The Wonder Bar Steakhouse buliding located at 222 E Olin Ave

There’s nothing quite like bellying up to the bar along with a few ghosts. The Wonder Bar, located in Madison, WI, has a mobster history along with reports of a variety of ghosts haunting the place. For a long time not only could you get some great food and spirits, but you may have ended up dining with an uninvited guest.

The castle-like bar, complete with turrets, is located on Olin Ave on a dirt road. From mob victims to famous patrons, there are allegedly plenty of ghosts to choose from to invite over to your table for a drink or a steak. 

A Gangster Hideout 

Eddie's Wonder Bar opened in 1929 by Eddie Touhy, who, while not a confirmed criminal himself, had connections to Al Capone. Touhy's brothers supplied Capone's gang with booze. His brother Roger used his brother’s bar as a place to launder his money and move the alcohol into Wisconsin. 

When Capone decided to take over, Eddie’s brothers battled to keep their operation, but many of them were killed. This fighting came to be known as the “Beer Wars.” In addition to Capone, other gangsters frequented the bar, including John Dillinger, who used it as a hideout during his crime spree.

The bar has changed names over the years but is now back to the original name. The bar place even has the original back bar. The food also paid tribute to the bar’s roots, serving steaks that were popular 80 years ago, including sirloin, porterhouse, and T-bone. 

Victims haunting the bar

The first ghost story involves the original owner, Eddie. He disappeared in the 1950s, and it is rumored that he is buried behind the fireplace on the second floor. There are also tunnels underneath the bar that run toward Lake Monona, which may have been used to get rid of people Capone wasn’t fond of. 

There have been reports of footsteps sounding throughout the building, and objects moving by themselves. Could it be Capone’s victims who were supposedly tortured and murdered underneath the speakeasy? Manager Brett Vinney invited a friend to check out the bar, and he decided to take him into the basement. While on the steps, his friend stopped and felt like he was being choked, like a woman who was allegedly murdered on those very same stairs.

Famous ghostly visitor

The bar also has a photograph of Frank Sinatra’s mug shot from 1938. Back when seduction could be considered a crime, Sinatra was arrested. When it was discovered that the woman was married, they tried to get him on adultery, but the charges were dropped. 

It could be that Sinatra is hanging around here in the afterlife. The ghost of a man wearing a Fedora hat and trench coat has been witnessed at the top of the stairs, along with a young girl. 

Whether you’re interested in mobsters, catching a glimpse of The Voice, or just a great steak, the Wonder Bar was one of Madison's haunted hot spots. It's been closed since early 2020. The building remains and a development has been proposed to save the historic building while creating a new 12-story apartment building next door. Construction often brings out ghost sightings, so we'll be keeping an eye on this famous Madison haunt.

Wonder Bar Proposed Development (Courtesy of Eastman Lee Architects)