‘A neighborhood place’: Stadium Sports Club to close in Rolling Meadows

The bartenders and the longtime customers have made Stadium Sports Club & Pizza in Rolling Meadows as friendly and legendary as a certain Boston sitcom bar.

“I equate us to being similar to a ‘Cheers’ type of bar. A lot of regulars,” owner Vince Bufalino said.

Those regulars will drop by one last time before the old-school tavern closes at the end of business New Year’s Eve. Stadium Club has served patrons from Rolling Meadows and surrounding communities for nearly 40 years.

Anchoring a nondescript strip mall near Route 53 and Algonquin Road, the hole-in-the-wall spot became a favorite hangout because of the beer and the wings and the folks behind the bar who seemed to know everybody’s name.

“They all want to work the last day just to say their goodbyes,” Bufalino said of his employees. “But being New Year’s Eve, we’re expecting a big crowd. A lot of people have already been making reservations.”

He credits the bar’s long run to competitive pricing, good food — the bar was known for generous slices of St. Patty’s Day corned beef and cabbage — and the service.

“It's been a nice town to work with,” Bufalino said. “And the location, Algonquin and 53, right next to Schaumburg and Palatine turned out to be a very good location for us. We're a neighborhood place. Not a lot of us left, and I think that's what helped our success.”

So why close? Bufalino has chosen to retire. He’ll turn 70 next year, and he wants to spend time with his grandkids.

Since he shared the news with customers, there’s been “a lot of hugs,” said Bufalino, who lives in Prospect Heights. Patrons have shared memories on social media about coming to Stadium Club for decades. “Could always rely on the Stadium to be there for us through ups and downs,” one wrote.

“We put it out on the marquee,” Bufalino said, “just thanking them for 38 years of wonderful relationships.”