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Pilsen hot dog business forced to shut down over mural, alderman says
A hot dog stand that has operated in Pilsen since 1956 closed over the weekend, and according to the local alderman, the closure stems from a mural painted on the side of the building.
CHICAGO - A hot dog stand that has operated in Pilsen since 1956 closed over the weekend, and according to the local alderman, the closure stems from a mural painted on the side of the building.
A mural on the side of Memo's Hot Dogs on 18th Street appears to show comedy duo Cheech and Chong enjoying a hot dog on the road.
"There's no advertisement. There's no name of the restaurant. It's just a mural next to the alley," said Byron Sigcho-Lopez of the 25th Ward. "This actually helps prevent tagging and graffiti and other issues."
But the city disagrees with Sigcho-Lopez, saying the mural violates Chicago Municipal Code because it constitutes an advertisement which needs to be licensed — that's something the 65-year-old restaurant has not paid for.
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"They were basically forced to shut down because they were not able to renew their license unless they complied with this very stringent regulations that I don't think are reasonable."
In a statement, the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said, "Memo's Hot Dogs located at 1447 W. 18th Street does not have a current business license. The establishment did not renew their Retail Food Establishment license which expired on April 15, 2022."
Lopez calls it "unacceptable" for the Pilsen community to lose a beloved establishment over the mural.
"After everything they've done and all the decades here, not to offer them a solution was disheartening," he said.
Lopez said they don't want to do away with the mural, but still hope to re-open and are scheduled for a hearing about ways to get their business license renewed in November.