page_title: The Wieners Circle
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: The Wieners Circle / History
caption_attribution_description: English: The interior of the Wieners Circle Restaurant
context_page_description: The Wieners Circle is a hot dog stand on Clark Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is known for its Maxwell Street Polish, Char-dogs, hamburgers, cheese fries, and the mutual verbal abuse between the employees and the customers during the late-weekend hours.
context_section_description: The Wieners Circle opened for business in 1983. 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. The atmosphere can range from playful to hostile. The language used by both the staff and customers during these hours is notoriously foul and aggressive. On the weekends, the establishment stays open as late as 5:00 am, drawing many drunken customers who have arrived from bars and clubs.
  The nightly tips are very high, and people have worked there for ten years or more. The location of the hot dog stand is just north of what used to be the Wrightwood Hotel. In 2008, the restaurant was briefly closed by health inspectors for not having hot running water where employees would wash their hands, and other food safety violations.
  The establishment has a history of political satire in its signage and advertising. In March 2016, the restaurant offered 3-inch "Trump footlong" hot dogs. In June 2017, they advertised "Paris Accord compliant covfefe". In March 2020, signage mocked the pardoning of Rod Blagojevich.
caption: The interior of the establishment, covered in graffiti (photographed in 2011).
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