Dog n Suds
 | |
 A Dog n Suds location at night. | |
| Company type | Drive-In |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast food |
| Founded | 1952 in Champaign, Illinois |
| Founders | James Griggs, Don Hamacher |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 11[1] |
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 |
Dog n Suds is a midwestern United States-based chain of hot dog and root beer drive-in style eateries.[2][3] The chain started in 1953; by the 1970s the franchise included over 650 restaurants across 38 states. In 2021, the brand continues to operate at approximately 20 locations;[4] the company serves hamburgers, french fries and soft drinks.
History
The first Dog n Suds was opened in 1953 in Champaign, Illinois by Champaign High School music teachers James Griggs and Don Hamacher.[2] According to Hamacher, he and Griggs asked an architect to draw up plans for a building, and the architect lettered into the sign: Dog n' Suds. When Hamacher asked him about it, the architect replied: "that's what you're selling", and that is the name they went with.[5] 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.[3]
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]
In popular culture
On March 3, 1966, the newly opened Fred's Dog n Suds at the Candlestick Park Shopping Center in Jackson, Mississippi was completely destroyed by an F5 tornado during the 1966 Candlestick Park tornado outbreak.[10][11] The story was spotlighted in a 2003 Storm Stories episode by the Weather Channel.[12]
The West Lafayette location was featured on an episode of the Big Ten Network's Campus Eats in 2018.[13]
References
- ^ "Dog n Suds locations". Dog n Suds. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ a b Alexander, Dave (June 18, 2008). "Old dog, new tricks". MLive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Hill, Howard (August 29, 1962). "Musician Flips Tune, Swings With Dog n' Suds". The Richmond News. Richmond, Missouri. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Dog n Suds History". Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- ^ Hamacher, Don; Ritrievi, Gail (2012). A Journey Through Life with Don Hamacher, Cofounder of Dog N Suds. iUniverse. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-4759-3184-6. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)". Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- ^ Hawk, Jason (April 2, 2008). "Dog 'n Suds owner doesn't sell after all, keeps tradition going". The Chronicle-Telegram. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008. Currently, the oldest Dog N Suds is operated in Robinson, Illinois. It was built in 1954.
- ^ Gordon, Robert (March 7, 1966). "It was a pretty day, 70, calm". The Daily Sentinel-Star. United Press International. pp. 1, 2. story continued on page 2
- ^ Bonney, James (March 5, 1966). "Still More Found Dead In Rubble Left In Tornado's Destructive Path". The Clarion-Ledger. Associated Press. p. 1.
- ^ "TWC Storm Stories- Jackson, MS Tornado March 1966". The Weather Channel. 2003.
- ^ Jenny and Troy (October 17, 2018). "Campus Eats: Dog N Suds | Purdue". Big Ten Network.
Further reading
- Walker, Carolyn (July 17, 1995). "Dog n Suds operators gear for revival push". Nation's Restaurant News. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006.
- Walker, Carolyn (October 19, 1998). "Classic Dog n Suds Drive-In chain strives for a comeback". Nation's Restaurant News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2006.