The Story
Albert Wirth opened Zum Deutschen Eck ('At the German Corner') in 1956, and it quickly became the largest German restaurant and bierstube in Chicago. The Tudor-style building on Southport Avenue was a piece of the old country transplanted to Lakeview, complete with sing-alongs, wooden barrels of sauerbraten, and steins of imported beer.
For 44 years, Zum Deutschen Eck was where Chicago's German-American community celebrated life. The restaurant hosted more than 750 birthdays, 3,000 weddings, and 1,100 funerals. Many customers were parishioners of nearby St. Alphonsus Church, founded in 1882 to serve German immigrants. The meat-intensive menu eventually added vegetarian options, but the weekend sing-alongs remained defiantly old-school.
On January 9, 2000, Wirth closed the doors when key employees retired and he tired of 12-hour days. Developer Patrick Gibbons bought the property for condos. The building was demolished for an Athenaeum Theatre parking lot. But the street corner still bears a sign: 'Zum Deutschen Eck Strasse.'
🍽 Signature Dishes
Marinated in wooden barrels for authentic German flavor
Weekend specialty that drew crowds
Extensive German beer selection in true bierstube style
💡 Did You Know?
- The restaurant hosted 3,000 weddings, 750 birthdays, and 1,100 funerals over 44 years
- Street signs still read 'Zum Deutschen Eck Strasse'
- The handcrafted oak bar can now be found at Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro
👤 Notable People
🏙 What's There Now
Building demolished; now a parking lot for Athenaeum Theatre. Historical marker at site.
Original Address: 2924 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60657