Credibility:

  • Sources Cited
Sources Cited As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom.
The double dog at Dave's Red Hots in Lawndale, which has operated since 1938. Credit: Kathleen Hinkel/Block Club Chicago

CHICAGO — There are many Chicagoans who love hot dogs — but only one of them will claim the title of Vienna Beef Top Dog.

The beloved wiener maker has created the Vienna Beef Hot Dog Stand Challenge, which gives Chicagoans 60 days to eat at as many of the 369 participating hot dog stands as they can, according to Vienna Beef. The challenge runs Thursday through Oct. 17.

Information about the challenge, participating stands and prizes is available online. People must sign up online to participate and win.

The person who wins will be named the Vienna Beef Top Dog and will get a prize package: four VIP tickets to a luxury entertainment experience — think Bears box seats and a Vienna Beef Factory tour — per month for a year, a T-shirt, a $1,000 Vienna Beef gift card and a trophy.

Second-, third- and fourth-place winners will get a catered hot dog party, a mini hot dog cart, a T-shirt and a ribbon.

There are other ways to win, too, like by being the person who checks in the most at stands in a certain neighborhood — you’ll get the title of Neighborhood Mayor — and by checking in the most at an individual stand and by simply participating. Vienna Beef will also give away a hat to five random participants once per week.

Vienna Beef launched the challenge to boost local hot dog stands, which have suffered during the pandemic.

“Vienna Beef hopes this challenge delivers some lighthearted fun to our loyal customers, helps drive business to vendors, benefits restaurants and employees and provides industry support after a challenging year and a half for restaurants,” Vienna President Tim O’Brien said in a news release.

Vienna Beef will donate to the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Employee Relief Fund, which has supported workers affected by the pandemic.

Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Already subscribe? Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation. 

Listen to “It’s All Good: A Block Club Chicago Podcast” here: