Uncle Bud's Opens In Oak Lawn, Offering Pub Menu, 20 Draft Handles

OAK LAWN, IL — A new bar is opening in a familiar space in Oak Lawn.

Uncle Bud’s, the brainchild of Oak Lawn native John Zawaski Jr., will open Thursday in the former TC’s space at 99th Street and Cicero Avenue, on the U.S. Marine Corps’ 247th birthday.

“TC’s always had a Marine birthday party, and we wanted to keep the tradition going,” Zawaski said. “What better day to open on.”

The bar is named in memory of Ken Vanek Jr., Zawaski’s larger-than-life uncle, who acquired the nickname “Buddy” as a child, and it stuck. The real Uncle Bud died unexpectedly eight years ago in his sleep.

“He was a union painter. He was an avid fisherman, and he loved to drink. We said if we could ever have a sports bar, we would name it after Uncle Bud,” Zawaski said.

Varnished, buffed and waiting for its closeup, the bar has added ten large flat screens to catch a game, an electronic dart board, and a Golden Tee Golf machine, that brings the excitement of real PGA TOUR courses. The gaming application is being processed, the stuffed muskie is in the mail, and the large parking lot is still behind the bar.

There was also apparently a kitchen lurking in the back. In homage to Uncle Bud’s favorite pastime, the fishing-themed menu offers pub burgers, cheese steak, sandwiches, starters and salads. Twenty draft handles will pour a wide selection of domestic beers, with ten or 12 craft beers always available.

“We will be running drink specials as well as food specials," Zawaski said. “We hope to be known for our specialty single, double and triple Bud’s burgers.”

Uncle Bud’s will be running specials all day Thursday, including $2 domestic bottles, $3 Jameson shots, and $5 craft beer drafts. The bar will be raffling off prizes at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Any Marine, active or retired, is eligible for the prize, and will receive a raffle ticket upon entering Uncle Bud’s.

Asked if Uncle Bud’s was going to be a Sox bar or a Cubs bar, Zawaski said all are welcome, “but we’re Sox fans.”

When he was 21ish, Zawaski and his friends would often frequent TC’s (TC's Too remains open at 9906 Southwest Highway, Oak Lawn). Zawaski is hoping to lure some of those older and wiser patrons back, and as well as cultivate new neighborhood fans.

“I was born and raised in Oak Lawn,” Zawaski said. “I lived in Florida for four years but came back to Oak Lawn, I missed it so much. I always wanted to open an upscale bar. When I saw TC’s for sale, I grabbed it.”

Uncle Bud’s, 9700 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Keep up with Uncle Bud happenings on Facebook.