Tapped Out: Madison Bar Set to Close

The Silver Dollar is an absolute stalwart when it comes to serving drinks.

The Silver Dollar Tavern, Madison, Wisconsin
Published On: January 12, 2024

Last call is coming for the oldest bar in Madison. The Silver Dollar Tavern is set to close permanently on February 3rd after 90 years in the drink-slinging game.

The Madison institution was opened by Clyde Teasdale right after Prohibition was lifted in 1933, and it has remained in his family for four generations.

The Silver Dollar is an absolute stalwart when it comes to serving drinks. It’s been open from 8 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. throughout its entire history. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is about as Wisconsinbly as a bar can get.

The property has been sold as part of a project to redevelop the block. After a few weeks of cleaning out nine decades’ worth of equipment and other items, it will change hands on February 20th.

Co-owner Chuck Teasdale expects their final night to be full of regulars and longtime staffers, but there are no TV cameras, which seems fitting for a dive bar of its stature.

So, you’ve got three weeks to plan that final visit to the Silver Dollar Tavern. Go have a few beers and play a game of shuffleboard or two. Pick up a round for a regular while you’re at it. Just remember to bring cash with you.