“Production of Schlitz beer will soon go on indefinite hiatus, but its belted globe logo will live on etched in stone at what were once tied houses across Chicago.
“Ten buildings that once housed Schlitz “brewery-tied houses,” and an 11th that housed a Schlitz brewery stable, are official Chicago city landmarks. But these are only a fraction of the former tied houses around the city once linked to Schlitz and other breweries, some of which went out of business long ago.
“What were tied houses? As explained by the website Forgotten Chicago, the tied house business model was first developed in England, and became commonplace in the U.S. in the years before Prohibition. A brewery supplied everything a saloon operator needed to run the business, and in turn, the saloon was allowed only to serve that brewery’s beer.
“Where are Chicago’s tied houses? “In 2011, eight former Schlitz tied houses and a brewery stable were granted Chicago landmark designation, but these were far from the only ones left — published reports say there were at least 41 as of that time. Two more former tied houses have also since been added as landmarks.
“The first eight former Schlitz tied houses to win the landmark designation were:
“958 W. 69th St. in Englewood, formerly home to the Caribbean Lounge. This limestone-clad Queen Anne-style building was constructed in 1898, features a Schlitz globe right below its gable.
“1944 N. Oakley Ave. in Bucktown, home to Floyd’s Pub.
“3456 S. Western Ave. in Brighton Park, home to One Stop Market.
“1801 W. Division St. in Wicker Park, home to Mac’s Wood Grilled.
“3159 N. Southport Ave. in Lakeview, home to the popular bar and concert venue Schubas Tavern since 1989.
“2159 W. Belmont Ave. in Roscoe Village, home to a Starbucks Coffee.
“5120 N. Broadway in Uptown, now the South-East Asia Center preschool.
“11400-04 S. Front Ave. in Roseland, just across the railroad tracks from what was once the historic Pullman industrial town, where workers were not allowed to consume alcohol.
“Two more former Schlitz tied houses have received landmark status since 2011:
“9401 S. Ewing Ave. in South Chicago, now undergoing redevelopment as East Side Tap.
“1393-99 W. Lake St. in the Fulton Market District, formerly home to La Luce Italian restaurant.
“While they have not earned landmark designation, there are numerous other former tied houses around Chicago, also with striking architecture and often finely wrought brewery logos. These are just a few:
“The former Southport Lanes bowling alley, at 3325 N. Southport Ave. in Lakeview was a Schlitz tied house dating back to 1900 and features a painted globe logo.
“The building at 2001 W. Grand Ave. in West Town, now home to the cocktail bar Friends of Friends, features a restored and painted globe logo just above street level.
“The building at 2000 W. Armitage Ave. in Bucktown, which featured a rust-colored Schlitz globe and blond brickwork. (Harrington, CBS News Chicago, 5/21/26)