Berwyn in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

FitzGerald's Nightclub

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 5, 2025

1. FitzGerald's Nightclub Marker

Inscription. This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places
Built as a Dancehall in the early 1900s, 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd has remained a hub for Live Music and Entertainment for more than a century.

Known previously as Club Ritz, Ranucci's Nightspot, Hunt Club, Deer Lodge, and many more, it became known as FitzGerald's Nightclub in 1980.

Patroned and saved by its audience many times over, it is a testament to the value and significance of art and culture within a community.

Erected 2025 by FitzGerald's Nightclub.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 41° 51.902′ N, 87° 47.381′ W. Marker is in Berwyn, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Roosevelt Road (Illinois Route 38) west of East Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is on the FitzGerald's patio. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn IL 60402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Brief History of FitzGerald's (a few steps from this marker); Milly's Pizza in the Pan

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Father Robert Mastny (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Mary of Celle Parish War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Gold Star Men of the World War (approx. 0.4 miles away); Growing a Community: Principal John Hodge and the White Oak (approx. 0.4 miles away); Robert Emmett Murphy Memorial Flag Pole (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berwyn.

Regarding FitzGerald's Nightclub. FitzGerald's can be spotted in a few movies, perhaps most notably "A League of Their Own," the baseball movie whose dance scene was filmed inside FitzGerald's.

Also see . . .
1. FitzGerald's official site. (Submitted on May 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. FitzGerald’s: Berwyn’s gem named to National Register of Historic Places. From the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest

Excerpt: “We have actual records of the mayor of Berwyn at the time—I think it was 1934—shutting this place down because this was the hangout of one of Al Capone’s top
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 5, 2025

2. FitzGerald's Nightclub Marker
A smaller plaque over the entryway into the club also notes FitzGerald's designation onto the National Register of Historic Places.
guys, Jack McGurn,” King said. She noted that records from the Library of Congress pointed to the property’s reputation during Prohibition, joking, “No comment on bad, but it’s one of the things that surprised us the most!”

(Submitted on May 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. WBEZ Chicago: A young family risked it all to save iconic music venue Fitzgeralds.

Excerpt: "The main building has cycled through a dizzying number of incarnations, beginning in 1919 as the Oakwyn Athletic Club, a speakeasy during Prohibition. Next came Club Ritz in 1933, a place to do the shim-sham-shimmy, a Harlem-born tap-dance routine. The mayor of Berwyn soon put an end to the shim and the sham after reports that Club Ritz had become a notorious hangout for teens. The venue cycled through six other names, including restaurants and cocktail lounges, before becoming Deer Lodge, the dark dive where Bill FitzGerald and his buddies played pool a few times before the fun-loving housepainter bought it for $60,000 on St. Patrick’s Day 1980."

(Submitted on May 6, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

FitzGerald's Nightclub and its patio image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 5, 2025

3. FitzGerald's Nightclub and its patio

The building on the left is home, as of 2025, to Babygold Barbecue.

Inside FitzGerald's image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 16, 2025

4. Inside FitzGerald's

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 201 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on October 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.