Dog n Suds

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.

Dog n Suds
TypeDrive-In
IndustryFast food
Founded1952 (1952) in Champaign, Illinois
FoundersJames Griggs, Don Hamacher
Headquarters
Lafayette, Indiana
,
USA
Number of locations
15[1][2]
Area served
Midwestern United States
ProductsHamburgers, hot dogs, fries, root beer
OwnerFrostie Enterprises (1974)
Don and Carol VanDame (TK&C's LLC)(1991)
Websitedognsuds.com

History

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]

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.

References
  1. 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.
  2. "Dog n Suds locations". Dog n Suds official website. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  3. Alexander, Dave (June 18, 2008). "Old dog, new tricks". MLive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  4. 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.
  5. DeVore, Sheryl (June 19, 2017). "Ingleside Dog N Suds celebrates 50 years in same family". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  6. "Dog n Suds History". Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  7. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1475931840
  8. "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)". Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  9. Hawk, Jason (2008-04-02). "Dog 'n Suds owner doesn't sell after all, keeps tradition going". The Chronicle-Telegram. Retrieved 2008-06-30. Currently, the oldest Dog N Suds is operated in Robinson, Illinois. It was built in 1954.

Further reading
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