Tasty Dog

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Permalink Reply by Murrell Selden on March 13, 2010 at 6:05am

The Village should do what they vote on doing at the Village Hall, if it is legal, though it could be stupid.

As a person with some business experience (and straight A's in accounting at graduate school), I have some comments. Legally, I think it should have been made succint at the start that there would be property taxes. It would not be unreasonable to think there were none, because there was no assessment. Last I heard, everyone is entitled to have the opportunity to appeal such taxes. It seems Tasty Dog received no such assessments for 5 years! There is another important reason, and that to be successful, a business needs a budget. Think of a price list which says, "You made be charged an additional amount for a hot dog later, in the event our unknown costs become known." There is the lost opportunity to adjust prices during the past 5 years - based upon property tax costs.

Another reason for unfairness, is that Tasty Dog could not benefit from increase in equity or from depreciation. But the Village increased its equity!

And, what about the Buzz Cafe (which was in the library)? Did they pay property taxes on the space they rented. I don't think so. What about the Farmer's Market,
did the weekly tenants pay property taxes in addition to space fees? Also, I wonder about the free parking rents of teachers who parked at the high school. Should they pay property taxes too. Did they get 1099 Misc statements for their free parking benefits? Yeah, lots of other high school persons, all over Illinois, park on streets and uncovered lots.

I would note, if the VOP increments rents (without property taxation) at 10% per year, then that is ridiculous. Just noting that if the denarius given Jesus Christ were changed into copper equivalent and incremented by the church 10% a year, it would now be a bigger ball of copper than the earth.

I suspect someone wants that Tasty Dog space for something like a condo complex,
and so perhaps this who debable is about shoving Tasty Dog off a financial cliff.
I think they can win in court, but the costs might make it a hollow win. I think they should have taken a cash settlement and immediately gone to Forest Park long ago.

I also think that the VOP assets-contingent liabilities = a negative number. Too much infrastructure and more to come.

Russ M said:

This is why the village should not be helping individual business owners. If you do it for one, you should do it for all to keep the market free and open. Your point is spot on about the Mexican restaurant that got shut down. Are hot dogs more valuable to the village?

Julie Chyna said:

When the Village planned to kick Tasty Dog out of their earlier location, the Village owned the property and Tasty Dog leased it--it's not the same as if the Village wanted to take my house, because I own this land. The Tasty Dog did not, so technically the Village was as within their rights as any landlord who chooses not to renew a tenant's lease. That being said, I think the Village handled that situation ridiculously badly--from a property management standpoint and from a PR standpoint. They probably should have had to make some accommodations for the Tasty Dog, since it was a viable business, but the PR nightmare then made the Village go completely overboard in trying to help them.

The Tasty Dog owners have, at this point, received way more help than any private business owners should, and it's time for them to step up and fix their own problems. If no one ever considered the property tax issue, it sounds to me like the Tasty Dog's lawyer and/or the Village's lawyer dropped the ball in a big way, but the Village taxpayers should not be held responsible.

All of this hoopla about the Tasty Dog also makes me wonder: Where was all of this Village assistance when the Garcia family was forced to close Las Cazadores?

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Permalink Reply by Ilona Mestril on March 13, 2010 at 10:25am

As far as I am concerned, this hot dog stand has costs us tax payers way too much from inception to end and what we get in return for our tax dollar is streets lined with fast food debris. The village has put so much money in this joint that there is no money left to keep up the street scape around the business and for the most part it looks like a run down corner with a new building plopped in the middle.

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Permalink Reply by Renee Domenz on March 18, 2010 at 7:58am

I disagree with you Ilona. The owners of Tasty Dog are guys trying to make a living, like all of us. The village took over their lease and Tasty Dog was living up to their end of the deal and then 5 years later, out of the blue, they were told they owed a $120,000 for a tax that was not mentioned in their lease. Which I don't think is fair to any business, regardless of if they sell hot dogs or diamonds. (And, from what I have heard, they are trying to pay it.) Since you mentioned it... 1) Tasty Dog has the ONLY turkey burger on a wheat bun with lots of vegetables that I have found in Oak Park, and 2) the chicken tacos there are delicious and authentic. 3) It has the only drive through in downtown Oak Park, which is quite handy. And, 4) they are open for breakfast. Their breakfast items are not pre-fab, but real food. (Try their hashbrowns, they are really good~) And, I don't think that corner looks "run-down" at all.

Here is an article about it that you might find interesting:

http://www.wednesdayjournalonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubS...


Ilona Mestril said:

As far as I am concerned, this hot dog stand has costs us tax payers way too much from inception to end and what we get in return for our tax dollar is streets lined with fast food debris. The village has put so much money in this joint that there is no money left to keep up the street scape around the business and for the most part it looks like a run down corner with a new building plopped in the middle.

Ilona Mestril said:

As far as I am concerned, this hot dog stand has costs us tax payers way too much from inception to end and what we get in return for our tax dollar is streets lined with fast food debris. The village has put so much money in this joint that there is no money left to keep up the street scape around the business and for the most part it looks like a run down corner with a new building plopped in the middle.

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Permalink Reply by Renee Domenz on March 18, 2010 at 8:21am

I disagree with you Ilona. The owners of Tasty Dog are guys trying to make a living, like all of us. The village took over their lease and Tasty Dog was living up to their end of the deal and then 5 years later, out of the blue, they were told they owed $120,000 for a tax that was not mentioned in their lease. I don't think that's fair to any business, regardless of whether you sell hot dogs or diamonds. (And from what I have heard, they are trying to pay it.) Since you mentioned it... 1) Tasty Dog has the ONLY turkey burger on a wheat bun with lots of vegetables on it that I have found in Oak Park, and 2) the chicken tacos there are delicious and authentic. 3) It has the only drive through in downtown Oak Park, which is quite handy. And, 4) they are open for breakfast. Their breakfast items are not pre-fab, but real food. (Try their hashbrowns, they are really good~) And, I don't think that corner looks "run-down" at all.

Here is an article about it that you might find interesting:

http://www.wednesdayjournalonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubS...


Ilona Mestril said:

As far as I am concerned, this hot dog stand has costs us tax payers way too much from inception to end and what we get in return for our tax dollar is streets lined with fast food debris. The village has put so much money in this joint that there is no money left to keep up the street scape around the business and for the most part it looks like a run down corner with a new building plopped in the middle.

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Permalink Reply by Ilona Mestril on March 18, 2010 at 3:01pm

Renee, I am very happy that Tasty Dog has something for someone, because all I see is the trash in front of my building that I keep picking up every time I am on either Lake or Euclid. They have not been good neighbors. This does not mean I want them to get charged illegally for taxes but any business that is cornering a residential neighborhood should try to work in conjunction with their neighbors.

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Permalink Reply by Angela Perez on March 19, 2010 at 8:55pm

They arent even that good we can do without a tasty dog in oak park.

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Permalink Reply by Becca on March 19, 2010 at 9:56pm

I have to agree with you. The one time that I went, it wasn't very tasty.

Angela Perez said:

They arent even that good we can do without a tasty dog in oak park.

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Permalink Reply by Jassen Strokosch on March 20, 2010 at 9:44am

The public funding of TD's move was a pretty complicated issue and wrapped up in many changes going on in the village at the time and some of the public comments coming out of the village. Rather than get into that issue and the property tax issue of today, I think it is worth noting the long term role TD has played in Oak Park. Full disclosure, I worked pro bono on the PR effort to save TD 10 years ago.

From a historical perspective, Tasty Dog has been an anchor of the Oak Park/Lake Street food area for a very long time. Tasty Dog was serving food back when Winberie's and Eriks where the backbone of food in that area. They provided a low cost, fast food alternative that was family owned and operated. Other than going to McDonalds or other fast food chain, there wasn't anything else to choose from in that part of Oak Park. They offered (and still do) everything from milk shakes to tamales to soft-serve ice cream. Keep in mind that Oak Park was simply not the great foodie town it is now and a quick family meal wasn't as easy to come by.

It was also a very family and local atmosphere. Tasty Dog prepared your food behind a glass window and put on a whole routine and interacting with kids through the glass. They would flip the tongs, 'attack' the kids with the tongs through the glass and that was just the owners. Anyone growing up in that time remembers the handlebar mustache. While the employee base has changed, you will still have your food prepared by one of the owners often enough.

Tasty Dog also has a long history of charity. Over the years they have donated thousands of meals to local schools to help with children in need. This is something they never publicize and are reluctant to talk about but is none the less an important part of the kind of owners and corporate citizens that they are.

One of the important functions of Tasty Dog today is to serve the High School crowd. This is something they do very well and that most other food establishments would rather not deal with. After school, on Saturdays and generally whenever anything is going on at the High School, you will see a steady stream of kids going back and forth from OPRF to Tasty Dog. This has been the case for a long time (I ate lunch there at least twice a week all through High School). Try getting a seat after a football game or other large attendance function gets out of OPRF.

While the atmosphere has changed a bit and the 'new' building doesn't have the old-school hot dog stand atmosphere that the old building did, don't underestimate the nostalgia and love for Tasty Dog that long time residence have. Certainly it isn't for everyone and the alternatives are numerous now, but many residence remember the old TD fondly and still frequent the new one and consider it an old Oak Park tradition that we hope sticks around for a long time. There aren't that many left.

Clearly I am biased but to view Tasty Dog simply as the current hot dog stand that it is doesn't do it justice (Pete's has much better dogs for example) and misses why it is still so popular for many.

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Permalink Reply by Fred tamburino on May 1, 2010 at 7:18pm

went in there this week employees were swearing and talking about people in spanish, I understand spanish,
then they were swearing at a car in spanish and swearing at the driver that they knew, we dont need this gang banger type in this town go there yourself and listen, take someone that understands spanish, I ll never go back the food was not that great anyway and expencive.

Jassen Strokosch said:

The public funding of TD's move was a pretty complicated issue and wrapped up in many changes going on in the village at the time and some of the public comments coming out of the village. Rather than get into that issue and the property tax issue of today, I think it is worth noting the long term role TD has played in Oak Park. Full disclosure, I worked pro bono on the PR effort to save TD 10 years ago.

From a historical perspective, Tasty Dog has been an anchor of the Oak Park/Lake Street food area for a very long time. Tasty Dog was serving food back when Winberie's and Eriks where the backbone of food in that area. They provided a low cost, fast food alternative that was family owned and operated. Other than going to McDonalds or other fast food chain, there wasn't anything else to choose from in that part of Oak Park. They offered (and still do) everything from milk shakes to tamales to soft-serve ice cream. Keep in mind that Oak Park was simply not the great foodie town it is now and a quick family meal wasn't as easy to come by.

It was also a very family and local atmosphere. Tasty Dog prepared your food behind a glass window and put on a whole routine and interacting with kids through the glass. They would flip the tongs, 'attack' the kids with the tongs through the glass and that was just the owners. Anyone growing up in that time remembers the handlebar mustache. While the employee base has changed, you will still have your food prepared by one of the owners often enough.

Tasty Dog also has a long history of charity. Over the years they have donated thousands of meals to local schools to help with children in need. This is something they never publicize and are reluctant to talk about but is none the less an important part of the kind of owners and corporate citizens that they are.

One of the important functions of Tasty Dog today is to serve the High School crowd. This is something they do very well and that most other food establishments would rather not deal with. After school, on Saturdays and generally whenever anything is going on at the High School, you will see a steady stream of kids going back and forth from OPRF to Tasty Dog. This has been the case for a long time (I ate lunch there at least twice a week all through High School). Try getting a seat after a football game or other large attendance function gets out of OPRF.

While the atmosphere has changed a bit and the 'new' building doesn't have the old-school hot dog stand atmosphere that the old building did, don't underestimate the nostalgia and love for Tasty Dog that long time residence have. Certainly it isn't for everyone and the alternatives are numerous now, but many residence remember the old TD fondly and still frequent the new one and consider it an old Oak Park tradition that we hope sticks around for a long time. There aren't that many left.

Clearly I am biased but to view Tasty Dog simply as the current hot dog stand that it is doesn't do it justice (Pete's has much better dogs for example) and misses why it is still so popular for many.

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Permalink Reply by Joyce Porter on May 2, 2010 at 10:01am

Jassen Strokosch said:

The public funding of TD's move was a pretty complicated issue and wrapped up in many changes going on in the village at the time and some of the public comments coming out of the village. Rather than get into that issue and the property tax issue of today, I think it is worth noting the long term role TD has played in Oak Park. Full disclosure, I worked pro bono on the PR effort to save TD 10 years ago.

From a historical perspective, Tasty Dog has been an anchor of the Oak Park/Lake Street food area for a very long time. Tasty Dog was serving food back when Winberie's and Eriks where the backbone of food in that area. They provided a low cost, fast food alternative that was family owned and operated. Other than going to McDonalds or other fast food chain, there wasn't anything else to choose from in that part of Oak Park. They offered (and still do) everything from milk shakes to tamales to soft-serve ice cream. Keep in mind that Oak Park was simply not the great foodie town it is now and a quick family meal wasn't as easy to come by.

It was also a very family and local atmosphere. Tasty Dog prepared your food behind a glass window and put on a whole routine and interacting with kids through the glass. They would flip the tongs, 'attack' the kids with the tongs through the glass and that was just the owners. Anyone growing up in that time remembers the handlebar mustache. While the employee base has changed, you will still have your food prepared by one of the owners often enough.

Tasty Dog also has a long history of charity. Over the years they have donated thousands of meals to local schools to help with children in need. This is something they never publicize and are reluctant to talk about but is none the less an important part of the kind of owners and corporate citizens that they are.

One of the important functions of Tasty Dog today is to serve the High School crowd. This is something they do very well and that most other food establishments would rather not deal with. After school, on Saturdays and generally whenever anything is going on at the High School, you will see a steady stream of kids going back and forth from OPRF to Tasty Dog. This has been the case for a long time (I ate lunch there at least twice a week all through High School). Try getting a seat after a football game or other large attendance function gets out of OPRF.

While the atmosphere has changed a bit and the 'new' building doesn't have the old-school hot dog stand atmosphere that the old building did, don't underestimate the nostalgia and love for Tasty Dog that long time residence have. Certainly it isn't for everyone and the alternatives are numerous now, but many residence remember the old TD fondly and still frequent the new one and consider it an old Oak Park tradition that we hope sticks around for a long time. There aren't that many left.

Clearly I am biased but to view Tasty Dog simply as the current hot dog stand that it is doesn't do it justice (Pete's has much better dogs for example) and misses why it is still so popular for many.

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Permalink Reply by Joyce Porter on May 2, 2010 at 10:06am

An excellent history Jason. At the time people were incensed that village reps said that it didn't belong there and wanted to get rid of one of the few places you could comfortably go with your kid in favor of even then superfluous condos. I love their hot dogs because of all the extras they put on top, though I would like a poppy seed bun. I'm sorry to hear the current negatives as it is a real Oak Park tradition and handy for a quick lunch.

Joyce Porter said:

Jassen Strokosch said:

The public funding of TD's move was a pretty complicated issue and wrapped up in many changes going on in the village at the time and some of the public comments coming out of the village. Rather than get into that issue and the property tax issue of today, I think it is worth noting the long term role TD has played in Oak Park. Full disclosure, I worked pro bono on the PR effort to save TD 10 years ago.

From a historical perspective, Tasty Dog has been an anchor of the Oak Park/Lake Street food area for a very long time. Tasty Dog was serving food back when Winberie's and Eriks where the backbone of food in that area. They provided a low cost, fast food alternative that was family owned and operated. Other than going to McDonalds or other fast food chain, there wasn't anything else to choose from in that part of Oak Park. They offered (and still do) everything from milk shakes to tamales to soft-serve ice cream. Keep in mind that Oak Park was simply not the great foodie town it is now and a quick family meal wasn't as easy to come by.

It was also a very family and local atmosphere. Tasty Dog prepared your food behind a glass window and put on a whole routine and interacting with kids through the glass. They would flip the tongs, 'attack' the kids with the tongs through the glass and that was just the owners. Anyone growing up in that time remembers the handlebar mustache. While the employee base has changed, you will still have your food prepared by one of the owners often enough.

Tasty Dog also has a long history of charity. Over the years they have donated thousands of meals to local schools to help with children in need. This is something they never publicize and are reluctant to talk about but is none the less an important part of the kind of owners and corporate citizens that they are.

One of the important functions of Tasty Dog today is to serve the High School crowd. This is something they do very well and that most other food establishments would rather not deal with. After school, on Saturdays and generally whenever anything is going on at the High School, you will see a steady stream of kids going back and forth from OPRF to Tasty Dog. This has been the case for a long time (I ate lunch there at least twice a week all through High School). Try getting a seat after a football game or other large attendance function gets out of OPRF.

While the atmosphere has changed a bit and the 'new' building doesn't have the old-school hot dog stand atmosphere that the old building did, don't underestimate the nostalgia and love for Tasty Dog that long time residence have. Certainly it isn't for everyone and the alternatives are numerous now, but many residence remember the old TD fondly and still frequent the new one and consider it an old Oak Park tradition that we hope sticks around for a long time. There aren't that many left.

Clearly I am biased but to view Tasty Dog simply as the current hot dog stand that it is doesn't do it justice (Pete's has much better dogs for example) and misses why it is still so popular for many.

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