RAB wrote:Mageirocophobia?

You made me Google.

They do have a hearing on the 22nd and we can always hope but the removal of the equipment does not bode well.

I have been in many a city that was devoid of Ma and Pa places and it really make me proud to live in Chicago with the wealth we have here. Good and bad.

I have been eating there for a long time, since when they would actually put unmelted Merkts cheese on the burgers. A nice layer about a 1/4 of an inch thick.

Man, that was good!

Just curious - what, if any, requirements are there that people handling food wear gloves?

It would shock me if they closed down. I pretty sure the owner owns the land and unless he just doesnt want to do it any more there would be no reason for to shut down. I would bet they do a better business than the McDonald's across the street and they have a worldwide brand so it would be hard to see it shutting down even if they have lost alot of money since they had to close their doors. If anything you would just sell it to someone else.

My guess, and its just that, a guess is that they are redoing the inside equipment because now was as good of time as ever since they are forced to close.

We clearly don't have thee whole picture here. This isn't the first time WC has been inspected. For some reason they have been allowed to operate until now with no hot water. I can only surmise that they had some sort of grandfather exemption that ran out and they just waited till they had no choice. On the other hand, I always liked their food (I like that it is what it is and there are no apologies about it) and hope they reopen.

<i>Just curious - what, if any, requirements are there that people handling food wear gloves?</i>

no requirements. wearing gloves is something that's primarily done to make customers feel "safer". it's not a substitute for clean hands or safe food handling practices and, in fact, wearing rubber gloves often gives untrained foodservice workers a false sense of security wrt sanitation, and causes more problems than might otherwise exist.


[/pet peeve]

elakin wrote:<i>Just curious - what, if any, requirements are there that people handling food wear gloves?</i>

no requirements. wearing gloves is something that's primarily done to make customers feel "safer". it's not a substitute for clean hands or safe food handling practices and, in fact, wearing rubber gloves often gives untrained foodservice workers a false sense of security wrt sanitation, and causes more problems than might otherwise exist.


[/pet peeve]

I can't even count the number of times I've seen someone wearing a glove handling money -- doesn't exactly instill confidence.

=R=

I can end the speculation here with some authority as I have a familial connection, albeit through marriage, not blood, to the Wiener's Circle. I made a call or two and got the honest to goodness lowdown on the situation.

They are in fact closed for remodeling. They have taken the "opportunity" of being closed for the hot water violation and decided to redo the whole place, hence the gutted kitchen. There is no set reopening date. The place has not been remodeled since sometime in the '70s, so new challenges present themselves everyday in the process.

While the outside of the building will remain largely unchanged, I understand the inside will be completely redone, floor to ceiling, front to back, from the kitchen to the dining area. One of the biggest improvements will be a C. Montgomery Burns style trap door, just in front of the counter, that will be perfectly fitted to accept abusive drunken yuppies.

No, I made that last part up. But a boy can dream, can't he?

Buddy

Thanks for the insider insight, Buddy. I need one of them trapdoors just outside my own office as well.

Thanks Buddy. That is great news!

I hear that they are going to install hot water too!

RAB wrote:

mss60614 wrote:Health regs are in place for a reason, and as someone who eats out over 850 meals a year, I fully support the efforts to enforce the code.

Totally off-topic, but damn! Mageirocophobia?

No, just a single guy who travels about 175 days a year, and when here in Chicago, eats 95% of all breakfasts and lunches out, along with maybe half of my dinners.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:IOne of the biggest improvements will be a C. Montgomery Burns style trap door, just in front of the counter, that will be perfectly fitted to accept abusive drunken yuppies.

Ah, that would be his corpse hatch...er..innocence tube.

As a follow up to Buddy's post, there is a typed sign on the door stating something along the lines of that there were no issues with the food, no rodents or bugs, etc., but there was a hot water problem which needs to be corrected to comply with all restaurant rules. The owners are taking this opportunity to remodel, as after 26 (or 27) years of basically being open every day and night, the restaurant has taken plenty of wear and tear.

Guessing being winter, very cold, and in a down economy, it is a perfect time to take a pit stop to spruce up the place.

Ah, the Wiener's Circle. So many memories of freezing my butt off as I ate one of the best hot dogs and fries in the city. The yelling has gotten worse over the years, as has the staff swearing at you. But it's still great. Nice to hear they are remodeling. I wonder how much nicer it will be in there? Think it will get any bigger? I doubt it with the small parking lot in back. Looking forward to them opening again.

Appears that all is back to normal at the Circle. Walked by late today and saw a few people eating and could see the ketchup dispensers atop the trash cans. Looks like the hot water is back.

Guess who's back?

Happened to be driving by yesterday and noticed an employee taking down the Grand Opening sign. Had to stop by to grab a few pics of the new remodel.




Nicely cleaned up. A bit of more metal on the walls should make cleaning a breeze. Other than that not much has changed and it (and the employees) still retain their former charm.

101 Places NOT to See Before You Die.

Maaan! Just beat me to it!

I was going to entitle the link "Wiener's Circle...might be better than a sharp stick in the eye"

Minor quibble - it's really East Lakeview/LP that you should never visit in your lifetime.

Edited for iphone.

Classy.

More disdain for the Circle:

http://www.salon.com/food/francis_lam/2010/09/28/chicago_hot_dog_wieners_circle

whiskeybent wrote:More disdain for the Circle:

http://www.salon.com/food/francis_lam/2010/09/28/chicago_hot_dog_wieners_circle

Pretty much right on - the 4chan of Chicago dining.

whiskeybent wrote:More disdain for the Circle:

http://www.salon.com/food/francis_lam/2010/09/28/chicago_hot_dog_wieners_circle

Who cares what those outside agitators* think? As we all know, Wiener's Circle turns out one of the better dogs (and burgers) for miles around.


* Thank you Richard J. Daley

The Weiners Circle makes me sad, and I'm glad I have never been there.

Does anyone know how it got to this point?

Weiner Circle doesn't make me sad one iota. I'm sure it started with mouthy drunk college kids that live in the area. I love the char dogs.

stevez wrote:Who cares what those outside agitators* think?

Some Asian dude named Francis at that.
I somehow doubt his bona fides as some
expert on the "Midwestern"/Chicago milieu.
Pffft.

Another dissenting voice. I lived just down Wrightwood for a few years, and tried the place several times. Not sure why, but it seems that nearly every time I was in there, I ended up sick. That doesn't mean there were health code problems, but they definitely were doing something with the food that was unusual. Could it be the oil they used? Or were the fries too greasy? I don't know. However, even without the stomach discomfort though, I found the stuff just average at best. I will put up with some discomfort for good food, but not average food.

And with regard to the attitude, but I never got any when I was there. Not exactly polite, but never rude.

merkay wrote:The Weiners Circle makes me sad, and I'm glad I have never been there.

Yes, judging things/people/places
that you have never experienced
is, indeed, sad.

Some Asian dude named Francis at that.
I somehow doubt his bona fides as some
expert on the "Midwestern"/Chicago milieu.
Pffft.

He did go to the University of Michigan. Pretty close.