Sam Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern in the basement level of the National Association of Realtors’ current headquarters in Chicago, has no desire to move from the spot the tavern has called home since 1964.
But that may be what happens if NAR goes forward with a redevelopment project approved by its board Monday that would involve razing the current building and replacing it with a massive, 93-story, 2 million-square-foot structure that would include a flagship hotel, office space, condominiums and stores.
NAR has suggested the tavern, a Chicago landmark, move to a basement area of the Wrigley Building across the street. But Sianis resisted the idea of moving.
“I want to stay here,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “I’ve been here for almost 50 years. Like the Realtors, I’m part of Michigan Avenue.”
Source: The Chicago Tribune