Fluky's (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
Fluky's was once one of Chicago's best-known hot dog stands, serving Vienna Beef hot dogs for generations after opening in 1929. While the marquee shown here wasn't the original, it still featured the familiar hot dog mascot that made Fluky's easy to spot from the street. 05-09
Founded by Abe "Fluky" Drexler, Fluky's is widely credited with helping popularize the Chicago-style hot dog. During the Great Depression, the stand became famous for piling fresh toppings onto its hot dogs, creating an inexpensive meal that quickly became a local favorite. Over the years, Fluky's moved from Maxwell Street to Chicago's North Side, where it remained a fixture for decades.
Besides the hot dogs, longtime customers probably remember the little pieces of cinnamon-flavored "hot dog gum" that were handed out with orders. It's one of those quirky touches that made places like Fluky's memorable.
UPDATE: The original Fluky's restaurants are gone, and the iconic roadside sign was removed after the final Chicago location closed in 2006. 06-26
Check out this googie looking building at Fluky's. Looks like the cantilevered roofline featured some cool lettering.
Mr. Weenie
Peru, IN Photo courtesy Emily Steele
Mr. Weenie is the kind of roadside stop that's impossible to drive past without smiling. The giant grinning hot dog wearing a top hat and bow tie has been greeting travelers in Peru for years, making this one of Indiana's most recognizable hot dog stands. 05-09
Located along old U.S. 31, Mr. Weenie still does things the old-fashioned way. Pull into a parking spot, flash your headlights, and a carhop will come take your order. It's a fun reminder of how drive-ins used to operate, and it's a tradition that's becoming harder to find.
The menu goes beyond a standard hot dog stand, with local favorites like the Spanish Dog and the Wrigley Dog drawing customers from well beyond Peru. The restaurant even made an appearance in the independent film Little Big Top, with the famous mascot sign getting a little screen time of its own.
UPDATE: Mr. Weenie remains open and continues serving customers with carhop service. The smiling hot dog sign is still standing and remains one of Peru's best-known roadside landmarks. 06-26
Dan's Dogs (Gone)
Medina, OH Photo courtesy Steve Felder
Dan's Dogs was one of those places that never took hot dogs too seriously—in the best possible way. This Medina favorite served more than 65 different varieties, ranging from classic toppings to creations that sounded downright crazy. If you've ever wanted a hot dog with peanut butter, this was the place to get one. 05-09
The restaurant embraced a fun 1950s diner atmosphere with a jukebox, checkerboard décor, and an old-fashioned counter where customers could watch their food being made. Along with the hot dogs, root beer floats and other classic diner treats helped complete the experience.
Dan's Dogs changed owners over the years but kept its quirky personality right up until it closed in 2022. It became one of those local spots people loved because it wasn't afraid to do things a little differently.
UPDATE: Dan's Dogs permanently closed in 2022 after more than 30 years in Medina. The restaurant has since been sold, and the original sign has been removed. 06-26
Superdawg Drive-in
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
The Superdawg Drive-In has been turning heads in Chicago since 1948, thanks to the giant rooftop hot dog couple known as Maurie and Flaurie. Standing watch over Milwaukee Avenue, the 12-foot-tall mascots have become one of the city's most recognizable roadside landmarks and are nearly impossible to miss.
Founded by high school sweethearts Maurie and Flaurie Berman, Superdawg remains family owned and still operates as one of the last true drive-ins in Chicago. Pull into a parking space, place your order through the speaker, and a carhop delivers your food right to your window, just as they've been doing for generations.
The restaurant is famous for its signature Superdawg, served on a poppy seed bun with mustard, onions, sport peppers, a dill pickle spear, and its trademark pickled green tomato instead of the traditional fresh tomato slice. It's a Chicago classic that has remained remarkably unchanged for more than 75 years.
UPDATE: Superdawg Drive-In remains open and family owned. The original 1948 drive-in, along with its iconic Maurie and Flaurie rooftop figures, continues to welcome customers while preserving one of Chicago's last authentic carhop experiences. 06-26
Superdawg
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
(Left) Here's another shot of the extremely popular 50 year old plus
Superdawg Drive-in of Chicago.
(Right) Maurie and Flaurie's neon images on the side of the Superdawg
drive-in eatery building.
Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Dub-L-Dog (Demolished)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
Dub-L-Dog was one of the countless neighborhood hot dog stands that helped give Chicago its reputation as one of the best hot dog cities in America. Sitting on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Melrose Street in the Lakeview neighborhood, it was the kind of no-frills place where locals could grab a quick dog, fries, and a drink before heading on their way.
Like so many independent Chicago stands, Dub-L-Dog wasn't flashy. Its simple roadside sign and compact walk-up building fit right into the city's streetscape, serving customers for decades before disappearing as the neighborhood evolved.
UPDATE: Dub-L-Dog closed around 2000, and the building was demolished several years later. A newer commercial building now occupies the corner, and the familiar roadside sign is gone. 06-26
Monroe's Original Hot Dogs
Monroe, MI Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Monroe's Original Hot Dogs has been serving up chili dogs and frosty mugs of root beer for generations in Monroe. This classic drive-in feels like a step back in time, complete with a vintage roadside sign featuring a smiling hot dog that has become a local landmark along Front Street. 01-07
The menu has always been refreshingly simple, centering on chili dogs, potato chips, and house root beer served in heavy frosted mugs. During the warmer months, customers can still pull into a parking space and enjoy the traditional carhop service that has become part of the restaurant's charm.
The combination of the retro sign, classic drive-in layout, and old-fashioned service makes Monroe's Original Hot Dogs one of those places that proves some traditions are worth preserving.
UPDATE: Monroe's Original Hot Dogs continues to operate seasonally on Front Street, with its iconic smiling hot dog sign and classic carhop service remaining a favorite with both locals and visitors. 06-26
Fluky's (Gone)
Dan's Dogs (Gone)
Superdawg Drive-in
Superdawg
(Left) Here's another shot of the extremely popular 50 year old plus
Superdawg Drive-in of Chicago.
Dub-L-Dog (Demolished)
Monroe's Original Hot Dogs
