A somewhat distrubing look into weiner circle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo1LPf9mnyU

I've frequented weiner circle many times, and this is an interesting piece about the origins and the controversial treatment given and received. As for me, the food here is decent for what it is, but I never understood why the workers wouldn't wear gloves when handling your food. Not to mention all that screaming and swearing makes me paranoid that their saliva will pelt my hot dog or burger, and thus I've never bothered to yell back at them even if provoked. This, as well as the fast paced busy nature of the establishment, makes me wonder how many can yell insults at anyone handling their food, that's a risk I'd avoid, even if it's acceptable, and somewhat encouraged here. Anyhow, next time you're out there leave a tip for he workers, they are obviously earning their pay!

The real health hazard here is the patrons. I normally defend this neighborhood, but when it comes to this place at 1 AM (and believe me, I've been there), forget it.

HI,

I heard anecdotes of what occured at Wiener Circle. I never imagined it was quite this coarse. I can easily live without the experience.

Thanks for linking to this clip.

Regards,

Which part do you find most disturbing?

The fact that a bunch of drunk, over-privileged white assholes would verbally assault a staff of hard working black women trying to make a living?

OR

The fact that said African American women would give it back as good as (and usually better than) they get?

OR

The fact that two guys are making a huge profit from all of it?

Personally, I'm rather uncomfortable going in there after a certain hour of the day and would just as soon avoid all the nonsense. I like The Wiener Circle's food and am always respectful of the women working there; not because I am afraid of what they will do to my order, but because that's the way you treat folks. Period.

Watching these drunken morons who think they're way more clever than they can ever hope to be puts a knot in my stomach. They are a blight on society and should be grateful that the staff at The Wiener's Circle will even acknowledge their presence.

Buddy

In addition to being disturbed by everything on Buddy's list:

I'm disturbed by Ira Glass's detached, droll narration. And his perfectly ironic, intentionally mussed hair. That guy is laughing all the way to the bank.

Really? I like his hair...

Buddy

I guess there's proof that this is the most overrated restaurant/experience out there. (personal opinion) I just don't see the reason why people (like my friends) go here time after time to spend $10 for a pretty poor dog and fries because you have to tip to get your food....really? Tip because I'm being yelled at or some racial slurs being thrown at me? Eh, I'll stick to Jene and Jude's where the food is good and the service is mellow.

Santander wrote:The real health hazard here is the patrons. I normally defend this neighborhood, but when it comes to this place at 1 AM (and believe me, I've been there), forget it.

Several years ago, at about 1 AM-ish, I was eating my average Weiner Circle hamburger outside on one of their benches. In my drunken state, I noticed two teens waiting in line inside come shooting through the glass doors towards us. All I remember next was the knife being drawn by one of them and then a lot of nastiness afterwards.

I didn't return to the Weiner Circle, at any hour, for at least 10 years after that.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:The fact that two guys are making a huge profit from all of it?

For me, this one... especially if the only compensation the staff gets for going above-and-beyond is the tip jar. I would hope that these guys pay above the going rate for that kind of work.

I am not sure if you're joking about Ira Glass, Santander, but I think his instincts to find stories like this and take them to a wider audience is pretty great. I've never bothered to go to Weiner Circle (and probably won't now) but it's definitely more worthy of journalistic attention than lipstick-gate.

That's nothing. You should go there on Halloween.

stevez wrote:That's nothing. You should go there on Halloween.

One can only imagine. Still, I'd like some details if you can provide any.

As for anyone who might be afraid to check out The Wiener's Circle, as explained in the "This American Life" piece, it is a completely different place during daylight hours. While it might not be Chicago's best Hot Dog joint, they put out a respectable dog, steamed or char-grilled, along with, what I think, are pretty good char-burgers and really good cheese fries.

In regard to my list, I was only completely serious about point number one, the one about the overpriveleged drunken white assholes. My greatest hope is that the bosses/parents/coworkers of these people someday see them in action at The Wiener's Circle so they can see their true nature and "adjust" their relationships accordingly.

While I do not enjoy the nightly "show", I cannot fault the women who work at the place for simply responding in kind to the obnoxious and vulgar abuse they receive from the above mentioned individuals. I don't pretend to know what they are paid, but as the TAL piece describes, many of them have been there for a very long time; enjoy the work, and don't complain about the pay rate.

As for the two guys making a profit, well, I've got no real problem with that; that's what they're in business for. They didn't start up The Wiener's Circle with the intention of making it what it has become. They started a Hot Dog stand. It evolved into what it is, with the the verbal abuse being started by Larry Gold, as they attest in the TAL segment, and over time adopted by the rest of the staff. Granted, it is not discouraged, but neither is it encouraged as a sleazy way to make a buck. At least I don't think it is...

Buddy

I am not sure if you're joking about Ira Glass, Santander

I'm a child of NPR and a fan of Mr. G(r)ass. I was serious, however, about agreeing with Buddy.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:The fact that a bunch of drunk, over-privileged white assholes would verbally assault a staff of hard working black women trying to make a living...

Buddy, after viewing the clip, I can go along with "drunk," "white," and "assholes," but I don't see where you're deriving the evidence for "overprivileged." That's based on a big assumption. There is nothing in the film that tells me what the income level of these people are, or of the families they came from, nor can I tell which of them went to college and/or graduate school.

What's more, if you were to tell me that they all had high incomes and high levels of education, I would not call that overprivileged--I would call that privileged in the way everyone should be. The problem is not that the customers in the clip have too much, but that everyone doesn't have at least the same.

If anything, I would call the drunk white assholes in the film underprivileged--because they certainly didn't have the advantage of coming from homes where decent values were instilled.

Phew. That is some ugly, ugly stuff. I live in a neighborhood where people talk like the counterpeople all the time; it's just a way of talking, doesn't really mean anything.

I wish I could say the same for the people on the other side of the counter. The stuff that goes beyond the friendly banter - that is some of the ugliest customer behavior I've ever seen - I'd be ashamed to stand in that line.

I've witnessed plenty of the banter during some wee hours stops before heading home. It has always made me uncomfortable--and I've never been sober when going there late. The "N" word, even when used by whites in an ostensibly joking "of-course-we're-above-it-all-there's-no-way-I'm-a-racist" way, has never cut it for me.

One night in December--early evening, not when it gets nuts--I was there with my wife, son, and our two nephews from a small town in Wisconsin. The three kids were all under 12 at the time. We were dressed up, having been at an afternoon party downtown. A boorish drunk 20-something walks in with a woman, presumably his girlfriend. There were maybe five other customers there at most. The guy takes one look and launches into a tirade directed right at us--filthy kikes, go celebrate Hannukah somewhere else, there's no Jew food here (interesting slur at a Vienna-supplied establishment, but that's another story) etc. etc.

After less than a minute of this, I walked up to him, pushed him against the door and told him to say one more thing. He didn't, and his girlfriend smartly got him out the door, and they left without ordering. He yelled a couple of weak taunts on his way to the curb, and that was it.

I was shaking, my wife and the kids were shaken and none of us had ever directly experienced anything (or anyone) like this in our lives. Of course I blame the punk for the incident, but ever since I've always wondered if even in his drunken stupor, he somehow felt he was in a protected or tolerated Weiners Circle zone of anything goes.

Ten or fifteen years ago I used to enjoy going to Wiener's Circle late at night. But the whole spirit of the place has changed and I no longer want anything to do with that crowd. I haven't stopped in past 9pm since I wrote the following.

Six years ago on another site I wrote:I’m a veteran of many a late night at Wiener’s Circle but the atmosphere last night seemed a little different. The Cubbies had dropped yet another that afternoon so the Wrigleyville fratboys were in an ugly mood (no doubt compounded by the fact that most had probably been drinking nonstop for well over 12 hours). One group was particularly obnoxious--and I mean obnoxious by Wiener’s Circle standards which is really saying something. There was a meanness to their comments that I hadn’t encountered there before. I think they were truly annoying the workers. At one point they picked up an unfortunate woman and tried to shove her through the little ordering window. Some of the more sober customers were leaving in disgust (nothing new about that). Later one of the idiots went outside and amused himself by throwing a full trash can at a passing car. Just another fun night at Wiener’s Circle.

riddlemay,

tomato/tomahto. Not worth arguing about. I agree with everything you're saying; both your logic and life philosophy are sound, but for better or worse, I'm going with my original assessment. Maybe it's based on my personal prejudices; I'll live with that. Meanwhile, we agreed on three out of the four observations I made, and that's enough for me.

Not lookin' fer a fight,

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:Not lookin' fer a fight...

No, me neither! It was a distinction important enough to me to make, so I wanted to make it.

We have solidarity in our revulsion.

Ive been going here forever and still do and heard both racist and clever insults thrown each others way between the employees and patrons. First let me say that 95% of the people there after midnight are from the suburbs and other Midwest states and beyond, it really pisses me off when people assume everyone in LP is some yuppie from Highland Park or Bloomfield Hills. Believe me I dont like the racist stuff but I cant hate on something that gives those women a good life and puts their kid thru school and gives magnificent tips, all of those ladies have been there forever and havent quit b/c its a better job than alot of other have. Yes I go in there drunk and yes I have thrown insults but only clever and never anything racist. Matter of fact one time in college this southern "gentleman" from S.C was being a straight redneck and making alot of the women and customers uncomfortable, he ended up being Cheese faced by me (lots of gooey cheese fries in his face) and then it looked like someone sprayed ketchup on his head...but it wasnt ketchup. From what I have been told it has happened to a few more stupid drunk folks who were getting out of bounds since then. Cheese faced is now a common term and happening there.

BTW- When that happened the police came and the employees had my back explaining what happened and the southerner was arrested for disorderly conduct and i was given a fresh set of fries by my guy who works the grill.

when people assume everyone in LP is some yuppie from Highland Park or Bloomfield Hills

or, worse some hard-headed Bracegirdle from Hardbottle.

friggin' Sackville-Bagginses. Grumble.

Da Beef wrote:Believe me I dont like the racist stuff but I cant hate on something that gives those women a good life and puts their kid thru school and gives magnificent tips, all of those ladies have been there forever and havent quit b/c its a better job than alot of other have.

Da Beef-

While your points are well-taken about LP and yuppies, I cannot abide by the notion that the sheer exchange of money in return for dignity is okay. In fact, reading this thread sent chills down my spine. I can appreciate that maybe the money is good, but I still don't think that's any type of excuse for the behavior that goes on there (even if that Southern "gentleman" deserved that cheese in his face). Maybe Olde School is right that the atmosphere creates a certain type of negative permissiveness.

I've never been to Weiner Circle, and I certainly will not go there now.

The appalling behavior on display at the Wiener's Circle is so transparent to me, it's ridiculous. I'm not sure I'm articulate enough to say what I'm thinking (grrr, pregnant brain), but basically, it gives these people, who are, by and large, living very comfortable lives in LP/Lakeview (I lived there, I knew a lot of people who went there frequently, not that I'd call them friends, but I feel like I knew the demographic well at one point, and I'm comfortable saying that) a chance to feel like they're "living on the edge", so to speak? That's not quite right, I think it makes them feel like they're perhaps part of a culture they aren't really a part of? That isn't right either. Dangit, maybe someone else will know what I mean and say it better than I can. It's a combination of that and, I think, believing that if they take themselves to the Wiener's Circle, it's okay to act however they want to act, without regard for human decency, rather than growing up and acknowledging that We Don't Treat Other People That Way.

I don't know that I'm prepared to paint either side of the counter as the ones to blame. There's clearly give and take, and it's very difficult to take something to that extreme and then complain about the next step being the one that's too far.

What I've always found disturbing about Weiner Circle isn't the level of rudeness and crudeness. There's plenty of late-night comedy out there that's as bad or worse and quite funny (not to mention sometimes illuminating). If I really believed that it was just a big game and everybody was, in their own twisted way, just having fun, I don't see the harm in that... not that I care to participate. But what's troubling to me is that while everybody insists it's all just part of the fun and nobody really means it, you get the sense that for a lot of people (staff included), on some level, sometimes they really do. And even worse, you get the sense that that's exactly why some people go... it a chance to express their true feelings with the plausible deniability that it's all just a big joke.

The appalling behavior on display at the Wiener's Circle is so transparent to me, it's ridiculous. I'm not sure I'm articulate enough to say what I'm thinking (grrr, pregnant brain), but basically, it gives these people, who are, by and large, living very comfortable lives in LP/Lakeview (I lived there, I knew a lot of people who went there frequently, not that I'd call them friends, but I feel like I knew the demographic well at one point, and I'm comfortable saying that) a chance to feel like they're "living on the edge", so to speak? That's not quite right, I think it makes them feel like they're perhaps part of a culture they aren't really a part of? That isn't right either. Dangit, maybe someone else will know what I mean and say it better than I can. It's a combination of that and, I think, believing that if they take themselves to the Wiener's Circle, it's okay to act however they want to act, without regard for human decency, rather than growing up and acknowledging that We Don't Treat Other People That Way.

That makes perfect sense to me, sweetsalty. And congrats on the bun! Ours is 8/9ths baked.

One thing's for certain... the dynamic is fascinating... on a lot of levels.

Maybe its an age range thing or something else because honestly while the racist shit doesn't sit well with me, that clip is nothing to other stuff I have seen and heard go on in our country (have you not seen Borat?) Ive been in the deep south, Southern IL and even St. Louis in the last year and it is another world that makes LP and WC look like a family atmosphere at some of the bars and parties going on there, thats when im really uncomfortable, when you can feel the hate by hearing them speak and know it is real.

I have lived and gone to school in Chicago, CT, Tampa and Madison with people of all walks of life from the gutter to the elite and from what I have gathered about people and that type of person at WC after 2a is that most of them are from some all white suburb and have no fu*king clue about life outside the sunshine they live in. This may cause some controversy but all that talk about danger and crime and drugs etc being dangerous to raise a kid in the the city is BS, if anything being raised in a large city gives you such a better chance to be socially aware and just street smart and the ability to make your own decisions and not follow a crowd which none of these kids are or do. Not to say there arent exceptions to that statement.

As far as the money goes I can understand and justify staying there and working and taking the cash to make you and your familys life better. Honestly does anybody watch comedy TV here any more? chris rock, Bill Maher, Penn and Teller BS, Dave Chappelle? The Kings of Comedy? Bob Saget? any comedy central roast? use of the N word by anybody white makes me uncomfortable but the crack jokes and anything aside from skin color is humor these days and in some odd cases makes people more comfortable Im not one of them and I hate when I go in there late night b/c I find myself getting into a fight with them more so than not but I honestly think if it was really really that bad it would have been stopped a long time ago b/c no one would work there or something bad would have happened by now. I dont go there anymore at night either though b/c it is packed and I dont want to deal with the drunk white kid who just moved here from Ohio and doesnt realize that life is different in the city, but when I do, I entertain myself by hurling insults at the customers. Not trying to stir anything up but thats just my 2 cents.

It is safe to say, the Wiener Circle is not for everyone, but the owners would be the first to tell you that. They do not hide what they are after about 11 pm each night, and they are, I would think proud of their 'circus' atmosphere which has suburban, city and out of town visitors making the Wiener Circle a destination during their weekends in Lincoln Park or other neighborhoods.

From my experiences over the past 10+ years, I have been that 20 something making the Circle my destination when nowhere near LP at 2 am, lived in the neighborhood and often ate both during "daylight" and "after" hours and now live further away, but do enjoy their fries and burgers, from time to time. The schtick has lost its appeal somewhat to me, as it has not changed much over the years, but again, from time to time, I can see the humor in it and understand what keeps bringing people back week in and week out.

Let's not forget the food, which I find to be pretty good, especially for the immediate neighborhood. If you were to head to the Wiener Circle on any Saturday or Sunday afternoon, the place gets pretty crowded, even with the stroller crowd.

So, who's ready to prepare the GNR nomination?

butter674 wrote:Let's not forget the food, which I find to be pretty good, especially for the immediate neighborhood. If you were to head to the Wiener Circle on any Saturday or Sunday afternoon, the place gets pretty crowded, even with the stroller crowd.

Yes, let's not forget the food, which is the main reason we are all here, isn't it? Wiener's Circle is one of the best hot dog stands in its area. The fries are outstanding and double fried and the burgers and dogs are very good as well. I'm not a big fan of the cheddar burger/fries, but I'm told their versions of both are exemplary. If you don't like the late-night circus, go during the day when it is a mild mannered neighborhood hot dog stand. The food is good any time of the day or night.