CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After being closed for five years, Chi-Town Hot Dogs has reopened its doors on Riverside Drive, bringing back a familiar name and menu.
The restaurant, located at 1057 S. Riverside Drive, closed in 2021 after co-owner Donna Johnson was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away later that year. Her husband, Dan Johnson, has now returned to the business alongside longtime family friend and business partner Elizabeth Self.
The reopening brought several longtime customers back to the restaurant, with some arriving early and waiting in line for their first Chi-Town meal since the closure. Dwight Palmer was the first customer in the walk-up line and said he got in line about an hour before they opened. Palmer said he was glad to see the local favorite come back.
“This place is a landmark,” Palmer said. I love this place. It broke my heart when they closed.” He said he plans to return regularly. “Now that they’re open, I’ll come back every week,” he said.
The reopening also drew customers who grew up visiting Chi-Town. Sean Wright said his mother brought him to the restaurant as a child and that he has known the Johnsons for much of his life. “My mother brought me here since I could first eat hot dogs,” Wright said. “We would always come here, always get something to eat.”
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Wright said returning to the restaurant was important because of his connection with the Johnson family. “Coming here today was something I could do for not only me, but Mr. Dan, Ms. Donna too,” he said.
Actual Chi-Towners endorse Chi-Town
The restaurant’s return also brought in customers originally from Chicago. Russell Matheny said he was familiar with Chicago-style food and felt Chi-Town had done a good job recreating it in Clarksville. “I am originally from Chicago, and these people, they did a great job,” Matheny said. “I’m more than glad to see them back.”
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Chi-Town Hot Dogs opened in Clarksville in 1993 after the Johnsons moved to the area from Chicago. The restaurant later moved to its Riverside Drive location, where it became a longtime destination for Chicago-style hot dogs, brats, Italian beef sandwiches and other menu items.
The restaurant’s menu is similar to what longtime customers remember. For Wright, the return of Chi-Town is also an opportunity for new customers to check out the restaurant for the first time. “Come out,” Wright said. “It’s a locally owned business. It’s a small business.”
Palmer said people who haven’t tried Chi-Town should give it a shot. “It’s worth every penny,” he said. “Order whatever you want, it’s all good. Everything on the menu is worth it.”
Chi-Town Hot Dogs is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The restaurant is closed Sunday through Tuesday. For more information, including the menu and updates, visit the Chi-Town Hot Dogs Facebook page.
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