Dog n Suds is a midwestern United States-based chain of hot dog and root beer drive-in style eateries.[3][4] The chain was started in 1953 and by the 1970s the franchise included over 650 restaurants across 38 states. In 2021, the brand continues to operate at approximately 15 locations[5] and serves hamburgers, french fries and soft drinks.
 | |
 A Dog n Suds location at night. | |
| Company type | Drive-In |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast food |
| Founded | 1952 in Champaign, Illinois |
| Founders | James Griggs, Don Hamacher |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 15[1][2] |
Area served | Midwestern United States |
| Products | Hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, root beer |
| Owner | Frostie Enterprises (1974) Don and Carol VanDame (TK&C's LLC)(1991) |
| Website | dognsuds |
History edit
The first Dog n Suds was opened in 1953 in Champaign, Illinois, by Champaign High School music teachers James Griggs and Don Hamacher.[3] The second restaurant was opened after the owners were paid to build another by a wealthy patron and from there the owners decided to create a franchise. A training center was established in Champaign, named "Rover College" after the dog on the restaurant signage.[6] At its peak in 1968, the chain had about 650 restaurants.[4]
In the early 1970s Griggs sold his interest in the business and a few years later in 1974 the company was sold to Frostie Enterprises who owned the Frostie and Stewart's brands of root beer.[7]
In 1991, the VanDames purchased the Dog n Suds trademark and identity rights.[6] In 2001, they created a new company, TK&C's LLC, to administer licensing rights for the brand.[8][9]
In popular culture edit
On March 3, 1966, the newly opened Dog N Suds at the Candlestick Park Shopping Center in Jackson, Mississippi was completely destroyed by an F5 tornado (the last to hit Mississippi until 2011) along with the main center strip and a nearby appliance store during the 1966 Candlestick Park tornado outbreak. The story was prominently spotlighted in a 2003 "Storm Stories" episode by the Weather Channel.
The West Lafayette location was featured on an episode of the Big Ten Network's Campus Eats in 2018.[10]
References edit
- ^ Robinson, K. (2014). Classic Eateries of the Arkansas Delta. American Palate. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. pp. 130–131. ISBN 978-1-62585-303-5. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ^ "Dog n Suds locations". Dog n Suds official website. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ a b Alexander, Dave (June 18, 2008). "Old dog, new tricks". MLive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ^ a b Jakle, J.A.; Sculle, K.A. (2002). Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age. The road and American culture. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 167–168. ISBN 978-0-8018-6920-4. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ^ DeVore, Sheryl (June 19, 2017). "Ingleside Dog N Suds celebrates 50 years in same family". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ^ a b "Dog n Suds History". Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1475931840 [bare URL]
- ^ "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)". Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- ^ Hawk, Jason (2008-04-02). "Dog 'n Suds owner doesn't sell after all, keeps tradition going". The Chronicle-Telegram. Archived from the original on 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2008-06-30. Currently, the oldest Dog N Suds is operated in Robinson, Illinois. It was built in 1954.
- ^ Campus Eats: Dog N Suds | Purdue
Further reading edit
- Carolyn Walkup "Dog n Suds operators gear for revival push - Company Profile". Nation's Restaurant News. July 17, 1995. FindArticles.com. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
- Carolyn Walkup "Classic Dog n Suds Drive-In chain strives for a comeback - Company Profile". Nation's Restaurant News. Oct 19, 1998. FindArticles.com. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
