Kams from back in 1969. Photo: The Daily Illini.
News Gazette recently shared that “Kams, the Campustown bar that’s long called itself “home of the drinking Illini,” can trace its history back to the year prohibition ended in the U.S. So it’s marking a big anniversary this year — its 90th.”
The best part? Beta Upsilon Delt, Jack Kamerer ’64, was the longtime owner of Kams.
“The Kamerer family opened Kamerer’s Annex on Feb. 10, 1933, at 608 E. Daniel St., and it was advertised as “another good place to eat,” Norris said.
Whether Kamerer’s Annex began serving alcohol right after prohibition ended, Norris said he doesn’t know. But over the years, students began calling the place “Kam’s,” and the shorter name eventually became permanent.
The name of the bar has been spelled both with and without the apostrophe over the years, and after Cochrane became owner, a decision was made to make the name consistent without the apostrophe, Norris said.
Kams remained at 608 E. Daniel St. until 1970, when it was sold and a new bar called Dooly’s took its place, Norris said.
Five years later, Jack Kamerer brought Kams back — to a new address, 618 E. Daniel St., formerly Stan Wallace’s Gridiron — and built the new bar using that spot and another next door, Norris said.
The new Kams opened in 1975 and remained there until 2019. The newest iteration opened in early 2020, he said.”
Read the full article on News Gazette HERE.