The Drexler family still owns the last stand. Although the two men knew it as Gene & Judes, it was affectionately known to customers as River Road Hot Dogs. In its current location in River Grove, the stand has stayed family owned and is currently run by Genes son. During the end of the late 40s, the intersection where Superdawg was located was also where the streetcar line ended, so there was already a little built-in traffic. Where most establishments will kick out rowdy customers, workers at the Weiner's Circle will often encourage the customers. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. Not to be defeated, in 1950 Gene gathered enough money and re-opened the stand with the help of a friend and co-worker, Jude DeSantis as his business partner. This restaurant is owned by Lawndale. Time has brought pizza puffs, cheese fries andTwitter feeds. This remaining location is located in Niles in a Walmart. The hot dogs are awesome too. Gina Fountain, right, owner of Dave's Red Hots, meets with the grandchildren of the restaurant's two previous owners on Sept. 2, 2021. In addition to hot dogs, he added Barnellis pastas, ribs, beef, and sausage sandwiches, the ability to buy beer, and famous clair cake, making it a multi-stop destination for those who want to experience the best of Chicago cuisine. As he looked down at his encased frankfurter placed alone on a white bun, he couldnt help but think to himself that something was missing, and found that he couldnt get the loneliness of that little hot dog out of his mind. I drove my father, who was living on the North Side, down to see what was left, Karm said. Despite the existence of detractors from their earliest days (H.L. I love hot dogs and sausages -- always did. Its a time-honored rule. Its a great hot dog, but what makes this hot dog truly iconic is because this hot dog was a billion dollar idea. 2908 W Lake St. Tasters loathed and I mean loathed this hot dog's sweet flavor. At the time it was owned by Mickey Becker, who was rumored to be the brother-in-law of Abe Drexler, the owner of Flukys and the originator of the Chicago hot dog. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune). Seal. On first approach, you may wonder if the faded sign still applies to the peeling red facade with boarded windows upstairs and black metal gates out front. The Original Jimmy's Red Hots This hotdog stand has been in the corner of 4000 W. Grand Ave. in Humboldt Park for 67 years, Chicago Magazine. He bought the West Side business that year. It was the quintessential hot dog stand. Shirley Fountain, one of the owners of Dave's Red Hots, chats with the second owner's grandson, Irv Karm, who worked at the restaurant and polished the same booths as a kid, on Sept. 2, 2021. Although Dick has moved on from day-to-day operations to consulting, his business model and formulas are still intact and the business continues to run with the same continuity that it did when Dick Portillo was at the helm. It is located at 3847 S. Morgan St. in Bridgeport. That's not, however, what makes Dave's Red Hots special," writes Louisa Chu at the Trib of the women of the oldest hot dog stand in Chicago, Dave's Red Hots in Lawndale. At 22, he was married with a baby, so he left to work in retailing. The oldest stand in town (around since 1938), it looks the part, but the quality of its food hasn't faded. Store in the refrigerator. Hot dog with fries: $3.80How its dressed: Mustard, grilled onion, sport pepper. Patio, a Taylor Street mainstay since 1948, is not to be confused withThe Patio, a suburban chain of barbecue restaurants. All my cousins and I worked on weekends and after school. At its heyday, patrons would come in and be greeted with workers, mostly ladies, dressed in denim outfits, the ensemble topped off with red cowboy hats. Lisas mother Flaurie, according to Lisa is still involved and is very current and very sharp. Kids in the neighborhood would often stop by with a nickel and the Bermans would always figure something out. Similar to the current owners, everybody in the family ended up working there at one point, Karm said. It was pretty impressive., The sign would flash between Daves Jumbo Red Hots, and Daves Famous Red Hots.. Ten years later, he bought the entire building and moved the hot dog stand to its current northeast corner spot. Even though Becker is no longer the owner, those who have made Wolfys a part of their life for years still continue to flock there. Chicago's Gene & Jude's Hot Dogs Since 1946, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Dave's Famous double red hots are seen at Dave's Red Hots on Aug. 13, 2021. Shirley Fountain, from left, Corey Holmes, Marquita Fountain, Brianna Fountain and Eugenia Fountain at Dave's Red Hots, in the 3400 block of West Roosevelt Road, the oldest hot dog stand in Chicago. All were served on hot dog buns with french fries. In May of 2015, Maurie passed away at the age of 89. A few years later, Izzy Kaplan would indeed go on to become a very successful Vienna distributor. Address: 138 Dexter Ave., Montgomery. Nearly every order includes a side of their glorious fries. At its peak, there were 13 Duks locations in the city, according to Karen Edwards, who worked there for 45 years. Theyre just carrying on that tradition, Kraig said. but the city's oldest stand remains open to serve up single dogs, double dogs and Polish sausage. According to Thrillist, Chicago's oldest hot dog brand, David Berg, was established back in 1860, and by the 1880s, the city's massive meat industry was dominated by German immigrants. Served with all the usual Magnificent Seven and perfect shoestring fries, one cant go wrong getting a char-dog at Wolfys. For many of the early hot dog vendors in Chicago, it was part of an American Dream -- and its roots were established during one of the most integral times in Chicagos history. Keeping long hours, fending off late-night hooligans, enduring change sometimes upheaval in the neighborhoods that they anchor while giving customers what they want and expect (even if that includesketchup) iswhat theyve done for decades and transcends the art of customer service. Google. Still, while he doesnt talk much about his relatives, and vice versa, there appear to be no hard feelings. Thats also an apt word for what these businesses represent for the families who keep them going. Meanwhile, shes concerned with the future of four generations of the women in her family who work at the restaurant. Hot dogs are all around us and although most in the city are similar, there are a handful that stand apart from the rest. Where other chains failed, Portillo took the idea to a whole new level by opening more of a food emporium. For $3, you get the Fat Johnnie of all Red Hots. Genes hot dog stand was thriving, and all was well until 1949 when Gene lost the entire stand in a card game. Ronald Meyerson shows a picture from the 1950s of his grandparents Ida Kaplan and David Kaplan, the founder of Dave's Red Hots, on Sept. 2, 2021. Nothing fancy, though, just a stand-up counter and a window where you pay. The Worlds Fair was also the place where a variety of brands were making their worldwide debut: Cracker Jack, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Quaker Oats, and, one of Chicagos most beloved, the Vienna Sausage Company. I dont know exactly when zayde actually sold the store, Kaplan said, referring to his grandfather in Yiddish. Owner Eugenia Fountain serves an order at Dave's Red Hots on Aug. 13, 2021. We added those as options about five years ago.. Sohn, a born and raised Chicagoan grew up with all the lore of hot dog stands as a kid. Burlington Centrals Nicholas Gouriotis figures out the difference. Thats how you create generational wealth in the Black community. He flies back to Chicago every month to make sure things dont change. Lessons have been learned. Barnett Sizer was 15 in 1958 when he started cooking there, back when hot dogs were 26 cents and Polish sausages were 32 cents, he said. His earlier misses? Fatso's Last Stand has started with the concept of a hot dog stand and taken it to the next level. American Street Food - The BEST HOT DOGS in Chicago! Its no frills, but its a friendly environment. Its just this real, perfect balance of salty of sweet of fat of different textures -- salty, crunchy, tangy, soft warmness of the bun, it works well together and everyone can afford one. The now-iconic elements, besides those hot dog figurines, include crinkle-cut fries, pickled tomatoes on the larger-than-average hot dogs and carhops who still deliver food to your car on a tray. $10 at Fairway Packing. 4000 W Grand Ave, Chicago Jimmy's is a workhorse of a hot dog stand. "I don't see it as just a hot dog place. That means the oldest hot dog stand in Chicago is older than we thought. Im born and raised in Chicago. Before it was called Als Under The L, it was Als Red Hots and before that, going back to 1949, it was a Jewish guy named Al slinging red hots, cheeseburgers and Polish sausages out of a trailer at Lake Street and Francisco Avenue, said current owner Larry McCullum. So I think it's just a matter of how you define "oldest.". Should you not know or assume this, you need only look around at the shirts worn by employees and signs everywhere that say No ketchup never ever. You wont get thrown out of the place if you ask for some but you might get razzed, probably by Billy The Silver Fox Randazzo, Faruggias nephew whos worked there since day one thats 62 years. The wedding was for Morris Kaplan, Daves oldest child, standing left, and his bride, Sharon (Rothbart) Kaplan, standing next to him. Hot dogs, salami, corned beef -- pretty much any salt, fat and meat combination. Its also unclear if he sold the shop to another owner who ran it briefly, or perhaps had a middleman sell the business, because the next longtime owners didnt know the founder of the shop theyd run for 30 years. $ American, Hot Dogs Hours: 3422 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago (773) 722-9935. Highest Rating 2022 1. Kim & Carlo's Hot Dog Stand 331 Hot Dogs Food Stands $Near Southside One of their equipment suppliers was Ray Kroc yes, that Ray Kroc of McDonalds fame, according to Gullicksons obituary (he died in 2000, after Woods). Before Roy Castro, owner of the taco restaurantEl Gran Burrito, bought Fred and Jacks, Thomas remembers him sitting outside for three weeks straight, presumably to make sure it did brisk business. He couldnt bear to see children walk out without candy because they had no money.. He made a hot dog and topped it with relish, onion, hot peppers, and mustard, along with a pile of French fries -- a key component to what Gene felt was missing -- that extra dose of saltiness and crunch. The young blonde working next to him is Rose Faruggia, Faruggias granddaughter who sat on the counter as a kid selling napkin drawings to customers and now runs the place with her siblings. Plus, the Trib tells the story of the city's oldest hot dog stand . There were hot dog stands all over the streets of 1920s Chicago, including one on the northwest corner of Halsted and Maxwell owned by Jimmy Stefanovic's aunt. My Poppy and my dad had a saying. They use Vienna Beef all-beef, natural-casing franks (12-count, for my fellow hot dog connoisseurs), tucked into softly steamed poppyseed-free buns. Or, seal the hot dogs into a GladWare food protection container. Almost 70 years later, its still thriving with a reputation for being one of Chicagos best hot dogs in the city. One thing is for sure, you havent been to Chicago until youve been to Portillos. But a big, old hot dog sculpture. Of course, much of Hot Dougs notoriety came from his other encased meats, but at the end of the day, the hot dog was his muse. It wasn't about the hot dog. The shack is could be passed over if you blinked too long, thankfully there is a giant hotdog speared on a fork out front, which makes Wolfys hard to miss. The Oldest Hot Dog Stand In Chicago is a must-visit for anyone who is looking for a truly unique and authentic Chicago experience. In 1939, when Stefanovic. The menu runs the gamut, from 60-cent hash browns at breakfast to a gut-busting double baconburger for $6.55. The onion rings and mac and cheese are sinful. Place has been around since longtime and has become neighborhood favorite for hot dogs in Chicago. Her uncle, 70, just retired after four decades there. This is a go-to place for the locals to indulge in authentic Chicago dogs. We dont know the exact year, but do know it was earlier than previously believed, in 1938. This neighborhood deserves that.. From the age of about 14 until 22, I probably had a hot dog five days a week, Karm said, laughing. Many other GI vets were using this model for employment, peddling hot dogs often alongside tamales. Thats been our zhuzh forever.. Best Turkey Hot Dogs. Hy and Rose, whose surname had been lost to time, named the restaurant for their son, according to the oral histories shared with Eugenia Gina Fountain, the current co-owner along with her mother, Shirley Fountain. Her ambition now is to move Daves to the Lawndale Plaza strip mall up the street. One was an air ball., Go big or go home. 1229. Mother and daughter took over the business in 2004. Owner Eugenia Fountain serves an order at Dave's Red Hots on Aug. 13, 2021. Inside, coffee-brown booths from the original location line up on your left. In 1975, Byron Kouris, a well-known restaurateur opened his first hot dogs stand at Sheridan and Irving Park. By the 1930s, the Drexler family had opened three more locations, a second at Roosevelt & Central park in 1932, a stand at Lincoln & Ogden in 1935 and another stand at Blackstone & 63rd St in 1936. Some are huge Bears fans, and so am I, so weve gone to games together.. It looks every bit its age, from the carnival-esque marquee outside to the fire-engine red formica counter, bar stools and subway tile inside. According to Gina Fountain, the owner of Dave's Hot Reds, this was used to fund her college education. The oldest hot dog stand in America is believed to be the Little Red Hot Dog Wagon, which opened its doors in 1893 in Coney Island, New York. Were older than them, said Clifton Thomas, looking out the window at a McDonalds just west of this Grand Crossinghot dog stand, where hes cooked for 26 years. I stopped the bus, got out, ran across and asked the guy if I could meet with him to rent it, Segal said. A lot of people get offended if we dont put lettuce, he said. Like many of his predecessors, his idea for a simple hot dog stand with strong neighborhood appeal has been a model that has supported his family since he opened his doors. It's still what it always was, from the time it opened in 1939, a go-to destination for the original Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, pork chop sandwich, Vienna beef hot dogs . Foot-long hot dogs with cheese are $5.40, corn dogs are $2.60, and shakes start at $3.40. 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