Local Northside Bar Assumed More People Would Care It Going Out of Business

By Patrick J. Reilly

CHICAGO - It is the end of an era at local Lincoln Square bar The Missing Sign, which will be closing its doors permanently later this month after serving the community for over 80 years, and locals have been quick to express their support for the local institution. “Is that place still open?” asked AJ Brandt, who has lived above the bar for the last three years. Another Lincoln Square resident, Maggie Seaton, reminisced, "Oh, is that the building right on the Northeast corner of Western and Lawrence? No, no there's a Walgreens there."

The bar has been a working class staple of the neighborhood, exclusively serving Schlitz and Old Style. “I’m not one to go chasing the latest trend, just to make a few bucks,” said owner Arthur Stapledon, whose business has been hemorrhaging money for the last decade. “I put out the word to the community that the bar needed help. Had a fundraiser over the weekend,” Stapledon continued. “If I’m being honest, the turn-out was not what I hoped.” The “Save the Sign” fundraiser event drew a record attendance of four patrons, all of whom had already been sitting at the bar when it started. In the end, the Missing Sign was granted almost dozens of dollars to help pay its debts.

The Lincoln Square Historical Society has expressed interest in purchasing the building. “Preserving our neighborhood’s past is our number one priority, and what better way than to renovate a building that’s been vacant for years,” said Robert Young, a representative from the group.

“We think residents will be excited to view our archives and collection, which includes some artifacts dating back to when Lincoln Square first began, 2006.”