A moniker for the recently renamed Willis Tower in
Chicago, formerly known as Sears Tower from 1973-2009.
Used by Chicagoans to avoid using the
name Willis Tower.
Similar in structure to The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, which the music artist Prince crafted for legal reason to produce music outside the control of his corporate music label, until such time as he could regain his rightful
name.
Passenger: Could you
please take me to Willis
Tower?
Cabbie: What you talkin bout,
Willis?
Passenger: Oh, I'm sorry, I mean The Tower Formerly Known as Sears.
Cabbie: Sure.