Club 400
Opened in August 1894, the Northwestern Hotel provided year-round services to travelers and train crews. The building became a boarding house, cigar store, soft drink shop and then a tavern.
On January 6, 1948, George and Ralph Polfuss (Les Paul's father and brother) opened the Club 400 after major renovations changing it to a nightclub. It was named after the Chicago Northwestern train “400” that stopped across the street at the depot. Les Paul and Mary Ford played their guitars together for the first time at the grand opening.
George Polfuss owned a grocery store in 1903 three doors west of the Club 400. The Club 400 has been on the National Register of Historical Places since 1995.
Marker is on Williams Street west of North Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
