Removing tavern's old wall reveals bar

WAUKEGAN, Ill., March 30 (UPI) -- Tearing down a 65-year-old wall in a bar in the village of Fox Lake, Ill., revealed a hidden back bar from the 1940s, the site's owner says.

Pete Jakstas Sr., owner of the Mineola Hotel and Lounge, said he was nervous seeing the demolition of the old wall Saturday, fearing another "Al Capone's Vault," a reference to the Geraldo Rivera televised entry into a vault in a South Side Chicago hotel once owned by the notorious gangster that yielded nothing of note. Jakstas' father built the wall in 1943 to create a secret back bar, the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald reported.

"When the first piece was removed and nothing was there, I was scared to death," he said. "But, when I saw the mirror, I was relieved. I'm glad the bar is not only there, but it's in such great shape."

Jakstas insisted Saturday night's unveiling event was the first time he had even seen what was behind the old wall in the Mineola Hotel and Lounge, which was built in 1884.

He told the Daily Herald that with a good cleaning, the historic back bar area would soon look incredible.

The newspaper said the Jakstas family's resort was once a popular locale among mobsters and businessmen from Chicago.