CHICAGO HOT DOG GIANT, NYC WEINER WANNABE Slug it Out in Court!
LONG-TIME CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOG STAND SUPERDAWG TAKES NEW YORK FRANKFURTER PURVEYOR TO COURT!
Been to Chicago? Or, do you live in Chicago?
Chances are, if you have been to the Northwest Side of Chicago, near the corner of Devon and Milwaukee Avenues in the Norwood Park Neighborhood, you've driven by one historic, nostalgic drive-in restaurant that specializes in Chicago Style Hot Dogs, included French Fries, and a complimentary Sour Tomato.
You'll notice the place by it's distinctive royal blue and black color theme, it's car-hop served stalls - and, of course, its two twelve-foot-tall hot dog statues perched atop its roof.
The restaurant - Chicago's Superdawg, and it's been a Chicago Fixture on the Northwest Side since still-owners Maurie and Flaurie Berman opened the place back in 1948!
Well now, according to a story in the Chicago Tribune by reporter Mike Hughlett, one stand operator - in New York City, of all places - wants to pilfer the restaurant's name. Nearly it's name - "Superdog". The stand is run by Danny Omari in NY.
The original, Chicago Superdawg is taking Omari to U.S. District Court in Chicago over trademark infringement. Scott Berman, the son of the owners, a prominent Chicago Real Estate Attorney, and fixture in the restaurant each weekend, says his parents' company has asked many other hot dog stands to cease using the Superdawg name, or a close variation of it, over the years. All have complied - although the current New York City Superdog has yet to relent.
According to Omari Attorney Leonard Budow, his client has yet to be served official court papers, but has received a written "cease and desist" request from the Chicago hot dog icon.
The younger Berman contends his efforts to prevent trademark infringement of the Superdawg name are quite valid. He points out several menu similarities between the two restaurants. And recent Cable TV Restaurant Review Shows have prominently discussed and reviewed Superdawg as a shining example of Chicago Style Hot Dog Prowess. Berman feels he and his family now have an "international following" they must satisfy.
So . . . eat dem' dogs, you Chicagoans! New Yorkers - you can never come close!
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
