With my vacation and things going on with my leg we’ve had quite a gap in between the semi-weekly People of Peoria series, the last one was over a month ago! But we’re back with yet another person from the streets of Peoria. Actually this one is from a popular Irish Pub in Peoria Heights and you’ll meet him and find out more information about this week’s Peoria person as you scroll on down the post!
People Of Peoria: Person Number 19—Billy
Billy Blasek owns W.E. Sullivan’s with his wife Lauren and his blood runs green, not like a Vulcan, but like the blood of someone who was born to be in the Irish Pub business. His two uncles are both legendary Irish bar/pub owners here in Peoria. His uncle Pat owns Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery where Billy worked and learned the trade while working there with his uncle Pat for 13 years. His other uncle was Mike “Sully” Sullivan, who passed away in 2010 and Billy worked at his pubs including Z.Z. Pop’s (Billy told me that his uncle Mike told him that the “Pops” in Z.Z. Pops stood for "People of Peoria", so we’ve come full circle here!) and Sullivan’s on Main. The sign from the latter proudly hangs in W.E. Sullivan’s as a nod to the Sullivan side of his life and the name, W.E. Sullivan’s also is a tribute to his heritage as you’ll find out when you read Billy’s answers to the Peoria Favorite Five list directly below!
The Peoria Favorite Five List
What’s your favorite item on W.E. Sullivan’s menu? Wow, that’s a tough one! I’ll have to go with the pulled corned beef, I never used to like corned beef till we opened the pub, but I’ve acquired a taste for it and it’s my favorite item on the menu now!
What does W.E. stand for? That stands for my name, William Edward. I’m William Edward Blasek the fourth and my son is William Edward Blasek the fifth. Of course my dad was the third and so the W.E. initials along with the name “Sullivan’s” represents both sides of my family.
Who’s your favorite Peoria person? That would be my uncle, John Blasek, who’s the president CEO of Peoria Flag and Decorating Co. Growing up he lived next door to our family and he was like a second dad to me. He’s been a real inspirational figure and role model in my life. We’ve shared a lot of experiences together and the latest one is being involved in the Peoria Heights Kiwanis chapter, which is currently taking members.
What’s your favorite curse word? I have to go with son of a bitch.
Who would you like to give a shout out to? The St. Phil’s Men’s Club, I’m a proud member!
The Official People Of Peoria Shout-Out: Here’s to you St. Phil’s Men’s Club, someone out there loves you!
The People Of Peoria Curse Word Count List
The weekly tally of curse words revealed in this series.
Seven shits, three fucks, two shitballs, one stinkin’, one dang-a-lang, one good lousy, one fuck-all, one dadgummit, one crap and one son of a bitch.
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