HR0722 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0722 LRB103 40333 ECR 72526 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Simon's Tavern on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, The doors of Simon's Tavern were first opened on May 15, 1934 by Swedish immigrant Simon Lundberg, and for the last 90 years, the bar has been lovingly referred to as the "Anchor of Andersonville"; and

WHEREAS, Simon's Tavern is best known for its iconic sign featuring a herring sipping a martini, its famous handmade glögg, pronounced glug, and its gregarious owner Scott Martin; and

WHEREAS, Since first opening its doors, little has changed at Simon's Tavern over the last 90 years; the bar still proudly features its original woodwork and coolers; and

WHEREAS, Owner Scott Martin, a life-long resident of Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, has served as a steward of protecting the neighborhood's Swedish American history; he is the owner of the last Swedish business in what was once a predominantly Swedish speaking community; and

WHEREAS, Scott Martin purchased the tavern from Roy Lundberg, son of the eponymous Simon, in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Photos on the wall of Simon's Tavern harken back to a time when Andersonville's identity was synonymous with the Swedish immigrants who established it and show parades with floats celebrating Swedish heritage and traditions; and

WHEREAS, The hallmark of Simon's Tavern is its homemade glögg, a Swedish mulled wine traditionally served during the holidays and cold winter months; and

WHEREAS, Scott Martin has been brewing his own glögg recipe since acquiring the bar in 1994, and Simon's Tavern sold 3,000 gallons of its homemade glögg in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Simon's Tavern's in-house recipe includes raisins, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, cloves, orange peels, almonds, port wine, and many secret ingredients known only to a few trusted Swedish Americans; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Simon's Tavern on its 90th anniversary, and we wish it success for the next 90 years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Simon's Tavern and owner Scott Martin as a symbol of our respect and esteem.