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In 1928, at the height of Prohibition, the 5-8 Club opened amid the high living flapper era operating as a "speakeasy" serving beer and liquor illegally, along with a light food menu, to its thirsty patrons. "Speakeasies," a uniquely American word by the way, got their name because those wishing to enter a "speak" were advised to knock softly at the door and speak quietly (easy) to the doorkeeper so that no law enforcement authorities could overhear their conversation. Prohibition itself, dubbed the "Noble Experiment," became law on January 16, 1920 with the passing of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. The United States remained officially "dry" until Prohibition was repealed by the 21st Amendment December 5, 1933. By the end of just the first year of Prohibition, illegal booze was a big business, there being twice as many "Speaks" in the U.S. as there had been legal drinking establishments prior to Prohibition. Clearly, America's appetite for beer, wine, and liquor did not diminish during Prohibition — it just went underground. In 1925 alone "the Feds" seized over a million gallons of liquor and seven million gallons of beer.

5-8 Club today

The 5-8 Club during its days as a "speak" was an ordinary stucco house (the front door is still where it was way back then) located out in the country on Cedar Avenue at its intersection with an unpaved side road (later to become 58th Street) and just adjacent to the new Wold-Chamberlain Airport. The fact that it had an underground garage (the door to which we uncovered during our 1996 restoration) made it a particularly desirable location. Cars, their trunks filled with bottles of illegal hootch packed in burlap bags (which made discarding easy, just in case "the Feds" showed up) could pull right into the underground garage, and "the goods" taken upstairs.

In 1933 the 5-8 Club went "legit" and became widely known for its famous burgers and a wide selection of beers. Shortly before World War II, 58th Street was paved and at about that time, someone "sawed the roof" off the old house creating the flattop look you see today. In the mid-60s Cedar Avenue became something of a freeway, but to this day — almost 70 years later — the 5-8 is still known for its great burgers, famous beers, generous portions, and thoughtful service.