Watch now: Maguire’s Bar & Grill turns 25 in August | Local News
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BLOOMINGTON — Maguire’s Bar & Grill, 220 N. Center St. in downtown Bloomington, is this week’s pick for Eats of the Week.
Owner Mike Hill maintains a tavern atmosphere and an extensive menu at the bar, a location that once housed JC Penney’s, as well as a beauty school. It opened as Maguire on August 29, 1997.
“In 25 years I haven’t regretted coming to work every day,” said Hill, who moved to Bloomington in 1984. “I see a lot of new people and I naturally have an outgoing personality and j love interacting with people.”
Consistency is a key ingredient. For example, the hachis parmentier has followed the same recipe from the beginning, and it is offered on special every Thursday. Other popular menu items include wings, burgers, and specialties such as open roast beef with mashed potatoes and fried chicken with corn and gravy.
Maguire’s Bar & Grill in downtown Bloomington draws a steady crowd every day of the week.
D.Jack Alkire
For atmosphere, Maguire’s offers darts, TVs, video games, a jukebox, beer garden, and trivia throughout the week. Hill added that they used to have pub crawls and more live music before the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally the busiest for Maguire.
D.Jack Alkire
The full-service bar also offers weekly drink specials, including $2.50 national bottles on Tuesdays; $3.25 22-ounce national drafts on Thursdays; $4.50 coronas on Fridays; $14 domestic buckets on Saturdays; and everything is $1 off on Sundays. They also offer a few craft beers.
St. Patrick’s Day is the bar’s busiest day of the year. Patrons can sample green beer, corned beef, and coleslaw, as well as an Irish band.
“I’ve been a people person my whole life and had a labor-intensive job and I knew I didn’t want to do this forever,” said Hill, who worked as a driver. truck driver for Budweiser for 18 years. “There are a lot of good people in Bloomington-Normal and the surrounding small towns; people are pretty supportive of us.”

Maguire’s Bar & Grill in downtown Bloomington draws a steady crowd every day of the week.
D.Jack Alkire
“Maguire’s is unique because it’s run like a tavern, a bar, rather than a business, which are becoming increasingly rare. I didn’t want a nightclub or a bistro; they’re hard to keep,” Hill said. “People don’t come to downtown Bloomington just to get swept away. I’m not a franchise or a chain; I’ll choose a tavern over a place like Buffalo Wild Wings every time.”
Maguire’s Bar & Grill is open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. It offers indoor and outdoor dining and takeout.

Mike Hill said he always wanted to open a tavern, and that’s what Maguire is: a tavern. He said it’s a neighborhood spot where regulars from all over Bloomington-Normal come to eat, drink and mingle.
D.Jack Alkire
Photos: Janis Utsler’s sunken patio in Bloomington

Phlox and lythrum growing in Janis Utsler’s garden southeast of Bloomington.
D.Jack Alkire

Ellen Culver, left, and Janis Utsler, right, examine Utlser’s retaining wall garden in southeast Bloomington on Wednesday.
D.Jack Alkire

Variegated Rose of Sharon growing in Janis Utsler’s Sunken Patio Garden in Southeast Bloomington, Illinois.
D.Jack Alkire

Tree hydrangea growing in Janis Utsler’s front garden in southeast Bloomington.
D.Jack Alkire

Janis Utsler’s garden is one of nine featured on the upcoming Garden Walk, part of the 26th annual Glorious Garden festival in Bloomington.
D.Jack Alkire

Day lilies bloom in Janis Utsler’s garden on July 5 in Bloomington.
D.Jack Alkire

Ellen Culver, left, and Janis Utsler, right, discuss Utsler’s garden July 5 in Bloomington.
D.Jack Alkire

Weeping cherry growing in Janis Utsler’s garden southeast of Bloomington.
D.Jack Alkire

Ellen Culver, co-chair of the Glorious Gardens festival committee, reviews Janis Utsler’s garden in Bloomington on Wednesday.
D.Jack Alkire

Janis Utsler’s sunken patio garden is located next to a catchment pond in Southeast Bloomington.
D.Jack Alkire
Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3240. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs
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