LINCOLN PARK — Chicagoans are hungry for a good Bears team — and for hot dogs, always, especially if they’re free.
This season, they’re getting both.
“I drove in this morning from Madison” Wisconsin, said Bears fan Alan Robinson, who was one of hundreds who braved frigid temperatures to join a line wrapping around two city blocks Tuesday morning for free hot dogs at The Wieners Circle, 2622 N. Clark St.
The loud-mouthed hot-dog stand known for insulting its customers — and never shying from a new gimmick — may have met its match in new Bears coach Ben Johnson. After Friday’s win against the Super Bowl-defending Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson ripped off his shirt — following through on a Hail Mary dare to do so by The Wieners Circle in exchange for a free hotdog giveaway.
Johnson was jacked in more ways than one. After footage of his shirtless speech in the Bears locker room went viral, Johnson commented on the Wieners Circle’s offer, saying “any time you get a chance to feed a city, you want to do it.”
And with that, the Wieners Circle owed fans free hot dogs for the second time this season.
Some plopped down camper chairs hours before the giveaway started Tuesday. By early afternoon, almost 1,000 people had Johnson to thank not just for a Bears team (9-3) on top of the NFC North — but also for their lunch.
Hot dogs are staples of their diets. But this one would taste extra sweet.
“We have a generational talent at quarterback and a maniac coach,” Robinson said. “They find ways to win.”
Dressed in homage to 1985 Bear QB Jim McMahon, Bob Keen enjoys his hot dog at The Weiner’s Circle on December 2nd. Credit: Arthur Maiorella for Block Club Chicago
Three television news trucks parked out front as reporters did stand-ups in front of The Wiener Circle’s marquee, which on Tuesday read “We Got A New Mayor Johnson.” That created a maze for anyone trying to leave with their hot dog quietly. But many came to be seen. The most carnivorous among them took their shirts off, too.
Coach Johnson didn’t show, but Earl Johnson did. The high school math teacher shares a surname and a striking resemblance to the coach. He taught Tuesday morning — leaving Ben Johnson’s signature saying “Good, Better, Best” on the chalkboard — and showed up to The Wiener’s Circle wearing a headset.
“Looking like him is a good thing right now,” Earl Johnson said. “He’s one of the most popular people in Chicago.”
An independent league baseball team, Chicago Dogs, brought free hats and their mascot, a fuzzy bottle of Mustard, who took his place in line. Others hawked art or encouraged donations to fundraisers. Bears fan Monica Armendaris said she was looking for an “Instagrammy opportunity” for her local food account.
The Chicago grift was on.
“I just got interviewed by Lyrical Lemonade!” a teenager told his dad over the phone, who asked back, “Do you think they can give you a job?”
Bears fan Bob Keen said he had been interviewed four times in his first 20 minutes of waiting in line.
“Turns out I can just repeat myself,” Keen said. “And the message is, ‘Bear Down.’”
Attendees thronged The Wiener’s Circle hot dog shack on December 2nd as the restaurant gave away free hot dogs in honor of the Bears’ victory over the Eagles. Credit: Arthur Maiorella for Block Club Chicago
The line stayed long for the first two hours. It skewed mostly male. The commotion caused a food delivery robot to get stuck in the snow.
“I’m really just here for free lunch,” said Madison Sterkowitz, stuck in line behind Keen, who was giving her an early showing of the evening news.
“It feels like they would have just won the Super Bowl,” she said.
Richard Juarez, a Chicago cop, joined the line for his lunch break from patrolling the neighborhood.
“If it’s free to get, we’re going to eat it,” Juarez said. He called the Bears’ winning season, its first since 2018, “big for morale.”
“We’re hugging in the police station,” Juarez said. “The police needed a win.”
Toni Morris slings hot dogs at The Wiener’s Circle on December 2nd. Credit: Arthur Maiorella for Block Club Chicago
Many Bears fans, maybe even a silent majority, are of the self-hating variety. The team will finish its season with the most difficult stretch of its schedule, including a road game 3:25 p.m. Sunday against the rival Green Bay Packers.
“We’re playing a bunch of jagoffs next,” a middle-aged man in line said.
Owen Meyer, a corporate recruiter on his lunch break, said he understands those who’ve been hurt by the Bears before.
“They have a good point,” Meyer said. “But we’re winning the games we lost last year.”
Keen admitted he came Tuesday partly because he was laid off a week ago from a job in a medical supply factory.
“I want a hot dog,” Keen said. “And if the Bears aren’t back, think about the line here if they were.”
Bears fan Ryan Murdock puts his shirt back on. Living in Green Bay, Murdock called in sick to work and woke up at 5 a.m. for his free hot dog at The Wiener’s Circle hot dog shack on December 2nd. Credit: Arthur Maiorella for Block Club Chicago
Elle Corman, left, and Lilly Kodeski enjoy their hot dogs at The Weiner’s Circle on December 2nd. Credit: Arthur Maiorella for Block Club Chicago
Attendees thronged The Wiener’s Circle hot dog shack on December 2nd as the restaurant gave away free hot dogs in honor of the Bears’ victory over the Eagles. Credit: Arthur Maiorella for Block Club Chicago
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