D&D Dogs and Finer Foods is an establishment of the Evanston community. Placed right next to the Noyes CTA stop, it’s in a central location. It serves everyone, from college students trying to stock up on groceries, to families getting a bite to eat, to people passing through and searching for a local staple.
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And just like nearly every other morning, D&D Dogs is full of people. But unlike every other morning, it’s for a very rare occasion.
Bob Schwartz: Some folks ask, why do these hot dog places last so long? And it’s because of what they contribute to the community and to the quality of what the food they put out and their whole business. And I think that this is no exception. We are very proud to be able to present this award today to the D&D family, the Douvikas family.
That was Bob Schwartz, the vice president of Vienna Beef Customer Development and author of Never Put Ketchup On A Hot Dog. He presented the Douvikas family, the proprietors of D&Ds, with a plaque that proclaimed them new honorees of the Vienna Beef Hot Dog Hall of Fame.
Bob Schwartz: The Hall of Fame was created to honor longtime operators that have developed into neighborhood landmarks and out of thousands of Vienna Beef customers over the years, we have recognized only 153 nationwide. Since the award was created in 2006. So from the entire Vienna Beef family, we are proud to welcome D&D Dogs and Finer Foods as the 154th honoree.
Vienna Beef sales rep Charles Bodman nominated D&D’s because out of all the places he visits regularly –
Charles Dodman: This place really stuck out. They’ve been around for a long, long time. They’re very entrenched in their community.
D&D’s Dogs and Finer Foods was founded by two brothers, Thomas and Peter Douvikas, in 1973. They combined a deli and a grocery store to create a unique one-stop shop for customers. Kosta Douvikas is the son of Thomas Douvikas, and now runs the stores. He spoke about what this recognition means to him.
Kosta Douvikas: It’s obviously a great honor, you know, that Vienna Beef thought of us, 154th business in the United States. You know, we’ve been here for a long time. We plan on staying here for a long time. But nothing could make this happen without our customers. You know, our customers, my team members that help us run our daily operations. They’re everything.
Mayor Daniel Biss was at the ceremony as well, and offered another perspective of D&Ds as a pillar of the Evanston community.
Daniel Biss: This is just a beloved business. It’s a business that’s been an anchor in this neighborhood since 1973. It really crossed that boundary incredibly seamlessly, catering to Northwestern and neighborhood customers who love this business, both sides of it alike, and that really adds a lot to the community. We’re lucky to have you here.
When Schwartz started the Hall of Fame in 2006, his goal was to recognize the business owners and hot dog stands that had been open day in and day out, for 20 years, and had dedicated their lives to serving a community.
Bob Schwartz: It’s, it’s just something that’s very special, bringing these people, giving them an opportunity to be heard and to be seen.
In fact, D&Ds is the only Hall of Fame so far with a grocery store attached. And, Schwartz says, that’s part of its appeal.
Bob Shwartz: I walk through the grocery part, and it’s not a cookie cutter kind of grocery store that you would normally see with the regular chains. It is built and stocked for where they are, and it’s got a commitment that I know the entire Douvikas family has made to this neighborhood and this area and for a long time and will continue. So thank you very much.
Over fifty years is a long time to run a business. And throughout the decades, the Douvikas have no doubt seen many customers come and go, and dedicated years of their lives to running this grocery store and restaurant. But as Thomas Douvikas, one of the original founders, says,
Thomas Douvikas: When you love them, you always make time.
For WNUR News, I’m Mika Ellison.
