Longtime Wiener's Circle worker dishes on R-rated reputation: 'It just became a thing'

Patrons outside of the Wiener's Circle in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Patrons outside of the Wiener's Circle in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Photo credit Mai Martinez

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — This week's Made in Chicago highlights the Wiener’s Circle, a Lincoln Park hot dog stand where the customer is not always right.

Since 1983, the Wiener's Circle has been serving up great food — and even greater insults.

“You’ve got four eyes,” Toni Morris told one customer, who was wearing glasses and asked a question about Chicago hot dogs. “Over there. Look at that f------ picture.”

Toni Morris, who's worked at the Wiener's Circle for 23 years, listens to a customer as they order food.
Toni Morris, who's worked at the Wiener's Circle for 23 years, listens to a customer as they order food. Photo credit Mai Martinez

Morris has worked at the Wiener’s Circle for about 23 years. She and the rest of the staff are known for their often offensive and vulgar verbal abuse of customers.

“We would get the drunk crowd when the bars were closed, and it was like they didn’t understand any other language, so we had to speak to them in the tone that they understood, and it just became a thing,” she said. “We were cursing them out because they were just cursing us out, and we were just fed up because they were drunk, so we started giving it back to them.”

Over the years, the colorful exchanges made the Wiener’s Circle a Chicago staple, television hit and an internet and social media sensation. Over the years, it’s attracted locals, tourists and lots of celebrities.

“Ed Sheeran came in here last summer,” Morris said. “Ric Flair was my favorite. Cuba Gooding came in — he’s cheap — he only gave us $2. Marshawn Lynch is one of my favorites.”

Oliver Stone is a regular. No, not the movie director, just another guy with the same name.

“They just have the best hot dogs, the best humor and the best jokes,” Stone said.

Cuba Gooding Jr. on the Wiener's Circle wall of shame. "He's cheap," Morris said. "He only gave us $2."
Cuba Gooding Jr. on the Wiener's Circle wall of shame. "He's cheap," Morris said. "He only gave us $2." Photo credit Mai Martinez

Lance Mack enjoyed his first Wiener’s Circle experience so much that he came back two days later.

“Food good,” he said. “I like sarcastic people; they tell the truth.”

Morris said her favorite part about working at the Wiener’s Circle was that she gets to speak her mind and be herself.

Toni Morris takes an order from a customer at the Wiener's Circle. She said customers should have fun when they come to the Lincoln Park hot dog stand. "Let loose," she said. "Curse us back. Don't be scared."
Toni Morris takes an order from a customer at the Wiener's Circle. She said customers should have fun when they come to the Lincoln Park hot dog stand. "Let loose," she said. "Curse us back. Don't be scared." Photo credit Mai Martinez

She also shared some advice for customers:

“Have fun,” Morris said. “Let loose, and curse us back. Don’t be scared.”

And, most importantly: “Hit my tip bucket, OK? Because I don’t tell jokes for free.”

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Mai Martinez