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Hot Doug's Rebirth?


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Hot Doug's website says that they're looking for a new site and hope to be open soon. :smile:

I did send an e-mail to Doug himself on behalf of the hungry Heartlanders saying that we all await his return and send our best wishes. And, the good cyber-fresser that I am, I sent Doug the link to our message thread. Maybe we'll hear straight from the Sausagemeister himself. :cool:

There are two sides to every story and one side to a Möbius band.

borschtbelt.blogspot.com

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I heard rumors (from someone who purportedly knows his real estate agent ) that Doug is looking in a lot of neighborhoods, not just near his old place. Now my husband and I bike around saying to each other "wouldn't it be great if Hot Doug's landed here? Or here? No, here." Anyway, I didn't catch the full story as I was tending the brats on the grill. Darn, I miss Hot Doug's

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I probably shouldn't divulge my sources, but I have been told by a very reliable one that Doug recently checked out a location right by my house! To say that I am excited would be a understatement. I won't say where it is though, mainly because I might be jinxing myself (and also because I don't want to piss off the man who has bought me so much meaty joy).

I'm sure he'll be back on the scene soon.....

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I'm sure he'll be back on the scene soon.....

Dang, I hope so-- I finally found the perfect place to hold my husband's 40th birthday party, then there's a fire. Anyway, I hope he finds someplace by late January!

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Hot Doug's website says that they're looking for a new site and hope to be open soon.  :smile:

I did send an e-mail to Doug himself on behalf of the hungry Heartlanders saying that we all await his return and send our best wishes.  And, the good cyber-fresser that I am, I sent Doug the link to our message thread.  Maybe we'll hear straight from the Sausagemeister himself.  :cool:

Hot Doug himself just e-mailed me and said that "(N)egotiations are in the works." He'll be posting himself here shortly. :biggrin:

There are two sides to every story and one side to a Möbius band.

borschtbelt.blogspot.com

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  • 4 weeks later...

Just read at a couple of different sites (LTH, eatchicago) that Hot Doug's will be re-opening at their original location in mid August! :smile:

Yay!

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

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  • 1 month later...

Looks like Hot Doug's will re-open around Labor Day.

Here's a quote from today's Chicago Tribune...

Doug Sohn would choose a pinot noir to go with what he calls the "ba-sic dog." He is owner of Hot Doug's, a BYOB Chicago gourmet wienerie that was shuttered by fire three months ago and is slated to reopen Labor Day.

A dogged effort (scroll down a bit for the Hot Doug's info).

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

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To confuse matters just a bit, this week's installment of Chicago Magazine's Dish quotes Sohn: "The landlord is currently working on the rehab, but I’m also seeking new locations as well.”

Chicago Magazine's Dish

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

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  • 3 months later...
Any word on this? I just checked the website and it's the same as in August. Or have they been open and I just haven't been paying attention?

No word that I know of. Last I heard, the re-opening was still just around the corner but at this point I suppose all bets are off. :sad:

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

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Dang, every time I see a reply on this topic I get all excited and it's another false alarm. My husband drives by the old location once in a while to check on progress but there's been paper in the windows for some time now. Maybe next year.

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I don't want to get anyone's hopes up unnecessarily but there are rumors circulating at CH that Hot Doug's will re-open in Jan. 2005 at California and Roscoe in the space formerly occupied by Papa George's, which closed recently.

Hot Doug's rumor thread at CH

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

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I guess it's official. I caught this press release earlier today at eatchicago.net... :smile: :smile: :smile:

HOT DOUG'S TWO: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

The rumor is true. Not the one about me being in the center of a love

triangle with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan (after all, who hasn't been),

but the rising from the ashes (literally and figuratively) of Hot Doug's,

the Sausage Superstore.

And now we're even harder to find.

Watch for our grand reopening in early January 2005 at 3324 N. California

Avenue, right on the corner of Roscoe and California -- one-half mile due

west of the original location.

The new store will have expanded seating and in the summer an outdoor area

for al fresco dining (not the Al Fresco who sells Chevys on Western). And

yes, the duck fat French fries will remain on the menu on Fridays and

Saturdays. Of course, our inconvenient hours will remain the same.

I personally want to thank everyone who e-mailed, phoned and stopped me on

the street to offer their condolences about the fire and to ask when I was

reopening. While I at first wasn't totally convinced that I would attempt

to start Hot Doug's up again, your encouragement and positive words helped

me make up my mind. That and the fact that thanks to Bravo I've now seen

every episode of "West Wing" about seven times.

Again, thank you for your continued interest and I look forward to, once

again, serving you the finest in encased meats.

Happy Holidays.

Sausagely,

Doug

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

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YEAH,

  Thanks Ron !!!!

Just 5 blocks from my parents , my old neighborhood COOL!!!

There is a Thuringer with my name on it.

Mmmmmmm

Just checked in on this thread. My husband works, literally, across the street. His reply, "HOLY SHIT. THAT"S AWESOME!" I can now no longer hear in my left ear. :raz: I think he's excited. Thanks for the update.

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In case anyone is interested, you can read the news for yourselves at Hot Doug's web site. You can also sign up for their newsletter there.

...and Marmish, I'm very sorry about your ear :biggrin:

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

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  • 1 month later...

The latest!!!!

> Subject: Hot Doug's Two: Hot Dougser

>

> Just don't all come at once, okay?

>

> I've finally gotten through the entire DVD set of "Elimidate"

> episodes, so

> I guess it's time to cook some sausage (that's not prison lingo). Hot

> Doug's opens for business on Tuesday, January 4, at 10:30 am. We'll

> still

> be closing at 4:00 pm, so you can stop the

> how-come-you-don't-stay-open-later whining now.

>

> Our new locale: 3324 N. CALIFORNIA AVENUE, right at the corner of

> California and Roscoe. We're a half mile west of the old location,

just

> across the river in the vibrant Avondale neighborhood. There's plenty

> of

> street parking and more seating.

>

> On a sincere note, I can't tell you how touched and flattered I am

with

> all of your support and encouragement over these past eight months.

You

> made the motivation to re-open the restaurant easy to come by. I

> genuinely

> thank you for your reassurance and look forward to serving you some

> tasty

> encased meats this year and for a long time to come.

>

> See you soon.

>

> Doug

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Well, we might still be waiting for news about the opening of Alinea, but I'm happy to say that Hot Doug's is open for sure. My girlfriend went yesterday (the first day of re-opening) and it sounds like it was pretty crazy. She reports lines stretching far out of the door and estimates that some people were probably waiting for an hour or more. Apparently the new space is a bit bigger, but there is less room to wait in line indoors, meaning that lines stretching out into the street are likely to be a regular occurrence. Not much fun when the weather is like this, but what can you do eh?

For the record, she also told me that Doug seemed to be his normal chipper self, everything seemed to be going smoothly and her lamb, mint and feta sausage was as good as ever. Most of the menu items have changed names as well - for example, the Britney Spears is now the Jennifer Garner (not, as I had expected, the Lindsey Lohan).

Well, I have a strange feeling that I'll be there this weekend (along with hundred of other folks I imagine) - I can't wait.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I visited the new Hot Doug's yesterday and it's just as good as the old place, but with better parking and more seating. Business was brisk at 2:30, with high school students and assorted lovers of encased meats. I had the Calvados-smoked duck sausage with dijon and blue cheese. Oh yeah-- Doug, it's great to have you back!

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