We have already talked about how Harry Caray is synonymous with Chicago baseball and the most highly regarded Cubs announcer since Jack Brickhouse, if not of all time. Of course, much of Harry's legend status was enjoyed by him while he was still alive, and boy did he enjoy it! In addition to being the life of the party, he also started a Restaurant venture in 1987(the year before lights came to Wrigley) called Harry Caray's Tavern. The first location was right next door to Caray's stomping grounds, Wrigley Field. After Harry passed away in 1998, the venture continued on without him. In fact, the first Toast to Harry Caray was held in 1999 at Harry Caray's. Over the years, the restaurant group expanded, to include several Italian steakhouses, a seafood joint, and other extensions of the Harry Caray's brand.
However, it wasn't until 2009 that the franchise took its biggest step forward with the opening of their new flagship location on Navy Pier. It isn't just a sports bar, it isn't even just a restaurant. In fact, it is so much more than that. What makes Harry Caray's on Navy Pier truly one of a kind is the Chicago Sports Museum(which will be talked about in a later entry). As Navy Pier was now the main location, the location in Wrigleyville ended up closing in 2010 as the result of a dispute with the owner of the property. Also in 2010, the Harry Caray's location in Rosemont became the opening salvo in the Blackhawks' post-Cup celebration/bar crawl. In 2013, the same situation transpired once again. Since it opened, the Navy Pier location has become the new Worldwide HQ for the Toast to Harry, where it can continue to honor Harry's partying ways for years to come.
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