road near the Shoppes at Grand Prairie, and for a split second, your brain expects to see that familiar red sign. But it’s gone. Old Chicago Peoria IL wasn't just another chain restaurant; it was the definitive landing spot for a specific era of Peoria social life. If you grew up or lived in Central Illinois during the early 2000s through the mid-2010s, that building represented more than just deep-dish pizza. It was the "World Beer Tour." It was the place where you went when nowhere else felt right for a large group of picky eaters.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird how much people still talk about it. Usually, when a franchise location closes, it's a blip on the radar. A new place opens, people move on, and life goes and goes. But Old Chicago left a void in the Peoria dining landscape that hasn't quite been filled by the myriad of gastropubs or sports bars that followed.
What Made Old Chicago Peoria IL Different?
The Peoria location thrived on a specific vibe. Unlike the more cramped pizza joints downtown or the strictly "family" atmosphere of places like Avanti's, Old Chicago felt expansive. It had high ceilings, heavy wood, and that massive bar that anchored the entire room. It felt like a city spot dropped into the middle of a corn-belt suburb.
You had the pizza, sure. The Chicago-style deep dish was the heavy hitter, literally. It was the kind of meal that required a nap immediately afterward. But people didn't just go for the dough. They went for the World Beer Tour. This was the ultimate local status symbol. If you finished your 110 beers, you got your name on the wall. Your name. On a brass plate. In a restaurant. For many Peorians, that was the peak of 21st-century achievement. It sounds silly now, but in a pre-Instagram world, having a physical marker of your "expertise" in craft beer was a big deal.
The Real Story Behind the Closing
When the news broke in 2020 that Old Chicago Peoria IL was closing its doors permanently, it wasn't a total shock, but it stung. The timing was brutal. The pandemic hammered the hospitality industry nationwide, and the Peoria location, owned by SPB Hospitality (which acquired the parent company CraftWorks Holdings during bankruptcy proceedings), was caught in the crossfire.
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It's important to be real about the business side of things. Rent at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie isn't cheap. Never was. Maintaining a massive footprint like that requires high-volume traffic every single night, not just on Friday and Saturday. When the world shut down, the math just didn't work anymore. While some locations across the country survived, the Peoria branch became a casualty of a shifting corporate strategy and a global health crisis.
People often ask if it was the food quality. No. The reviews leading up to the end were actually fairly solid for a chain. People loved the "Double Decker" pepperoni. They loved the Italian Nachos (which, let's be honest, were just wonton chips with alfredo sauce and pepperoncini, but they were incredible). The failure was systemic and economic, not culinary.
The Competition: Why No One Else Quite Fits
Peoria has great pizza. You've got Knuckles Pizza in Dunlap for that heavy-duty crust. You've got Agatucci’s for the local thin-crust legend status. You've even got newer spots like Pizza Antica for the artisan crowd. But none of them capture the "Old Chicago" energy.
Why?
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Because Old Chicago was a hybrid. It was a sports bar that didn't feel like a dive. It was a pizza place that didn't feel like a cafeteria. It was a beer hall that didn't feel like a frat house. When you take away that specific middle ground, you're left with specialized spots. If you want 50 beers on tap now, you go to a place like Pour Bros. in Peoria Heights. But you aren't getting a three-pound deep dish pizza there. If you want the pizza, you go to a dedicated parlor, but the beer list might be four items long.
The World Beer Tour: A Lost Ritual
Let's talk about those 110 beers.
To complete the tour, you had to be dedicated. It wasn't something you did in a weekend. You had a card. A physical or digital tracker that logged every Guinness, every local IPA, and every weird seasonal fruit ale you tried. It encouraged exploration. Before "craft beer" was a household term in Central Illinois, Old Chicago was forcing people to drink something other than Miller Lite.
They had "Mini Tours" too. St. Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest, Summer tours. You’d get a t-shirt. I still see people wearing those faded grey and green shirts at the grocery store. It’s like a secret handshake for a club that doesn't exist anymore.
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Can It Ever Come Back?
Is there a chance for a revival? Technically, yes. SPB Hospitality still operates Old Chicago locations in other states and even some in Illinois (like Rockford). The brand isn't dead. However, the likelihood of it returning to the exact same spot in Peoria is basically zero. That space has been repurposed, and the market has changed.
The trend in Peoria—and really across the Midwest—is moving toward smaller, more curated "boutique" dining experiences. The era of the 10,000-square-foot "big box" restaurant is fading. People want localized menus, shorter wait times, and a sense of "neighborhood" rather than "corporate."
But the nostalgia remains. Every time a new restaurant announcement happens for the North End, the comments sections are flooded with people saying, "I wish it was Old Chicago." It’s a testament to the brand's footprint on the local culture.
What You Should Do If You Miss It
If you’re craving that specific experience, you aren't totally out of luck. You just have to drive.
- Road Trip: The closest remaining Old Chicago locations are typically a couple of hours away. Check the current corporate map before you leave; these things change fast.
- The "Italian Nacho" Clone: You can actually find copycat recipes online that get remarkably close. The secret is the wonton skins and the specific blend of Italian sausage and peppadew peppers.
- Support Local Beer Halls: Places like The 5th Quarter in East Peoria or various spots in the Heights offer massive tap lists. They won't have the brass plate, but the beer is better.
The legacy of Old Chicago Peoria IL is a reminder that restaurants are more than just businesses. They are the backdrop for first dates, 21st birthdays, and post-work venting sessions. Even if the building is empty or changed, those memories of burnt-cheese crust and cold pints stay put.
To move forward with your own local "beer tour," start by visiting the smaller breweries that have cropped up since Old Chicago left. Visit Industry Brewing Co. or Bearded Owl. They carry the torch of variety that the World Beer Tour started. You might not get a plaque on the wall, but you'll be supporting the next generation of Peoria's social anchors. Explore the local craft scene with the same curiosity you had when you first signed up for that beer card. That's the best way to keep the spirit of the old place alive.