Yeah, I meant to add to my post that their cheese fries were one of my favorite guilty pleasures when I was living in the neighborhood. They really have good food, IMO, or they did anyway, it's been awhile since I was there.

butter674 wrote: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.

If the film clip weren't enough to change the owners' minds, I think Olde School's anecdote of what happened to him and his family should be enough to switch them from proud to deeply ashamed. And yes, it didn't just "happen" there; it happened because of the "circus" atmosphere. If Dachau was a circus.

But your mileage may vary.

Lincoln Park = Greenwich Village. Beautiful historic long-since re-gentrified inner-city neighborhood becomes (in part) Urban Theme Park for a certain segment of morons. It happens, and it's too bad.

ya it is too bad but dont get the peops that are from here confused with those that moved here from Rolling meadows etc...

Its happened quick too b/c when I was growing up near altgeld and racine, there was crack house in back of us and in HS I was stabbed walking home. But you know what? im born and raised here and wouldnt want to live anywhere else in the city, im not letting other people take over my neighborhood. In all honesty its bucktown that I cant stand.

With its location and amazing atmosphere LP was bound to get richer and more yuppified. Its also home to the largest catholic university in the US so the college kids do play a role in the molding of LP. Back to food, thats another thing that pisses me off, there is good eats in LP and WC is one of them, better than alot of other neighborhoods selection. If you dont like the circus dont go at night but no one forces you to watch real time with Bill Maher or the comedy central roast of Bob Saget, also on late night, you shouldnt expect a family or even calm atmosphere at any popular late night eating spot after 2a

Like I said, "in part." I know multi-generation LPers. Of course they are not the people you are describing. De Paul is larger than Georgetown, Catholic and BC?

The only thing that I cant figure out is that the owner says that this insulting started around 15 years ago. I lived a block from there in the mid 80's, and it has always been like that. Back then many of the employees were white, so there wasnt as much racial stuff, but there was plenty of cussing and insulting from both sides of the window. Same type of drunk white assholes (like me), and lots of visits by the police, including one time they arrested a friend of mine just for exposing himself. Something about saying to a girl in line "if you want a hot dog, I have a hot dog for you".....but i reminisce.
I hope that it never changes, and one day my son can grow up and and order a char-cheddar polish with cheddar fries, and then throw up in their trash can just like his father.

-Will

WillG wrote: I hope that it never changes, and one day my son can grow up and and order a char-cheddar polish with cheddar fries, and then throw up in their trash can just like his father.

-Will

Sheesh, now I REALLY regret not having kids.

Looking at the video and the other videos of this type posted on youtube reminds me of the old minstrel shows - the black actors have to sell their soul to make a living while privileged drunk whites laugh and reaffirm their misguided feelings that they are somehow morally and intellectually superior to Black Americans. Most people who would view this would feel disgusted and dirty but the drunk white jerks see it as "liberating," chic and a way of expressing their feelings. How sad.

De Paul is larger than Georgetown, Catholic and BC?

Yes, according to recent stats, DePaul has approximately 23,500 students, including graduate students. However, with the large number of campuses, all of the students are not located in LP.

I think the main problem with WC is not the yuppified crowd that goes there (and yes, I drive a VW so I might be slightly biased here). I think if you give a person the slightest "right" to do something like yell at waitstaff or use expletives in public, many jerks would use the opportunity to go really far with it. It really doesn't matter if the jerk is a yuppy, a blue collar worker, or the richest person you've ever met.

I have gone there during the day and have enjoyed there food. I wouldn't be able to go there at night though because they'd yell at me, I'd turn bright red, and would only be able to stammer out a "That's what she said" before grabbing my fries and leaving.

12345ne wrote:

De Paul is larger than Georgetown, Catholic and BC?

Yes, according to recent stats, DePaul has approximately 23,500 students, including graduate students. However, with the large number of campuses, all of the students are not located in LP.

Yes that is true however the main campus is in LP and thats where you will find the real college kids type crowd. They have buildings and classrooms downtown but almost all kids that arent living at home live in and around the LP campus, and why alot of the bars in the area are flooded with drunk college kids.

Its just one of those places you should avoid if it deeply disturbs you, think spring break and Vegas and frat house all rolled into one damn good place to get dogs, char burgers and cheese fries.

Da Beef wrote: ... think spring break and Vegas and frat house all rolled into one damn good place to get dogs, char burgers and cheese fries.

Wow, a list of things I avoid like poison rolled into a list of things that make life worth living. Good thing WASC is closer than WC (I'm starting to think the British interpretation of those initials is accurate in this instance) and the only harassment I'll get there is Tom's harsh drink treatment.

i wouldn't add vegas into that mix... there is some class to vegas

MBK wrote:i wouldn't add vegas into that mix... there is some class to vegas

and plenty of trash...

fair enough i suppose mr beef; much like the two sides of WC (daytime and nighttime)

that video is disturbing to say the least. i would not patronize, at any time of day, a place that allows that kind of thing to go on. i wonder if the owners could be open to a lawsuit by the employees.

teatpuller wrote:that video is disturbing to say the least. i would not patronize, at any time of day, a place that allows that kind of thing to go on. i wonder if the owners could be open to a lawsuit by the employees.

did you not watch the whole video? Those ladies have raised families and put their kids thru school from tips and working there. Those ladies have been there since I was in High School and while I dont condone the behavior theres a reason they haven't left and thats b/c it beats working at Burger King or slanging crack on the street or relying on someone who makes income illegally. Now why the hell would they sue the owners? I think if it was a horrible experience goin into work each day they wouldnt show up.

I watched the whole video.

Those ladies have raised families and put their kids thru school from tips and working there. Those ladies have been there since I was in High School and while I dont condone the behavior theres a reason they haven't left and thats b/c it beats working at Burger King or slanging crack on the street or relying on someone who makes income illegally.

If part of your job involved getting screamed at and abused day in and day out, would you consider your place of employment a good work environment?

Simply saying "well, they put up with it!" doesn't make it right, and actually makes it more sad, to my mind. The idea that this is an acceptable form of acquiring income is just depressing.

I remember when I heard about the Weiner Circle experience from a couple of friends of mine who were seemingly thrilled about the idea that they could verbally abuse low-paid counter help, I thought to myself, "That just sounds...mean."

I have never been to the Weiner Circle, and until I know that things are different I never will. There are plenty of places to get a hot dog in this city.

Or to put it another way, do you think any of those women would work there for a second if they could have jobs offer financial resources to get &^*#faced regularly, dress up in expensive suits and degrade people from the other side of the counter? That's what bothers me.

Whatever. im done, y'all are too sensitive for todays world, want me to get real? Half of that abuse is the same words that come from lyrics in hop hop which is part of their culture, the same music those girls listen too, they are treated as less in that music and its the same music the customers listen too. Those ladies watch the "kings of Comedy" and "The Dave Chappelle show" same instance as the music. Yes I still think its beats working for a shit fast food giant of a corporation where the suits would abuse them in much bigger ways than getting verbally abused by a customer who leaves a $20 in the tip jar. For the last time, if it was that bad they would not be there, black woman are strong and all of them I know and have met thru time dont take any BS. they also have more than enough experience and could easily go find another job at another stand somewhere in Chicago. Seriously y'all are to damn privileged to realize that all those girls ever wanted was stability in life, putting their kids thru school and not standing on the corner hustling rock or working for White Castle. I think listening to some drunk yuppie from Michigan isnt the best job in the world but those girls know from family and friends and the environment they grew up in that there is MUCH MUCH worse out there they could be knee deep in.

Mhays wrote:Or to put it another way, do you think any of those women would work there for a second if they could have jobs offer financial resources to get &^*#faced regularly, dress up in expensive suits and degrade people from the other side of the counter? That's what bothers me.

No I dont but unfortunately in the real world there is the gap of rich and poor and let me tell you, those ladies are not dirt poor or drug dependant b/c of their job at WC. is it the best? hell no. is it better than what miost who came from the same neighborhood have? hell yes.

Hey im sure some of y'all here own companies or work somewhere thats hiring, why dont you take them out of their misery and give them a job ...

Hey there Da Beef. I agree with most everything you have said, and hope one day or night to share a cheddar dog and cheddar fries with you at the Circle no matter what the crowd is like! Simply put I like the food. The atmosphere is fun when taken in stride. Sometimes sure it gets out of hand, but those times are few and far between and does not deter me from heading over to the Wiener Circle late at night of the stomach is rumbling.

Da Beef wrote:

Mhays wrote:Or to put it another way, do you think any of those women would work there for a second if they could have jobs offer financial resources to get &^*#faced regularly, dress up in expensive suits and degrade people from the other side of the counter? That's what bothers me.

No I dont but unfortunately in the real world there is the gap of rich and poor /quote]

^and those girls arent poor b/c they work there.

Patrons of WC get the same treatment that Cubs fans do. BC of a few of them, anyone that goes in there late night is a drunk yuppie spoonfed European car driving piece of shit in a pink polo with armani sunglasses.

Now how many of you went to Cubs games this year? now should I assume that you are one of the drunk f*cks that starts throwing garbage on the field during a disputed call or argument between Lou and the Umps? no

Theres a few of them but not all of us went to St. Louis country day and have no idea about real life so we run around and act a fool.

DaBeef, I agree, this conversation is probably reaching its end - however, let me be clear - I am not making assumptions about anyone or any demographic, and specifically no one posting here - I am reacting solely to the behavior of the individuals in front of the counter at the end of the video. I respect you and your opinions about food - we apparently disagree on where the line on what's too far is. Fair enough; that's a matter of personal choice.

I'm also not so PC that I'm bothered by the friendly but blue banter - but, my personal opinion is that there is a line somewhere beyond that that's being crossed. Probably it's partially because I've spent some time behind a counter, myself - it's hard enough to deal with hungry sober public on a day-to-day basis: I really doubt that the extra tips make up for the extra stress of that job, even if you are allowed to throw it back, and even if you started it.

that's true; the language/tone can get beyond nasty... haven't seen anything like that in vegas either

Justify it however you wish - treating another person like this not only dehumanizes the person in which the comments are directed but also the person leveling the abuse.

Cheese fries be damned - we are much better than this.

Muttster wrote:Justify it however you wish - treating another person like this not only dehumanizes the person in which the comments are directed but also the person leveling the abuse.

Cheese fries be damned - we are much better than this.

Bravo, Muttster--- You nailed it on the head.

Too many times in this forum people become apologists for all types of rotten behavior, whether it be perpetrated by restaurant owners or, in this case, drunken frat-boys.

The experience of eating out is more than just how good the establishment's food is --- It also entails how you are treated and YES, how clean the place is, and whether or not it is a safe environment.

I'll say two things:

1. For me, the line is crossed roughly around the time the drunks start chanting "chocolate shake" every night.

2. Go before 9pm or so. The food is really very good and the employees are wonderfully nice. Everything after that is a freak show, performance art put on by a varying cast with some bad actors who didn't read the script.

I just wanted to pop in and thank everyone participating in this thread for the fact that we really haven't had to moderate anything. My wife would probably say I'm jinxing the thread, and maybe I am, but I appreciate what has been a pretty mature discussion about some difficult topics.

teatpuller wrote:that video is disturbing to say the least. i would not patronize, at any time of day, a place that allows that kind of thing to go on. i wonder if the owners could be open to a lawsuit by the employees.

Lawsuit, are you kidding, what kind of Bambi butterfly world do you live in?

I have been to WC or as I like to call it, Le Cirque du Wein for the past 15 years. Many times while eating my cheddar dog, those poor, down trodden workers would start yelling insults at the customers- unprovoked. They were trying to get the crowd worked up and in turn make HUGE tips. If the customers are lame, the insults get worse until someone finally takes the bait. I am surprised one of those horrible yuppies or a LP trixie haven't sued the owners.
Beware, those girls have the best one liners and usually humiliate anyone who tries to take them on.
The place is the Ed Debevic's of toilet humor and is a Chicago institution, deal with it.

I have to agree with Da Beef to a certain degree.

I don't really care much for the late night show at Weiner's Circle. It is certainly more crude and rude than it is witty. I don't find it funny at all. I've been there once during the "show" and likely would avoid it at all costs late at night.

I liken it to being a bit like listening to Howard Stern...whether you approve or not, whether you find it funny or not, there is clearly an audience for this nasty little theater exhibit that takes place there late at night. In drunken recent college grads, both Stern and Weiner's Circle have found their audience.

If the WC employees were truly offended, they could take advantage of many other food service jobs nearby, including, but not limited to the McDonalds across the street where the use of such language would probably land one in jail. The truth is that the employees do well there financially and they likely stay because the money is better than they will earn elsewhere.

If customers are offended, there are other hot dog options within a few block odf the WC. Or, they could do like I do, and eat there much earlier in the day.

For the record, I like the hot dogs there.