"Usual?" asks Marsico, immediately stating "large chili cheese fries" to his cook after a nod but no words from another regular. "I like to remember everyone's orders -- that's what people like.
They expect good service; they deserve it," says Marsico, 28, who, with his younger sister, Mariterese Marsico, has owned Hot Diggity Dog, 251 E. Ohio, for three years. "I always know when a customer's from out of town," the Chicago native says.
"He says to me, 'How's about one of those Chicago dogs?' People from Chicago don't call them 'Chicago dogs' -- they're just 'dogs.' Or tourists order a hot dog with ketchup.
"But it's a funny thing: If regulars order their dogs without pickles and peppers and we make a mistake -- we try not to make mistakes, but it happens -- the customers won't just take the pickles or peppers off. They bring it back to us to remake," he says, grinning. "That's OK by me -- I like to get it right -- although I've learned you can't make everybody happy.
" "But it's fun and I love it," says the personable Marsico who previously worked in restaurants (even as a dishwasher) and was a bartender, truck driver, Chicago Board of Trade worker and health club membership salesman before acquiring Hot Diggity. Now Marsico's fluorescent-lit, cramped workday world includes red-and-white checkered linoleum, worn red stools, a Vienna Beef neon sign and Chicago Bears decals on the windows, Pepsi clock, PacMan game, ATM, picture plaques of the 1995 Chicago Catholic League Championship Fenwick football team (he was a member) and the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Bears (he wasn't a member), an obligatory "No Change for Meters" sign on the door, and a Styrofoam cup "For those with no 'cents' " next to the cash register. His menu is simple -- hot dogs (six varieties), Polishes, brats, Italian beefs, Italian sausages, burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish and catfish sandwiches, and pizza puffs.
Then there are tamales, fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, malts and shakes. True, not complicated, but appealing enough to bring in Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, actor Vince Vaughn, Bears' Brian Urlacher and Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Marsico is excited about his latest menu addition: lemon Italian ice made from a recipe created by his grandmother, Vera Andrich.
After 50-hour work weeks, the new owner of an Elmwood Park condo enjoys football (the Bears, of course) and baseball (White Sox, A.J. Pierzynski and Yankees are favorites).
To stay in shape, Marsico works out and avoids his favorite Polishes (opting to bring turkey burgers, oatmeal and baked potatoes to prepare at work). He recently trimmed from 250 pounds to 225 pounds by eating Subway's tuna or grilled chicken sandwiches. Discussing the yet-to-be-announced, but inevitable loss of his month-to-month lease on the property where Hot Diggity has stood since the '70s, Marsico says, "We've known forever the day would come when we would lose it.
I'm already looking for another location." Joe Marsico promises it will be in Streeterville -- after all, that's where he knows his loyal customers by name -- and what they want, and don't want, on their dogs. Sandy Thorn Clark is a Chicago-based free lance writer.
"Usual?" asks Marsico, immediately stating "large chili cheese fries" to his cook after a nod but no words from another regular.
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