Steeped in Chicago history, the original 1930s mahogany bars and back bars are still the focal points at Simon's. Coming to the United States from Sweden, the original owner served in America's forces during World War I and had the back bar modeled to resemble one on the Normandy, the three-stack ship built as a symbol of America's strength. The owner became a bootlegger during Prohibition, and cashed people's paychecks while sitting in a bullet-proof booth, which is still there.
Mosaic tables dot the space, which is surrounded with wood paneling.
A mural, painted in the 1940s, depicts the owner and his friends partying after a deer hunt. After the death of the original owner, his son owned the bar until 1994. If you ask, the current owner may even take you on a tour. This is a very friendly place, where the clientele are folks that go to socialize and have interesting conversation, not get falling-down drunk. We've got the top events of 2001, from the Taste of Chicago to the Air and Water Show.