Butch McGuire and the singles` bar

Butch McGuire (1930-2006)
Robert Emmett McGuire died in May 2006.
He entered MPMA in 1944 and soon acquired the nickname by which he was known thereafter - "Butch."
Butch played football for four years and was the most valuable player on the 1946 lightweight team .
He also participated in basketball, track, and boxing and was a member of the emblem club.
Butch McGuire and the singles' bar
by
Pamela Steinmetz
(reprinted/rom the 1991 Academy Magazine)
tucked away in a notepad Butch calls "the White Starched,
Commercially Laundered Shirt File."
Next to that, folded in fourths, his personnel roster - a
si zeable list of successful and talented people from all walks of
life.
Butch pointed out the variety as he ran down the list.
"This little girl is an outstanding artist who may make
$100,000 a year herself," he continued, "here we have a
banker...a dancer, a professional baseball player, a musician, a
salesman, an opera singer, a housewife ... Some of them make a
lot money - but (working here) keeps them out of mischief.
They make money and, in return, save money by not going out."
Observing the energy, the action and the decor of the
saloon - the original antiques and paintings, Butch 's encased
collection of crystal, the linen - scroll paneling and (distinctly
Irish) plaster crown molding in the back room - it's difficult to
imagine the " used to bes" of McGuire's.
At Butch 's opening in 1961 , the saloon was only 1,700
feet, draft beer was 35 cents and mixed drinks sold for 65 cents.
But the history of the saloon, one might say, is based on
upon the cooking talent, the love of company, and the passion
for "partying" held by two MPMA alumni.
"Eugene Kosciolek [1948] ," McGuire explained, " was my
roommate in Old Town. He was a great cook and I enjoyed the
friendship of (literally) hundreds of young people. We 'd have a
party three times a week. He'd cook and I'd be the
bartender...and that's basically how it started."
" I knew I wanted my own saloon from the time I was ten ,"
McGuire added, "but after college, none of my buddies wanted
to get into the business. Finally, my mother agreed to lend me
the money (about $500 for the saloon) on one
stipulation .. .never to take a partner. I'm still thanking her for
that."
But much has changed since the saloon got its start in
1961. "(In this business) , you learn lessons every day,"
McGuire said, shaking his head. "The industry changes so
rapidly. Today, (our weekday) support is lower than it's ever
been, but weekend business is up considerably.. .simply stated,
people don't drink. As the incidence of drinking decreases, the
number of bars increases."
Within the first thirty years of the saloon 's existence, 18
bars have opened on the same block, 17 one block down .. .and a
total of 450 have come into being "within ten minutes" of
McGuire's.
To the 6500-plus
couples who have met
and married through
Butch McGuire's, the
establishment (at 20 W.
Division, Chicago) is
more than just a
"singles' bar."
To the hundreds of
young men and women
who paid for all or part
of their education by
working at McGuire's,
the business is more
than just "a place of
employment."
Butch McGuire in /991.
And for the parttime doorman who
makes more than $100,000 per year through his regular job,
Butch McGuire 's means more than just "extra income."
Simply stated, the man who made McGuire 's saloon (in the
true sense of that word) is its namesake, Butch McGuire [1948].
It 's paradoxical that a man with military (MPMA and the
U.S . Army) roots would end up a saloonkeeper, but much of
Butch McGuire's background has carried over - and perhaps
helped his business flourish .
"I've learned that the best way to survive (in this business)
is to run the place as clean as you can," said McGuire matter-offactly, "and that takes discipline . What we (at MPMA) considered to be harsh discipline was really beneficial...it was a good
atmosphere for a bunch of teenage boys. So many people today
lack that kind of discipline. But in the real world, you have to be
disciplined. If you don't believe me, take a look at every
successful man in this country - they 're all disciplined."
"Even today I'm conscientious of pressed pants and
wearing a starched shirt with a tie," said McGuire, lifting his
pants leg for a clear view of his feet. I wear freshly shined shoes
every day of my life."
Butch expects the same from his employees when they
show up for work.
Though retired from working lively evenings at McGuire 's,
Butch is the eyes and ears of his saloon. With a watchful eye for
proper customer service, Butch keeps impeccable employee
records. Just check his back pocket for daily files . Neatly
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