For those who don't know it, Hot Doug's is a tiny and incredibly hyped restaurant in Chicago that's closing this week after 12 years. Obviously, it's a hot dog restaurant. You can get fancy gourmet hot dogs, traditional hot dogs, fries, and soda, and that's it. They have a line out the door every goddamn day, and it's reached truly ridiculous proportions this week. Is it really that good? you ask. All I can say is that I completely hate waiting in line. I am not one who waits in line for shit. I've waited in line for at Hot Doug's many times, and I never regretted it.
Hot Doug's is owned by a guy named Doug. I always figured Doug was making money hand over fist, given his very modest way of running the business (he works the front counter himself every day) and the hordes of customers. What I didn't know until I read this interview in the Chicago Tribune is that Doug is seriously committed to frugality (to the point that I wonder if he reads MMM) and attributes much of his success to it.
Full interview:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/dining/chi-hot-dougs-the-exit-interview-20140929-story.html#page=2Favorite excerpts:
Q. Are people crazy [for waiting in line for up to six hours for a hot dog]?A: No. People spend $60,000 for a car. I think that's insane, when I have a 1995 Toyota Corolla that gets me where I want to go. I mean, it's not like they're waiting in your living room. If you don't want to wait for hot dogs, I'm not sending you a summons. Are people crazy to spend $500 on a meal? Someone binge watching “The Good Wife” for six hours is a good thing, but waiting for food isn't? I don't judge.
Q: Someone once offered you seven figures to franchise the restaurant. That would be hard for most people to turn down.A: Any decision I've made that was purely for the money, I've always regretted.
Q: What's the best piece of advice you've received?A: My grandfather said if you make $100 and you spend $101, you're in trouble.
The whole thing is full of observational gems, though.
