History of Rudy's Liquors and vintage Tap Room

An Illinois Valley icon dating back to 1906

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The history of the land itself dates to 1838 during the digging of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Irishman Billy Byrne was awarded a contract to dig and help construct the stretch of the I&M Canal from Marseilles to Ottawa. He advertised for men from his native Ireland to come to the LaSalle area, and about two hundred men took him up on the offer, settling in camps near the digging site and capping off the day at nearby taverns. 

 

Byrne hoped to discourage the workers' drinking habits and instead was able to get land donated on what is now the corner of Third and Chartres Streets, where a wooden log cabin church was built in 1838. The Catholic Bishop Rosetti of St. Louis, MO, sent for two Italian Vincentian priests to come to LaSalle, IL and organize a Catholic mission. The log cabin church was named the Church of the Holy Cross and was considered to be the first Catholic church erected between Chicago and St. Louis. It functioned as a school during the weekdays, and a rectory was eventually added on the side of the church. In 1852, a larger church was built a few blocks away. At this time, the St. Valentine's School for Girls moved into the building, but by 1882, the Christian Brothers Order took over the spot and renamed it Brothers Grade School.

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In 1906, brothers Joe and Anton Ajster bought the property, co-owning Ajster's Tap, which operated as a small-town grocery store and bar. Ajster's Tap remained successful through the 1940s, even during Prohibition. Al Capone was said to make regular visits to Ajster's, as witnesses claimed they would regularly see black cars lined up in the parking lot, with Capone's car in the middle and flanked by a car in front and one in back. The men reportedly entered the back entrance of the tavern to the basement and emerge a little while later holding boxes, which they'd load into their cars and then drive away. 

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Anton's grandson, Richard, shared that his father, John, would tell him that the moonshine was made in Anton's basement next door to the tavern. Allegedly, there was a hole in the basement floor where the moonshine was hidden and stored, and the hole was covered with a six-inch high wooden box with a toilet bowl resting on top. Piping extending out of the floor was most likely how the liquor was dispersed. 

 

In 1948, Rudy Faleskin bought the property and renamed it Rudy's Nip 'n' Tote after returning home from serving in WWII. Rudy and a friend purchased Columbia Hall Tavern in LaSalle, and Ajster's came on the market shortly after. Rudy sold Columbia Hall Tavern to his brother-in-law and purchased Ajster's, which he had always wanted to own since he was a kid. At the age of ten after his father passed away, Rudy worked at Creme Top Dairy in Oglesby, rising at 3:00 am and walking across the train trestle to reach the dairy. He would deliver milk and dairy products by horse and wagon, and the dairy owner would give one of the day's leftover goods to Rudy to take home to his mother and siblings. Occasionally on his way home, Rudy would buy cheese at Ajster's Tap. As Rudy grew older, the tavern owner always helped make sure that Rudy's siblings stayed in school and had the necessary extras. Rudy never forgot the kindness of the tavern owner, and eventually purchased the tap. If Rudy heard of anyone in need of financial help for medical bills, children's educational needs, or family support, he would get money to them and never expect or accept repayment. 

 

The tavern was open twenty-two hours per day to accommodate the shift workers from the nearby Westclox Factory. By 1965, Rudy wanted to expand and added on an attached liquor store (formerly Christian Brothers Catholic Community's location). Upon its completion, Rudy added the iconic neon sign that still beckons today. Rudy often rented out the second-floor apartment to make ends meet. He never married, but was always close to his nieces and nephews, so much so that his sister's daughters Alice, LeeAnn, and Patti began helping out in the tavern in their twenties. Patti began working full-time at the liquor store at the age of 16, and used her college breaks from the U of I to continue helping at the store. Upon graduation, Patti returned home to manage the store, hoping to earn money for graduate degree in Veterinary Medicine.

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In 1982, Rudy made the decision to retire. His niece, Patti Hall, negotiated an offer to purchase the liquor and bar businesses. At the time, Patti was only the second woman in Illinois to receive an Off-Premises Liquor License. In 1996, Patti expanded the footprint of the liquor store as it is today by tearing down the adjacent Ajster's house. 

 

She had always wanted to reopen the old tavern, and her husband, George, set to work cleaning it up. Patti and George kept the original fixtures, including tin ceilings, wood serving bar, backdrop mirrors, and barstools. Family photos adorn the walls, and the original 1950s jukebox still drops oldies-but-goodies (three plays for a quarter!). George refurbished old bourbon barrels to use as tables for the new taproom. 

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Both Rudy's Liquors and the Vintage Tap Room are known for their wide selection of domestic and imported beers, wine, bourbon, all kinds of liquors, cigars, gifts, and more, along with their reasonable pricing. All the cocktails in the tap room are made with fresh ingredients, and the tap room is available to book for private events. Stop by Rudy's Liquors for wine and other liquor tastings. Call the store at (815) 223-2351, follow Rudy's on Facebook, or visit our events page for information on events and tastings.