Absolutely insane.

I guess I don't see the logic in "Oh, I've never been to Hot Doug's because of the line, so I'm going now that they're closing."

It used to be so easy to go there on a weekday for lunch and only wait 10 minutes or not at all.

I love Doug Sohn. I know him a little and I know him to be a great guy. Plus I love who he is as a businessman.

But waiting in line five hours for a hot dog? Well, I guess it beats waiting in line two days for an iPhone, but that's about all I can say for it.

I can't know for sure, but I feel that if anybody asked Doug, he'd honestly reply, "I wouldn't do it."

Royal Lichter wrote:I guess I don't see the logic in "Oh, I've never been to Hot Doug's because of the line, so I'm going now that they're closing."

It wasn't particularly the line that kept me from going before, it was the 4PM closing time -- I just don't have that many free weekends, and we both have limited vacation time, so going 'downtown' (the Suburban version of that word) for lunch during the week is usually out of the question. But it was a gorgeous Friday afternoon (SueF actually came back a little sunburned), the line was very friendly, and the Good Humor truck did a bang-up business with the line. ($9 for a sausage is a little steep, but $3 for an ice cream sandwich is highway robbery).

Drove by this morning at 8:15 a.m. and there were 2 people already in line. Drove past later at 10:15 a.m. and the line was 2 blocks long. Crazy.

lizziebix wrote:Drove by this morning at 8:15 a.m. and there were 2 people already in line. Drove past later at 10:15 a.m. and the line was 2 blocks long. Crazy.

In July, I got there on a Friday at 9:30 and was at the edge of the building. Before 10, the line had crossed the alley.

The closing of iconic Chicago hot dog restaurant Hot Doug's will be captured on film by a city-based documentary team.
Markos Films' shooting for "Hot Doug's: The Movie" started a few weeks ago and will continue until the restaurant's last day of business on Oct. 3.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140922 ... ant-closes

Got there today at 9am. About 30-40 people ahead of me. Ordered a bit after 12pm. I think they capped the line for the day at about 12:30pm. A five hour and 12 minute round trip from Berwyn. Worth it to enjoy one last visit. No filming was being done while I was there. As usual, Doug was awesome.

hoppy2468 wrote:Got there today at 9am. About 30-40 people ahead of me. Ordered a bit after 12pm. I think they capped the line for the day at about 12:30pm. A five hour and 12 minute round trip from Berwyn. Worth it to enjoy one last visit. No filming was being done while I was there. As usual, Doug was awesome.

In line at 9:30 today and just past the alley. Placed the order at 1pm, so 2:30 hour wait from the alley after doors open and total of 3:30. Heard the first folks in line were 8am so that would make it ~2:30 hours for them since it takes about 10 minutes to get served once your order is placed. As usual, plenty of seating after you've ordered since the order taking is the slow part and the devouring is super fast.

If I didn't have a free day, I wouldn't have waited so long for hot dogs, but I had fun hanging out with friends, drinking coffee, and watching the group in front of me get liquored up. The dogs were great (though a couple misses), but overall tasty and glad I won't ever have to get back in that crazy line.

The line this morning was closed at 10:30am aka the opening time. I wonder long it is getting?

FYI: Our line is as long as it can get today. All those standing in line now will get in, new additions will not (at least not today). Thanks again for your understanding my friends, and thanks to all those waiting outside. Have a great day!

Did anyone happen to go by on the way to work this morning? I was planning on having one last hurrah on Friday but this is concerning. The past couple months there has been a sweet spot around 9:15-9:30 where you would be served between 11 and 11:30....which, while bad, is nothing compared to the waits once he actually opens. In those experiences, I always asked the first people in line what time they got there and it was usually 8 or 8:15. It must be earlier than that at this point...or it will be going forward.

ziggy wrote:Did anyone happen to go by on the way to work this morning?

I had no intention of stopping, but, coincidentally, I drove by this morning at 8:15am and the line was almost to the alley.

This is about the only situation where I actually would view restaurant tickets as a good option!

Is Saturday the last day? No doubt people will be camping out Friday night.

TCK wrote:Is Saturday the last day? No doubt people will be camping out Friday night.

Saturday, 9/27 is the last Saturday that Hot Doug's is scheduled to be open, with the very last day being Friday, 10/3.

--
edc

Wow, line capped at 8:37 today, 8:31 yesterday.

Love Hot Doug's. Incredibly sick of seeing the blow by blow on the line posts here and elsewhere (Joel--not just yours of course--no offense meant.) Just really ready to bid them a fond, FINAL farewell.

boudreaulicious wrote:Love Hot Doug's. Incredibly sick of seeing the blow by blow on the line posts here and elsewhere (Joel--not just yours of course--no offense meant.) Just really ready to bid them a fond, FINAL farewell.

Agree with this. It's time.

boudreaulicious wrote:Love Hot Doug's. Incredibly sick of seeing the blow by blow on the line posts here and elsewhere (Joel--not just yours of course--no offense meant.) Just really ready to bid them a fond, FINAL farewell.

No offense taken, just my mind was blown and I feel like I got off easy last Friday.

However, I probably could have added that this late in his game he's not just coasting, but has created a new celeb sausage and game-of-the-week when a rational restauranteur would be clearing out the pantry.

And really, this will end shortly, unlike the Next thread's "My occasional meal for the 1% is becoming an occasional meal for the .1%" whining.


To take this in yet another direction, what are the odds we'll see "Hot Doug's Encased Meat Kits" at Costco this time next year, with four sausages, sauce/mustard, cheese and garnishes in a freezer pack for $30 (add the buns yourself)?

JoelF wrote:

To take this in yet another direction, what are the odds we'll see "Hot Doug's Encased Meat Kits" at Costco this time next year, with four sausages, sauce/mustard, cheese and garnishes in a freezer pack for $30 (add the buns yourself)?

JoelF wrote:Wow, line capped at 8:37 today, 8:31 yesterday.

Not quite. Your Twitter (or the default if you found via google) is on Pacific time. Line was cut off shortly after the doors opened both days at 10:30.

People will begin camping out. Soon.

I am enjoying these blow by blow accounts. Hell, there was a marriage there yesterday!
Champagne, balloons, flowers and cake.
Yes it's crazy. Wonderful crazy.

His suppliers are gonna lose out. It would be great if Doug shared who they are after he closes so fans can continue to enjoy his dogs and his suppliers can build benefit from continued purchases. It wouldn't be the same, but it would be a good sub. I suppose if he's ever planning to sell more dogs down the road he won't disclose, but otherwise, don't see any issue with letting the world know.

peaceyall wrote:His suppliers are gonna lose out. It would be great if Doug shared who they are after he closes...

Mrs. Lovett's Encased Meats and Meat Pies.

Sorry; rude; couldn't help myself.

You're welcome musical theater fans.

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:

peaceyall wrote:His suppliers are gonna lose out. It would be great if Doug shared who they are after he closes...

Mrs. Lovett's Encased Meats and Meat Pies.

Funny, as we were standing in line, we kept seeing people go in, but saw very few people come out again.

JoelF wrote:

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:

peaceyall wrote:His suppliers are gonna lose out. It would be great if Doug shared who they are after he closes...

Mrs. Lovett's Encased Meats and Meat Pies.

Funny, as we were standing in line, we kept seeing people go in, but saw very few people come out again.

Were any of the customers heard to be singing "God that's good"?

Are you kidding??? All of them!

Buddy

JoelF wrote:
And really, this will end shortly, unlike the Next thread's "My occasional meal for the 1% is becoming an occasional meal for the .1%" whining.

I lol'd

From Doug's farcebook page, Sat. 9/27/14:

"Our line reached full capacity for the day at 8:25 this morning. Thanks as always for your understanding and excellence, my friends."

Next Friday is going to be awesome!

bean wrote:From Doug's farcebook page, Sat. 9/27/14:

"Our line reached full capacity for the day at 8:25 this morning. Thanks as always for your understanding and excellence, my friends."

Next Friday is going to be awesome!

Chicago Magazine reported that the first people in line got there at 2:30am Saturday, I'm guessing the lines this week will start not too long after the end of the current day's line. I happened to be driving up Elston around 5:45pm last night and decided to make a short detour to see what was going on and the line appeared to still be at the end of the building at that time. That would make at least 10 hours for the last folks in line.

Then I was at Old Town last night for the Sarah Jarosz concert and she mentioned from stage that she was disappointed that they didn't have time to stop for a hot dog while they were here and also mentioned she had never been to Hot Dougs. A couple people shouted out that Hot Dougs was closing and while she expressed disappointment at never being able to go there she said that "there are probably a lot of other good places" which is very true.

A friend of mine was in line at 5:00am this past Saturday, 9/27/14.