Supper @ Superdawg !!
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Hot Dogging It Intro >
Now any hot dog connoisseur knows that
the "hot dog" was created at Nathan's of Coney Island. Now despite eating only
an hour and a half before, the boys decided that the trip, nay their very lives
would be incomplete if they didn't sample from the wellspring of hot dog
holiness.
In May of 1948, Superdawg® was established at the corner of Milwaukee, Devon and Nagle in Chicago. Superdawg®
continues to be family owned and operated in the same location today.
Maurie Berman, a recently returned G.I. from World War II, married his high
school sweetheart Florence (Flaurie), in August of 1947. Maurie was attending
Northwestern University, studying to be a CPA, while recent Northwestern grad Flaurie was teaching in the Chicago Public Schools. With their "school-year"
schedules, the newlyweds wanted to open a business that they could operate
during the summer months. Many other returning G.I.'s were opening roadside hot
dog carts and Maurie and Flaurie decided to open their own roadside hot dog
stand, one that would be as unique and distinctive as they were. Maurie designed
an architecturally distinct, 20' x 12' building topped with two 12 foot hot dog
icons to beckon hungry passers-by with their winking and blinking eyes. Maurie
and Flaurie then created a proprietary, secret recipe to set themselves apart
from the other hot dog stands popping up around the city. With a distinctive
look and delicious recipe, they were almost ready to open. All they needed was a
name, inspired by the superheroes featured in the newly-created, popular comics
of the '40's, Maurie and Flaurie named their signature product and restaurant.
It was not a wiener – not a frankfurter – not a red hot – but their own
exclusive SUPERDAWG.
Maurie and Florie, Standing Guard!
Maurie, Flaurie, Mike, and Bone !!
In 1948, Milwaukee and Devon was the end of the streetcar
line. With the forest preserve and Whealan Pool across the street, the area was
a great destination for swimming families and cruisin' teens. Kids could ride
the streetcar for a nickel, and stop at Superdawg® where a Superdawg™ sandwich
and drink cost only 32 cents. Many times, on their way home, they would stop and
ask what they could buy for a dime. If they were a few cents short, Maurie and
Flaurie would give them what they wanted and told them to bring the money back
the next time they stopped, which they never failed to do. In 1950 Maurie passed
the CPA exam, but he and Flaurie decided to keep operating Superdawg® and to
open year-round in order to retain the outstanding personnel that had become so
invaluable to fulfilling the Superdawg® ideals. When Superdawg® first opened,
the electronic speaker system had not been invented. Carhops went out to the
cars to take orders and customers signalled that they were ready for their trays
to be picked up by turning on their headlights. In the early 1950's the "carhop
in a wire" electronic speaker system was installed, and Maurie designed the
glowing blue "control tower" where the carhop sits to answer the switchboard and
take orders. As Superdawg® grew into a successful business, . Customers can
still order from their car and have a carhop deliver their order on a tray.
Maurie and Flaurie’s attention to quality products and service, preparing each
customer's meal to order, affirming the belief that the customer is always
right, and insisting that the customer should always be treated as family
continues today.
Since 1948, Maurie, Flaurie, their children, and now grandchildren grandchildren
have scrupulously adhered to one goal: "always to serve you in a manner that
will make you want to return – and bring your friends, and new generations, with
you."
As they say “From the bottom of our pure beef hearts... Thanks for Stopping !”
Mike and Bone totally jamming on a
coupla of Superdawgs !
