Closing. On May 6, 2014, Doug Sohn announced that he would be permanently closing Hot Doug’s on Friday, October 3, 2014. Sohn decided to end operations as “it was time to do something else” and get out of the restaurant business.
A: No. People spend $60,000 for a car. I think that’s insane, when I have a 1995 Toyota Corolla that gets me where I want to go. I mean, it’s not like they’re waiting in your living room. If you don’t want to wait for hot dogs, I’m not sending you a summons. Are people crazy to spend $500 on a meal? Someone binge watching “The Good Wife” for six hours is a good thing, but waiting for food isn’t? I don’t judge.
A: If you’re on the menu board, you can. I was obligated because I used her name. So she comes in. The first thing I said was, “Are you mad at me?” I thought maybe she was offended I named a sausage after her. She said, “No!” So they sit down and eat, and I see a guy grab his phone taking pictures and starts jumping up and down. Anna goes, “We gotta go.” She signed the menu board and left. So technically she dined and ditch. I wasn’t going to charge her, but I never had the opportunity to say, “It’s on me.” Then that sausage eventually became known as the Malin Akerman. She Instagrammed a picture of the sign and said she was excited because it was her favorite food group. Then Anna Kendrick said in an interview she was boycotting Chicago because we took her off the board for Malin Akerman. Now that was funny.
A: I totally understand that. And a lot of heartfelt people have said, “This is my favorite restaurant, it’s been a big part of my life the last 10 years.” People who had first dates here are now bringing their kids in. I sort of wish everyone got the chance to feel what I’m feeling.
A: Friday would just be as busy as Saturday, and I couldn’t do that two days in a row.
A: I don’t know. And this is where studying philosophy in college helped: I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all the decisions, good or bad, some that worked out and some didn’t, all of which that lead to this point. I’m very content now. There were no wrong decisions. There were decisions. I get the “what will you do next” question a lot, and honestly I don’t know. That’s exciting. I have the luxury of not having kids who have to go to college or need braces.
When I forced my parents to visit a hot dog stand with a 45-minute wait, Im sure they thought I was insane. But I knew it would be worth it when we finally got to the counter to see Doug cracking jokes. My parents still talk about the encounter. And every other customer has had roughly the same experience. The line was sometimes longer or shorter, but the experience never wavered.
Honestly, hes been hinting at this for awhile now. In the introduction to Hot Dougs: The Book, Doug notes that he initially resisted writing a book because it would “legitimize the restaurant,” and he preferred to think of it as “a pop-up restaurant, some sort of sham that people will finally realize is a hoax.”
What made Hot Dougs so special? Sure, he launched the whole creatively-topped hot dog craze, but it didnt take long for other restaurants to copy the format, source some alligator sausage, think of a loopy name, and open their doors. Yet, none of these places has even come close to matching the popularity of Hot Dougs.
Doug also cared enough to do things right. Its easy for food writers like myself to bemoan restaurants for cutting corners and failing to put effort into each dish, but we tend to ignore the reality and economics of actually running a place. Doug knew what it would take to run a great hot dog stand, and then he actually did the work. This is actually a bigger deal than it sounds.
Doug could have capitalized on all this good will and franchised. And could we really have blamed him for cashing in? Doesnt he deserve fame and fortune for coming up with such a genuinely great restaurant concept? But no, he decided to close up shop, while Hot Dougs is generally regarded as the best hot dog stand in the country.
Chicago’s Iconic Hot Doug’s Hot Dogs Is Closed, But Not Forgotten
FAQ
Why can’t you put ketchup on a hot dog in Chicago?
What is the oldest hot dog restaurant in Chicago?
What are the rules for hot dogs in Chicago?
Who invented the Chicago style hot dog?
What happened to hot Doug’s?
Hot Doug’s was a Chicago, Illinois -based restaurant specializing in a variety of hot dogs and sausages. The self-proclaimed “Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium” was in its second location at 3324 North California Avenue in the city’s Avondale neighborhood before it closed on October 3, 2014.
Is hot Doug’s a cult restaurant?
Hot Doug’s is the subject of the 2016 documentary Hot Doug’s: The Movie . Hot Doug’s won a 2006 Good Eating award from the Chicago Tribune, which noted the restaurant’s “cult status” among hot dog aficionados.
Who is hot Doug’s?
Hot Doug’s has been featured as a Critics Pick on CBS, NBC, ABC, and the Travel Channel, and was featured in the Chicago episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. He has also been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Bon Appetit, The Chicago Tribune, The Sun Times, Time Out Chicago and many other publications.
Was hot Doug’s line a waste?
And after you get to the front of the line and get what you came for, you don’t feel good about yourself. Hot Doug’s line was the opposite of a waste. It was an affirmation. The grouping of people—a goofy cross-section of urbanites, tourists, fat guys, and old people—was by far the happiest congregation in all of Chicago.