‘I didn’t want to give up’: Nostalgia saved Grayslake Dog n Suds as it reopens after devastating fire

It’s lunchtime on a Wednesday and Grayslake Dog n Suds is hoppin’ with customers parked in nearly every available space awaiting a carhop to take their orders.

“I like the old-fashioned feel of a drive-in,” says Beach Park resident JoAnne Concidine. She works nearby and, as it is her last week before retirement, she wanted to stop one last time.

“I really didn’t think they would open this year, but I’m glad they did,” she added, awaiting a Coney dog, her go-to order.

So is everyone else, who enjoy the nostalgia and memories as much as the trademark root beer floats and other favorites. The drive-up joint — there are picnic tables outside but no indoor seating — has been a beloved fixture at 454 Center St., just west of Route 83 since it was built in 1963.

That changed after an early morning fire on April 20, 2024, gutted the place and started a process that for a variety of reasons has taken more than a year and a half to rectify.

“Our biggest challenge was the age of the building,” said owner Jason Axelrod, who bought the business six years ago.

All the equipment and inventory was deemed a total loss and the interior needed to be demolished and rebuilt. Asbestos in the floor tile and lead paint had to be remediated, requiring review and approvals.

Utilities and other elements had to be brought up to modern code. The lead water line had to be replaced and electric service upgraded for modern appliances. And there were other setbacks and delays.

“Our ice cream machine was on back order for five and a half months,” and the shake machine three and half months, Axelrod said.

“A lot of upgrades,” he said. “People thought it was just a fire and you reopen.”

Food trucks kept the business afloat and employees working. Nearby businesses The Vine, Romney Brown Candle Company and Andy’s Records helped raise funds and First Draft became a commissary where products could be shipped and stored while Dog n Suds operated out of food trucks.

Finally, on Oct. 22, the village issued a certificate of occupancy. Though normally closed for the season by that time, Dog n Suds reopened, unannounced, the next day.

“We didn’t tell anybody. We just turned the lights on and let everybody figure it out,” Axelrod said.

And so they have. Every day since has been comparable to traffic in the peak months of summer as customers try to get their Dog n Suds “fix” before it closes. Axelrod said he’ll likely be open until the weekend before Thanksgiving.

“I came here yesterday and I came back today,” said Mundelein resident Roger Bender, who had been a frequent customer. “I’ll probably work through the whole menu.”

Some might have walked away all things considered, but Axelrod said he felt a commitment to the business, the community and most of all the staff of about 30.

“I don’t want to be the focal point. The team is what makes this place,” he said. The only Dog n Suds left in Illinois are all in Lake County — Grayslake, Ingleside and Richmond.

“I felt like I’m keeping a piece of nostalgia alive and I didn’t want to give up,” Axelrod added. “I did it for the people who work here and the local community.”

Friday, Vienna Beef officials will be in town to debut a new spicy sausage item dubbed the Grayslake Dog n Suds fire dog.