This Massive Historic Bar In Illinois Has Been Around Since The 1920s
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published March 31, 2018
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
One of the most popular pubs in the state is also one of the biggest. This historic bar sits along the Mississippi River in Alton, and you don’t want to miss out.
Full of history, amazing drinks, and live music, this gigantic place is more than meets the eye. Scroll on for the full story behind this Southern Illinois hot spot.
Famous for Bud, burgers, and bands, this historic bar in Alton became Fast Eddie's Bon Air in 1981 but has passed through several previous owners you may have heard about.
The building was constructed in 1921 by Anheuser Busch, who originally started a brewery that lasted 10 years, ending when a new statute banned breweries from owning bars. For the next 50 years, ownership fell to the Balaco family, but it has belonged to Eddie Sholar for more than 35 years as of now.
Guests enjoy a fun interior with space for 400 chairs. This joint is so popular that standing room is often the best you can get if you arrive late.
Locals love coming out for the live music that is available every day. This historic bar is all about entertainment, which often starts in the afternoon or evenings and goes late into the night.
In addition to a full bar, there's also delicious food to be found here. Main menu items include grilled burgers, shish-kabobs, bratwurst, and boiled shrimp. We recommend the Big Elmwood on a Stick, which is a massive marinated tenderloin you'll want to eat every day.
Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Don't miss this historic bar on the corner of 4th, Pearl, and Broadway.
