Dog n Suds
Dog n Suds is a midwestern United States chain of hot dog and root beer drive-in style eateries, featuring in-car carhop service.[3][4] The chain was part of the widespread popularity of drive-ins during the 1950s and 1960s, and still operates several locations.[5] Dog n Suds serves fast-food staples including hamburgers, french fries, and soft drinks.
Dog n Suds location in Lafayette, Indiana, opened in 1956 | |
Type | Drive-In |
---|---|
Industry | Fast food |
Founded | 1952Champaign, Illinois | in
Founders | James Griggs, Don Hamacher |
Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 16[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
The first Dog n Suds was opened in 1953 in Champaign, Illinois, by University of Illinois music teachers James Griggs and Don Hamacher.[3] The chain grew rapidly throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and 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] Griggs sold his interest in the business in the early 1970s. The company was sold to Frostie Enterprises in 1974, who owned the Frostie and Stewart's brands of root beer.[7] Frostie later abandoned the franchise business and sold the rights to make Dog-n-Suds branded root beer to Don and Carol VanDame, owners of a Dog n Suds in Lafayette, Indiana.[8]
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.[9][10]
Don Hamacher died on January 4, 2013.[11]
Locations
There are sixteen Dog n Suds locations open across the United States.
There is one location in Arkansas, four locations in Illinois, four locations and a food truck in Indiana, two locations in Michigan,[12] two locations in Ohio, and one location in Wisconsin.
References
- 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.
- Alexander, Dave (June 18, 2008). "Old dog, new tricks". MLive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- 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.
- "Dog n Suds History". Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1475931840
- "Walworth County Today - Drive-in to the past: Burgers and carhops". GazetteXtra. June 7, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- "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. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- "Donald Hamacher obituary". Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- Robinson, John. "Only Two Dog 'n Suds Drive-in Restaurants Left in Michigan". 99.1 WFMK. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
Further reading
- 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.