The Wieners Circle: Difference between revisions
Ludasaphire (talk | contribs) →Abusive language: Added ref for use of "foul and aggressive, and sometimes racist" language |
Ludasaphire (talk | contribs) →Abusive language: Used ref to indicate that at least sometimes the "choclate milkshake" is done with naked breasts |
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==Abusive language== |
==Abusive language== |
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Sometime in the early 1990s (circa 1992) Larry Gold, one of the proprietors, called a drunk and distracted customer an "asshole" in order to get his attention. This set-off the late-night abuse culture of the restaurant.<ref name=TAL/> The atmosphere can range from playful to hostile.<ref name=TAL/> The language used by both the staff and customers during these hours is notoriously foul and aggressive, and sometimes racist.<ref>McMurry, Joel F.S. (2009-11-21), ''[http://www.stockyardmagazine.com/choppingblock/the-wieners-circus/ Stockyard Magazine]'', ''The Wieners Circus''</ref> As the wait-staff is largely black and the clientele middle-class to wealthy white, the more racist epithets have led to the rare physical altercation. Customers commonly request a "chocolate milkshake," which is code for asking one of the female employees to shake her breasts.<ref name=TAL/><ref>Ecko, Marc (2010-08-25), ''[http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/08/25/my-spot-the-wieners-circle-in-chicago-il/ Complex Magazine]'', ''My Spot: The Wieners Circle in Chicago, IL''</ref> |
Sometime in the early 1990s (circa 1992) Larry Gold, one of the proprietors, called a drunk and distracted customer an "asshole" in order to get his attention. This set-off the late-night abuse culture of the restaurant.<ref name=TAL/> The atmosphere can range from playful to hostile.<ref name=TAL/> The language used by both the staff and customers during these hours is notoriously foul and aggressive, and sometimes racist.<ref name=Circus>McMurry, Joel F.S. (2009-11-21), ''[http://www.stockyardmagazine.com/choppingblock/the-wieners-circus/ Stockyard Magazine]'', ''The Wieners Circus''</ref> As the wait-staff is largely black and the clientele middle-class to wealthy white, the more racist epithets have led to the rare physical altercation. Customers commonly request a "chocolate milkshake," which is code for asking one of the female employees to shake her breasts.<ref name=TAL/><ref>Ecko, Marc (2010-08-25), ''[http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/08/25/my-spot-the-wieners-circle-in-chicago-il/ Complex Magazine]'', ''My Spot: The Wieners Circle in Chicago, IL''</ref> At least one reporter writing about the "chocolate milkshake" indicated that the female employees lifted their shirts to shake their naked breasts, in exchange for a big tip.<ref name=Circus/> |
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The nightly tips are very high, and people have worked there for ten years or more.<ref name=TAL/> One of the more famous employees is Roberta "Poochie" Jackson, who was featured (along with the restaurant) in a 2007 episode of the [[Showtime]] television version of the [[Chicago Public Radio]] program ''[[This American Life]]'',<ref name=TAL/><ref>"[http://old.thislife.org/TV_Episode.aspx?episode=6 Season One, Episode 6, Act Two, In Wiener Veritas]", 26 April 2007.</ref> as well as an episode of Extreme Fast Food on the Travel Channel. In Chicago travel guides, the Wieners Circle is often extolled as a source for authentic Chicago-style hot dogs and its uniquely abrasive customer relations.<ref>Blackwell, Elizabeth Canning (2004) ''Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Chicago'' p. 55</ref> |
The nightly tips are very high, and people have worked there for ten years or more.<ref name=TAL/> One of the more famous employees is Roberta "Poochie" Jackson, who was featured (along with the restaurant) in a 2007 episode of the [[Showtime]] television version of the [[Chicago Public Radio]] program ''[[This American Life]]'',<ref name=TAL/><ref>"[http://old.thislife.org/TV_Episode.aspx?episode=6 Season One, Episode 6, Act Two, In Wiener Veritas]", 26 April 2007.</ref> as well as an episode of Extreme Fast Food on the Travel Channel. In Chicago travel guides, the Wieners Circle is often extolled as a source for authentic Chicago-style hot dogs and its uniquely abrasive customer relations.<ref>Blackwell, Elizabeth Canning (2004) ''Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Chicago'' p. 55</ref> |
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Revision as of 14:32, 5 September 2010
41°55′48″N 87°38′37″W / 41.93°N 87.643611°W
The Wieners Circle is a hot dog stand in Chicago, Illinois. It is famous for four things: its signature Chicago-style hot dogs, hamburgers and cheese fries, and the mutual verbal abuse between the employees and the customers during the late-weekend hours. [1] On the weekends, the establishment stays open as late as 5:00 AM, drawing many drunken customers who have arrived from bars and clubs.[2]
Food
The establishment is known for its char-grilled food, especially its hot dogs and hamburgers (commonly called chardogs and charburgers).
A Wiener Circle char dog with "the works" is a grilled Vienna Beef hot dog on a warm poppy seed bun, topped with mustard, onions, relish, dill pickle spears, tomato slices, and sport peppers - plus a final dash of celery salt (see photo at left).
Abusive language
Sometime in the early 1990s (circa 1992) Larry Gold, one of the proprietors, called a drunk and distracted customer an "asshole" in order to get his attention. This set-off the late-night abuse culture of the restaurant.[2] The atmosphere can range from playful to hostile.[2] The language used by both the staff and customers during these hours is notoriously foul and aggressive, and sometimes racist.[3] As the wait-staff is largely black and the clientele middle-class to wealthy white, the more racist epithets have led to the rare physical altercation. Customers commonly request a "chocolate milkshake," which is code for asking one of the female employees to shake her breasts.[2][4] At least one reporter writing about the "chocolate milkshake" indicated that the female employees lifted their shirts to shake their naked breasts, in exchange for a big tip.[3]
The nightly tips are very high, and people have worked there for ten years or more.[2] One of the more famous employees is Roberta "Poochie" Jackson, who was featured (along with the restaurant) in a 2007 episode of the Showtime television version of the Chicago Public Radio program This American Life,[2][5] as well as an episode of Extreme Fast Food on the Travel Channel. In Chicago travel guides, the Wieners Circle is often extolled as a source for authentic Chicago-style hot dogs and its uniquely abrasive customer relations.[6]
History
Prior to becoming a hot dog stand, the location was a building just north of what used to be the Wrightwood Hotel.[7]
Footnotes
- ^ Shimo, Alexandra (2008-02-25), Burgers N' Bigots, Maclean's. 121 (7):55
- ^ a b c d e f This American Life, "Act II, In Wiener Veritas, from Pandora's Box, No. 6, season 1", 26 April 2007.
- ^ a b McMurry, Joel F.S. (2009-11-21), Stockyard Magazine, The Wieners Circus
- ^ Ecko, Marc (2010-08-25), Complex Magazine, My Spot: The Wieners Circle in Chicago, IL
- ^ "Season One, Episode 6, Act Two, In Wiener Veritas", 26 April 2007.
- ^ Blackwell, Elizabeth Canning (2004) Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Chicago p. 55
- ^ Apel, Melanie Ann (2002) Lincoln Park, Chicago p. 26