Superdawg Drive-In Founder Maurie Berman Dies on Sunday at 89

Founder of iconic hot dog drive-in mourned by Hot Doug's, Mancow and more.

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel May 18, 2015, 10:34am CDT

Via Maurie Berman, founder of Chicago's iconic Superdawg, dies at 89 [Tribune]

Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

Some sad news came to pass this weekend, as the founder of Superdawg Drive-In, the beloved hot dog spot on Chicago's Northwest Side, died on Sunday. Maurie Berman was 89 and died of heart problems, according to the Tribune.

The iconic 12-foot, papier-mâché sausages on the restaurant's roof — male and female encased meats — were named "Maurie" and "Flaurie," after Berman and his surviving wife. Built in 1948 at the intersection of Devon, Nagle and Milwaukee avenues in Norwood Park, 67-year-old Superdawg features car hop service, serving up a special beef hot dog in a cardboard box filled with crinkle-cut fries. It's a thicker-cut sausage with a pickled tomato, not a traditional Chicago-style dog with all the fixings. Regardless, it's a taste that's won over Chicagoans for generations. The family-owned business opened a second location in suburban Wheeling in 2010, and from 2003 to 2010 ran a kiosk at Midway Airport.

Berman served in the army during World War II in the year before opening the restaurant. He ensured Superdawg had an old-school feel, keeping the original fry-cutting machine and other details to maintain a trip through time. They'll be closed on Tuesday for the funeral. Berman's son told the Tribune that his father had no other hobbies; Superdawg was his life.

Here's some reaction to Berman's death on social media:

A legend, an institution, and one heck of a guy who built one heck of a business. A sad Chicago is in your debt. https://t.co/dRbNSByS6J
— Hot Doug's (@hotdougs) May 17, 2015

I had several hotdogs with this man over the years. The creator of Superdawg just died at 89. pic.twitter.com/eFbIU0bWNU
— MancowMuller (@MancowMuller) May 18, 2015

All of us @ElisCheesecake mourn the loss of Maurie Berman, founder @superdawg. At @NRAShow, always looked forward to the Berman's visit
— Marc Schulman (@MarcSchulmanChi) May 18, 2015

1) God bless Superdawg, Maurie & Flaurie. No hyperbole to say the Bermans were among Chicago's most successful restaurateurs.
— Kevin Pang (@pang) May 17, 2015

The man. #RIP https://t.co/oaLbe1p3lW
— Michael Nagrant (@MichaelNagrant) May 17, 2015

In memoriam Superdawg himself, Maurie Berman. A story about him here: http://t.co/deYUGfoInn
— Michael Gebert (@skyfullofbacon) May 17, 2015

Thank you Sir, for everything. https://t.co/nvy1WSndwi
— Cemitas Puebla (@cemitaspuebla) May 17, 2015

On the shoulder of giants we stand. RIP Maurie Berman. @dnainfo_breen @Superdawg @hotdougs He belongs now to the ages.
— Haute Sausage (@hautesausage) May 17, 2015

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