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NAVY PIER — America'due south Canis familiaris & Burger, a family-owned Chicago chain, has been inducted into the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame.
Vienna Beefiness historic America'southward Dog & Burger with a Tuesday ceremony at the concatenation's Navy Pier location. America's Dog & Burger started in 1996 and has grown to iii locations, with boosted spots at O'Hare Aerodrome and in suburban Evergreen Park. It's the 140th business concern to enter the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame.
"… For me, just some guy who operates a couple of hot dog stands, it really ways a lot," said Manolis Alpogianis, who founded America's Dog with his brother, George. "Information technology is a recognition of all of the hard work, how long nosotros've been around, how it's become part of Chicago and office of the fabric of Chicago'due south eatery and culinary scene."
Credit: Maia McDonald/Block Club Chicago Hall of Fame inductees must exist actively involved in their community and show commitment to customer satisfaction and producing quality food, according to its website.
Bob Schwartz, senior vice president of Vienna Beef, said America'due south Dog was chosen over numerous nominees in part because of its local ownership.
"Contained hot canis familiaris stands are very special to Chicago; and what we don't appreciate, sometimes, is that other cities don't have restaurants like this," Schwartz said. "They accept all the chains, and that's what they're used to, just a hot domestic dog stand when y'all walk into one of those neighborhood places … you feel a certain corporeality of soulful ownership in a place like that."
Schwartz said he has known Alpogianis and his family unit since they started the business in the '90s.
When America's Canis familiaris & Burger opened at Navy Pier, other hot dog stands had already turned down the opportunity to sell their products at the Chicago tourist attraction. The Alpogianis brothers pushed to open a hot dog stand and deli with the tagline "Taste the all-time from E to Westward," that would characteristic recipes from across the state, co-ordinate to a Vienna Beef news release.
Credit: Maia McDonald/Block Club Chicago America'south Dog & Burger sells nine "city dogs," hot dogs based on a particular city, including the Chicago-style hot dog. Alpogianis said he believes the extensive card, with items and ingredients not typically seen at most hot canis familiaris stands, sets America'due south Dog & Burger apart.
America'due south Canis familiaris & Burger as well donates lunch to public school students and sponsors programs that encourage Chicagoans to get outside.
And the family has a long history in Chicago's food scene: George Alpogianis, America's Domestic dog & Burger'southward co-founder, is a chef and T.A.G. restaurant group partner; their father, Gus, opened Palace Grill in the Westward Loop; and their cousin now runs Palace Grill. Manolis and George's grandpas likewise owned restaurants in Greektown and Wrigleyville.
Manolis Alpogianis said joining the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame is more special after trudging through two tough years with the pandemic, which was only possible because Chicagoans offered their support to his concern.
"I think that information technology's really of import that we even so send a message that Chicago is a great independent restaurant boondocks," Alpogianis said. "In that location'south nothing wrong with chains. But in that location'southward something really special about a guy who owns a eating house, rolls up his sleeves, and works difficult to provide for his family. That's what we practise."
Credit: Maia McDonald/Cake Social club Chicago Listen to "It'south All Good: A Cake Club Chicago Podcast":
Source: https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/04/27/americas-dog-burger-joins-vienna-beef-hall-of-fame-after-26-years-selling-hot-dogs-across-the-country/