Landlord Of Famed Chicago Hot Dog Stand, The Wiener's Circle, Puts Building On The Market
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The Wiener's Circle is famous for its hot dogs, taunting the Trump administration on its menu and its sign, and the verbal abuse between its employees and post-last call Lincoln Park bar hoppers. But the Wiener's Circle's future on Clark Street is in doubt as the stand's landlord is looking for a buyer for the site, Crain's Chicago Business reports.
SVN Chicago Commercial's Jeff Baasch is marketing the Wiener's Circle site and an adjacent 17-unit apartment building for $7.5M. Existing zoning would allow a buyer to build a mixed-use building with six apartments and ground-level commercial space. In a Lincoln Park real estate market dominated by condo deconversions like the nearby Clark Place at 2625 North Clark St. and Kennelly Square last month, a buyer can renovate the existing apartments, build a new building on the Wiener's Circle site and realize a solid return on investment.
The Wiener's Circle pays $7,333/month in rent and is on a month-to-month lease. A new owner could negotiate a market rate lease with the shop, or evict Wiener's Circle once it assumes control of the property.
Another option: The investment group that owns The Wiener's Circle could buy the properties. A group led by Ari Levy, scion of the Levy Restaurants empire, bought the Wiener's Circle three years ago and wants to franchise the business. The Wiener's Circle opened a stand at Rosemont's new Impact Stadium in April.