McGaffer’s Saloon, a fixture in Forest Park that welcomed everyone and anyone who walked through its door for nearly half a century, didn’t get the sendoff it deserved or it’s many patrons wanted, following its sudden closing after proprietor JP Pat Malone was seriously injured in a fall last October.
Plans were to re-open the business within a month or two, but it remained shuttered, and Malone said the building has been mostly cleared out. The building went on the market several months ago.
But while folks won’t be able to hoist one last toast to the village’s favorite saloonkeeper, they can still express their appreciation for McGaffer’s and Malone on May 31.
People around Forest Park and numerous surrounding towns will be circling the date on their calendar. That Saturday morning at 11:30, the village will unveil an honorary street sign for Malone and McGaffer’s, just a couple hundred feet east of the business, at the corner of Troost Avenue and Roosevelt Road.
Village Administrator Rachel Entler, who usually handles media inquiries, was out of town last week. But the village issued a brief, unattributed release on the planned honorary street naming. It echoed the comments and sentiments of all those who’ve spoken about Malone and his saloon the past six months.
“For nearly 50 years, Pat Malone has been a familiar part of life in Forest Park as the longtime owner of McGaffer’s,” the release read. “His bar wasn’t just a place to grab a drink — it was a gathering place where friendships were made, teams were sponsored, and neighbors gathered.
“Naming a street in his honor is a small way to recognize the big impact he’s had on generations of residents. We’re proud to celebrate someone who gives so much to the village.”
McGaffer’s wasn’t just a bar; it was a “saloon.” And Malone wasn’t just a bar owner; he was its “proprietor.”
Rich “Chubbs” Polfus, who’s known Malone for decades, started coming to the saloon with his softball teams in the 1970s. In recent years he’s even filled in bartending a night or two during the week. He says there won’t be another place like McGaffer’s.
“It was a place you could relax and be yourself,” Polfus said. “It’s gonna be missed.” He had a better late than never attitude about the honor for Malone, saying it was overdue.
“I put in for it five years ago,” Polfus said of the application for an honorary street designation. “It’s good to see them get this done.”
Sal Stella, head of public works for the village, has a unique perspective on Malone and McGaffer’s. His workers will install the sign on the pole at Troost and Roosevelt that will be unveiled at the end of the month. He’s also a big fan of the venerable watering hole, which he said holds a special place in a lot of people’s hearts and memories.
He called McGaffer’s a “low key, off-Madison Street bar” that was a place to just relax and be with friends.
“It’s been a staple in this town for many, many years,” Stella said. “After softball games, I went to McGaffer’s. When guys from public works wanted to have a beer on Friday after work, that’s where we went.”
“It’s sad to see the place go,” he said.
Stella said he expects a very large turnout for the May 31 ceremony that is effectively a public goodbye and farewell to Malone. “Between family, friends, co-workers, I think it’s going to be a big turnout,” he said.
The one person everyone wants to see, of course, is Malone. Reached by phone last week, Malone said he’s still in the process of recovering from the head injury he suffered back in October. He expressed appreciation for all the goodwill.
“It feels good,” he said of the honor and so many people’s interest. “It’s very nice of them.”
Malone said he has good days and not so good days. “I don’t get out too much because of the injury,” he said, adding, “People stop by the house.” But he’s planning on being at the corner of Troost and Roosevelt on May 31.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I’ll be there.”
