Hot Doug's fans line up in Chicago to get one last sausage
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicagoans only have three more days to get a dog from legendary Avondale eatery Hot Doug's.
The sausage and hot dog joint on the Northwest Side closes its doors on Friday. Customers are lining up around the block to get their last taste of a Chicago favorite for over a decade.
"One of our friends here was telling us that it's one of the 13 places in the world to eat before, like, you die," Taylor Pride said.
Owner Doug Sohn said the restaurant business can be brutal, but the experience has been "perfect."
"It's been awesome. It's unbelievably cool to have people, like, line up as early as the night before," Sohn said.
The so-called "sausage superstore and encased meat emporium" has a loyal following, serving up to 800 hot dogs of all kinds each day.
In the restaurant's final days, long-time customers are lining up for one last meal, and others are trying Hot Doug's for the first - and only - time.
"I'm a big Chicago person. I didn't want a Chicago tradition to go away without us trying it," Dan Gelford said.
"I'm scared I'm going to be standing in line for five hours and not find one hot dog that I want to eat," Marla Gelford said.
Some hungry people were ready to pay a high price for this dining experience. Jennifer Neu waited in line with a friend for over 10 hours.
"The hot dogs are good. The adventure was worth it. Being with a friend, spending the time is worth it," Neu said.
Sohn said he's looking forward to not setting an alarm clock. He and his girlfriend are looking forward to traveling and letting other people cook for them for a change.
