Fire temporarily shuts down popular drive-in restaurant in Grayslake

GRAYSLAKE, Ill. — A well-known drive-in restaurant in Grayslake is temporarily closed after it was damaged in an early-morning fire.

Some customers looking for a taste of the classic Dog n Suds were met with disappointment on Saturday after they found the restaurant shut down.

“Well we drove up here and we just got on the road and they were like uh oh something happened here,” customer Chuck Ryan said.

The old-school eatery, located along Center Street in Grayslake, has been serving up root beer, hot dogs, and burgers since the 60s, but it was all put on hold after the fire damaged the inside of the restaurant.

According to the Grayslake Fire Department, the blaze started in the back of the business and caused about $120,000 in damage. Fire officials said the Gurnee and Round Lake fire departments were also called in to help extinguish the fire.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, and while the popular drive-in eatery was rendered non-operational, it is expected to re-open.

Ryan, who hoped to grab a bite to eat for his birthday, said he was disappointed by the news.

“I would have gotten two burgers and the root beer,” Ryan said. “It’s neat to have them bring it to you, you don’t see that too much anymore.

Ryan said he has fond memories of going to a Dog n Suds in the south suburbs.

“The place down in Homewood-Flossmoor closed down about 20 years ago, so as far as we know this might be the last vestige of Dog n Suds,” Ryan said.

While it is currently unclear when the restaurant will reopen, a message left on the reader board outside promises the return of the classic establishment.

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