Arlington Hts. Riveria gives way to hot dogs
The Riviera Restaurant, a staple for more than 30 years in downtown Arlington Heights, is gone.
Its replacement at 5 W. Campbell St, Campbell Street Hot Dogs ‘N’ More, represents owner Keith Kottke’s return to his own roots.
“It’s an old-style Chicago hot dog stand like I had when I started out on my own 23 years ago,” he said.
Kottke, who has owned the business 17 months, is launching a new menu giving each item a local name, such as the “Dryden dog” and the “Arlington Aces burger.”
He is also looking forward to a new product from Vienna, 3-inch hot dogs called “pups” for youngsters.
“We have salads and stuff for the moms and dads, but the old Riv menu wasn’t working,” he said.
Popular appetizers will remain, and youngsters will get tastier cones, coaches’ cards will give deals to sports teams, and everyone will get free hot dogs after buying 10.
More than two decades ago, Kottke opened his first business called Cook Street Corner in Libertyville, but he is no longer in business there. He currently also owns a restaurant in McHenry.
Bobby and Andrea Tsambarlis opened the Riviera in 1980. Kottke is the second person to buy the restaurant from them. The couple first sold it in 2006, but returned a year later for another four-year run after the arrangement with the buyer didn’t work out.