Joe Rosenberg

Zay had dreamed of being a reporter for The Sun-Times his entire life. And in 1977, he was still a cub reporter, a rookie, stuck covering the suburbs. But then, one night, he was in the office, working late.

Zay had dreamed of being a reporter for The Sun-Times his entire life. And in 1977, he was still a cub reporter, a rookie, stuck covering the suburbs. But then, one night, he was in the office, working late.

That's when the editor read Zayn on the plan, that the Chicago Sun-Times had bought a bar.

That's when the editor read Zayn on the plan, that the Chicago Sun-Times had bought a bar.

Pam Zekman was a senior investigative reporter at the Sun-Times, and she and the editor, Stu Laurie, had come up with this idea. The idea was for the paper to buy, set up, and operate a working bar. This would be a sort of undercover bar to catch Chicago officials in the act of corruption.

Pam Zekman was a senior investigative reporter at the Sun-Times, and she and the editor, Stu Laurie, had come up with this idea. The idea was for the paper to buy, set up, and operate a working bar. This would be a sort of undercover bar to catch Chicago officials in the act of corruption.

Normally, what would happen is that people would call into newspapers like the Sun-Times with complaints about things that they thought needed to be investigated, and then Pam and the other reporters would go out and, well, investigate.

Normally, what would happen is that people would call into newspapers like the Sun-Times with complaints about things that they thought needed to be investigated, and then Pam and the other reporters would go out and, well, investigate.

In other words, a city inspector would come to an establishment like a restaurant and say, oh, geez, you're out of code. What can we do? And then shake them down for a little money. And to be clear, this wasn't something that just affected a few businesses. It affected thousands.

In other words, a city inspector would come to an establishment like a restaurant and say, oh, geez, you're out of code. What can we do? And then shake them down for a little money. And to be clear, this wasn't something that just affected a few businesses. It affected thousands.

And that's when Pam and her colleagues came up with the idea. Well, what if we buy a bar? And this was back in the day when a newspaper could afford to buy a bar. No sooner had they made their grand plan than they realized exactly how unprepared they were to buy, manage, and run a bar in the middle of Chicago.

And that's when Pam and her colleagues came up with the idea. Well, what if we buy a bar? And this was back in the day when a newspaper could afford to buy a bar. No sooner had they made their grand plan than they realized exactly how unprepared they were to buy, manage, and run a bar in the middle of Chicago.

First, they partnered with an investigator from the Better Government Association named Bill Rechtenwald to help them run the operation. The second is, duh, they hired a bartender. They figured they needed at least one professional who could pose as the owner. His name was Jeff Allen. But like them, he was new to the ways of the Chicago bar scene.

First, they partnered with an investigator from the Better Government Association named Bill Rechtenwald to help them run the operation. The second is, duh, they hired a bartender. They figured they needed at least one professional who could pose as the owner. His name was Jeff Allen. But like them, he was new to the ways of the Chicago bar scene.

Then came the third order of business, to actually find a bar, preferably one that wasn't sparkling clean and up to code.

Then came the third order of business, to actually find a bar, preferably one that wasn't sparkling clean and up to code.

Finally, they found a 731 North Wells Street.

Finally, they found a 731 North Wells Street.

This happened a few times. An inspector would come in, hem and haw, and leave saying they'd be back to work something out. So all that Pam and the rest could do was carry on with the business of getting the bar ready and wait to see what would happen next.

This happened a few times. An inspector would come in, hem and haw, and leave saying they'd be back to work something out. So all that Pam and the rest could do was carry on with the business of getting the bar ready and wait to see what would happen next.