Hot Dog Richie's To Celebrate Expansion This Weekend

, 220 N. Northwest Highway, a Palatine business since 1975, will celebrate recent renovations and an expanded menu Friday Sept. 9 through Sunday Sept. 11.

The celebration kicks off Friday at 10 a.m. with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony attended by Mayor Jim Schwantz and representatives from the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday at 10:30 a.m. customers can take advantage of the ‘buy one hot dog get the second free.’ The business will remain open until 9 p.m.

On Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. free ice-cream will be offered with any food purchase. And from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, there will be a free order of fries included with any sandwich purchase.

For more than 12 years, cousins Mike and Jason Marzullo have owned and operated Hot Dog Richie’s, originally started by Richie Smith, the restaurant's namesake in 1975. The business changed hands a few times and in April of 1999 the Marzullo’s purchased it from the Meister family.

Since then, Hot Dog Richie’s business has remained resilient, despite slow economic times.

“When we took over the business, there was that existing clientele; but when the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks happened, our business really took a dive,” said Jason Marzullo.

Marzullo said the business has continued to weather the ups and downs of the economy by continuing to serve quality food to loyal customers.

“We have really expanded our menu; we make our own sauces, Italian beef and meatballs, and our half-pound Pub Burger is amazing and very popular,” Marzullo said.

Seasonal homemade soups and thin-crust pizza will be added to the menu in the coming months, in addition to pastas and salads. Other changes made by the Marzullo’s reflect their desire to increase business by bringing new customers to their tables.

“We nearly doubled our size this past Spring; the renovations began in the middle of May and we were finally able to re-open August 1,” Mike Marzullo said. “It took longer than we would have liked, but the improvements look great and the setting is much more family-friendly.”

The establishment now can accommodate 70 people.

With the recent addition, the business now can handle private parties. A separate new area at the rear of the establishment can comfortably accommodate 30 people.

Adding catering packages to their repertoire is also on the check-list in the near future for the Marzullos. Since both men come from a traditional Italian background, many of the dishes will have an Italian influence.

“Chicken parmesan, great pastas and pizzas will certainly be part of the many things we plan to include on our future catering menu,” Jason Marzullo said.

The business also is now offering a variety of domestic and import beer selections.  

“We’d like to be that comfortable neighborhood spot that residents and even out-of-towners come to enjoy great food and great
company,” Mike Marzullo said.

For more information visit their website at www.myhotdogrichies.com
or call 847-358-8560.