Dog N Suds celebrates 50 years in Grayslake

GRAYSLAKE – An eatery where car hops go to your car window to take and bring your food order is unique. But that’s not why Jason Freeman of Grayslake goes to Dog N Suds.

He goes because "the service comes with a smile," Freeman said.

Freeman is one of many customers who have helped the Dog N Suds drive in, located on Center Street in Grayslake, hit its 50th year in business. Unlike other businesses, the Dog N Suds has remained the same over the years so as to keep the feel of a 50s diner.

With parking spaces and picnic tables under a canopy roof, the diner is "identical to when it opened in 1964," said Dog N Suds owner, Chris Beckord. "It's not retro, but original," he said.

Out of the 50 years in business, Beckord has owned it for 19.

The inside has had equipment updates. It's what helps Beckord, who is not just owner but cook, keep making the coney dogs and Texas burgers that are original to the Dog N Suds menu.

He incorporates new items each season, too, he said, which runs February through mid-October. This season's new items include mint, peanut butter and cake flavors of shake.

The cake shake just might be a chocolate cake lover's idea of the perfect drink. It starts off as a piece of real chocolate cake, that Beckord's wife, Debbie Beckord makes, and is blended with vanilla ice cream and topped with whatever the customer's desires might be, be it mint or Oreos.

Another new item, and one that Grayslake resident Angelica Giannios, 14, loves, is the green bean fries. The taste, she said, "is like buttered green beans. You just want to keep eating them."

Although small, Dog N Suds boasts an extensive menu that includes classics, such as the root beer float and favorite American foods, such as veggie burgers and Chicago dogs. They also serve barbecue sandwiches, boneless buffalo wings, turkey subs and wraps, to name a few.

Car hop Naomi Caronti of Lindenhurst, has been working at the diner for six seasons. She's the fourth sibling in her family to work there and her favorites, she said, are the super dog and the root beer. The atmosphere of the diner is friendly and "really fun," she said. She often sees families who visit the diner each season and enjoys interacting with them, even getting to know their order by memory.

"I started working here on its 45th anniversary and now I'm here for the 50th," Caronti said.

To celebrate the milestone anniversary, Beckord is giving customers a taste of the 50s.
From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each Wednesday, diners can purchase a hot dog for $.99 with a choice of mustard, ketchup, relish or onion.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m each Thursday, diners can purchase a char burger. Happy Hour is 2 to 4 p.m. each weekday, featuring a $.50 medium root beer in a frosted mug.

Beckord said he knows that some of his older generation of customers visit the diner to reminisce about a first date or past times, but his younger generation customer base is not just looking for a unique spot to eat, they're looking for food they truly enjoy. He said he tries to deliver each time he says "order up."

"You have to earn your new customers and we try to make sure that with the quality of our food, they keep coming back," Beckord said.

For that reason he employs teenagers.

"They are the pulse," Beckord said. "They know what's out there."

He said his employees are responsible, hard working teens who make the diner fun.

For 15-year-old friends, Kaiden Gustav and Benjamin Gurchak of Grayslake, Dog N Suds is definitely a fun place to eat.

"We're here every Friday," Gustav said. "It's unique and best part is it's in Grayslake."

For information, visit Dog N Suds online at www.dognsudsgrayslake.com