The building at 2136 N 8th St appears on the 1896 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Springfield, Illinois — Sheet 67, showing the corner of N. 8th St. and Sangamon Ave. The building is marked in pink, indicating brick construction, with the notation “S” for store. It sits in Catherine Wood’s Subdivision, noted as 2¼ miles north of the courthouse. The building was already standing and operating as a commercial property in 1896 — and local history documents it as a bar going back even further into the 1800s.

1896 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Sheet 67 — Springfield, Illinois. The pink building at left on N. 8th St. is 2136 N 8th St. Source: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection (public domain).

The 1905 Springfield city directory, researched by the Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation, lists A.C. Thoma operating a saloon at 2136 N. 8th St. Thoma lived at 1810 East Jackson. This is the earliest confirmed occupant of the address in city directory records — predating Henry Hofferkamp’s documented saloon permits of 1909 and 1910 by four years and placing continuous bar operations at this address at over 120 years.

The Illinois State Register documents that Henry Hofferkamp of 2136 North Eighth Street was issued a saloon permit by the City of Springfield — appearing in both the July 1909 and January 1910 permit lists. This is the earliest confirmed documentary record of a licensed saloon at this exact address, establishing continuous bar operations at 2136 N 8th St for over 115 years.

The 1909 article notes Springfield had issued 213 saloon licenses, four fewer than the previous year. The 1910 article reports saloon permits had grown to 196 for the first half of the year. Henry Hofferkamp’s name appears on both lists at the same address.

Illinois State Register, July 14, 1909 — Saloon permit list showing Henry Hofferkamp at 2136 North Eighth Street.

Illinois State Register, January 1, 1910 — Saloon Permits Now Number 196, again listing Henry Hofferkamp at 2136 North Eighth Street.

The 1911 Springfield city directory, researched by the Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation, lists G.H. Leneger at 2136 N. 8th St. — documenting continuous bar operation at this address in the years immediately following Henry Hofferkamp’s saloon permits of 1909 and 1910.

The 1918 city directory shows 2136 N. 8th St. listed as vacant — a period that coincides with the national push toward Prohibition, which took effect in Illinois in 1920. Source: Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation city directory research.

The 1922 city directory lists John Payne at 2136 N. 8th St., operating in the soft drink business — boarding at 2136½, the upstairs apartment directly above the commercial space. This was the height of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol was prohibited nationwide. Soft drink businesses were a common legitimate enterprise of the era. Source: Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation city directory research.

The 1925 city directory lists the address as vacant but identifies Hugo Thoma as the property owner, with his wife Sophie. The Thoma family lived at 2136½ — the upstairs apartment directly above the bar. The property sits within the Hugo Thomas Addition, the subdivision platted in this area of Springfield. Whether the Hugo Thomas Addition takes its name from this same Thoma family is a connection currently under investigation. Source: Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation city directory research.

The 1933 city directory lists Krug & Krug operating Beer and Lunch at 2136 N. 8th St., with Frank Krug living at 2136½ — the upstairs apartment above the bar. Prohibition was repealed nationally in December 1933 — making this the first documented post-Prohibition bar operation at the address. Source: Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation city directory research.

The 1934–1935 city directory lists Herbert Cary operating Beer and Lunch at 2136 N. 8th St. Notably, a man named “Herb Cary” appears by name in The Horseshoe’s June 22, 1935 opening night advertisement — listed as serving mixed drinks and shoeing a horse at midnight in the Tap Room. Whether Herbert Cary operated under his own name before rebranding as The Horseshoe, or was involved in the opening of new ownership, is a connection currently under investigation. Source: Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation city directory research.

On June 22, 1935, a full-page opening night advertisement in the Illinois State Register announced The Horseshoe at 2136 N. Eighth — promising “an old-time evening’s entertainment, sawdust on the floor, plenty of drinks, and plenty of food.” The ad features a 6-piece orchestra, a horse to be shod at midnight by Herb Cary in the Tap Room, Engelking and Budweiser Beer on draught and in bottles, and mixed drinks by Polly Wienold and Herb Cary. Large parking space. Bring the crowd.

This is one of the most vivid glimpses into the building’s character — a lively, community-centered entertainment venue that knew how to throw a party. The Budweiser connection to this address goes back at least to 1935 — nearly a century before the Clydesdales returned in 2025.

Illinois State Register, June 22, 1935 — Full-page opening night advertisement for The Horseshoe at 2136 N. Eighth, Springfield.

City directory records compiled by the Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation confirm John J. Grigiski Sr. operated the Twin Pine Inn at 2136 N. 8th St. from 1936 through 1963 — nearly three decades. A 1936 DuBouchett Sloe Gin advertisement in the Illinois State Register also lists Twin Pine Inn among 104 Springfield dealers, and the 1962 Springfield City Council record confirms Grigiski held a use variance to operate the tavern at this address. His nickname “Jinks” was how the neighborhood knew him personally; the bar’s official name was always the Twin Pine Inn.

Illinois State Register, October 9, 1936 — DuBouchett Sloe Gin advertisement listing Twin Pine Inn.

Illinois State Journal, September 12, 1962 — City Council record confirming John Grigiski’s use variance to operate Twin Pine Inn at 2136 N. 8th St.

City directory records confirm George Hottum operated Ye Olde Carriage House Tavern at 2136 N. 8th St. from 1964 to 1965. An April 1964 advertisement in the Illinois State Journal shows the building serving daily specials including turtle, fishwich, clam chowder on Fridays, bean soup and ham sandwich on Mondays, hot roast beef sandwiches on Tuesdays, plus chilli, tamales, hamburgers, and “your favorite beverage at popular prices.” Source: Reisch Brewing Company Charitable Foundation city directory research.

Illinois State Journal, April 17, 1964 — Advertisement for Ye Olde Carriage House at 2136 N. 8th, Springfield.

City directory records confirm Francis A. Walsh opened Franny’s Tavern at 2136 N. 8th St. in 1966 — naming the bar after himself. A Springfield native who worked for the City of Springfield, Francis and his wife Bonnie lived at 2136½, the upstairs apartment directly above the bar. They ran it together for over two decades, building Franny’s into one of the best-known bars on the north end.

Within a few years of opening, Franny’s was already a Springfield landmark. A 1973 Associated Press wire story used it by name as a geographic reference point for fairgoers — and a 1974 State Journal-Register story on a beer strike quoted a Franny’s spokesman directly. By 1984 it was listed as a participating merchant in Springfield’s North End Festival alongside neighborhood banks and businesses.

When Francis Walsh opened Franny’s in 1966, the building sat on Business Route 66 — the alignment of the historic Mother Road that ran through Springfield from 1960 to 1977. The “Detour / Business 66” sign is visible on the corner pole in the 1972 photograph below, confirming Franny’s first decade was spent on one of the most famous roads in America. Directly across Sangamon Avenue, the Illinois State Fairgrounds — the only fairgrounds on the entire Mother Road — today hosts a permanent Route 66 Experience exhibit at Gate 2.

The photographs below, from the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library, show Franny’s in 1972 during State Fair week — the bar packed with Air Force personnel and civilians, Cardinals memorabilia covering the walls, a jukebox by the door, and Budweiser on tap. Outside, the building wore its name in large painted letters above a full Budweiser mural, with a striped outdoor canteen tent on the sidewalk and a Route 66 Business Detour sign at the corner.

Franny’s Tavern, 2136 N 8th St — 1972. Budweiser mural, outdoor tent, and Route 66 sign. Photo courtesy of the Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Library, Springfield, Illinois.

Inside Franny’s Tavern, 1972 — Cardinals memorabilia, packed crowd. Photo courtesy of the Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Library.

The full bar, 1972 — jukebox at left, packed end to end. Photo courtesy of the Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Library.

Behind the bar, 1972 — Budweiser on Tap. Photo courtesy of the Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Library.

Air Force personnel at Franny’s, 1972 — WVEM radio sign on the wall. Photo courtesy of the Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Library.

Mt. Vernon Register-News, August 15, 1973 — AP wire story referencing Franny’s Tavern by name.

State Journal-Register, May 18, 1974 — Beer strike story quoting Franny’s Tavern.

Illinois Times, May 3–9, 1984 — Franny’s Tavern listed as a North End Festival merchant.

Francis Walsh passed away in 1988. Bonnie, who worked for the Illinois Department of Agriculture at the State Fairgrounds directly across the street, sold the bar following his passing.

On May 25, 1988, a Certificate of Ownership of Business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon County by Sherry Marie Boatman, operating under the fictitious name Bus Stop Bar and Grill at 2136 N 8th St. The Bus Stop era was brief — this is the only documented record of that name in the building’s history.

Illinois Times, June 2, 1988 — Certificate of Ownership notice for Bus Stop Bar and Grill, filed by Sherry Marie Boatman.

Kevin Ausmus purchased Franny’s in 1993 and spent 32 years building it into the neighborhood institution Springfield knows today. A lifelong Springfield businessman — with a career that included Eisner’s grocery, real estate at RGC Realtors, and multiple White Hen Pantry franchises — Kevin knew exactly what he was getting into.

Under Kevin, Franny’s was named 2nd Best Neighborhood Bar in Springfield by the Illinois Times in 1999, sponsored the State Fairgrounds Ethnic Festival in 2012, and was featured in a 2019 Illinois Times profile of Springfield’s legacy neighborhood taverns. The same phone number — 528-7445 — that appeared in a 1996 Illinois Times restaurant listing still connects you to Franny’s today.

Illinois Times, July 22, 1999 — Franny’s named 2nd Best Neighborhood Bar in Springfield.

Illinois Times, August 12, 1999 — Franny’s “Come Join Us After The Fair” advertisement.

Illinois Times, August 23–29, 2012 — Franny’s Tavern listed as Ethnic Festival sponsor.

Illinois Times, January 25, 1996 — Franny’s Tavern restaurant listing. The same phone number still works today.

After 32 years, Kevin Ausmus passes Franny’s to the next generation of the Ausmus family. The Budweiser Clydesdales return on October 1st, 2025 — nearly 90 years after Budweiser first appeared on the building’s signage. Bagpipers mark St. Patrick’s Day, the parade, and a new tradition — Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.

And the timing couldn’t be better. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66 — and Springfield is at the center of the celebration. Franny’s sat on Business Route 66 during its entire first decade. The Mother Road ran right past this corner. The Route 66 Experience is directly across the street. Some connections run deeper than a sign on a pole. The coldest beer in Springfield keeps flowing.