CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Five years after shutting down operations, Chi-Town Hot Dogs is planning a comeback, while honoring the memory of one of their founders – Donna Johnson.
Chi-Town Hot Dogs, located on Riverside Drive, shut down in 2021 after Donna Johnson was diagnosed with cancer, which led to her death that November. Now, in 2026, Donna’s husband Dan Johnson and the couple’s longtime neighbor Elizabeth Self are working toward reopening Chi-Town as business partners.
Dream of bringing Chicago dogs to Clarksville
The idea of a Chicago-style hot dog stand was a natural for the Johnsons, who moved here from the Windy City in 1993.
“We had a dream – and maybe a little bit of Chicago stubbornness too. After a lot of heavy consideration, we decided to open a small hot dog stand called Chi-Town,” Dan Johnson told Clarksville Now. “At the time, nobody around here was really doing Chicago-style hot dogs, brats, Italian beefs, and the kind of food we grew up loving. We knew we were taking a chance, but we also knew one thing for certain: If we were going to do it, we were going to do it right.”
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Johnson said their goals were simple and clear from day one: Make a name for themselves by serving the best hot dogs, brats and sandwiches. “More importantly, we wanted Chi-Town to become something bigger than just a restaurant. We wanted people to think of Clarksville when they heard ‘Chi-Town,’ and we wanted it to be the kind of place where people could pull up to the window, grab a great meal, and leave feeling like family.”
Johnson said that over the years, their family’s dream came true because of the community around them. “We watched families grow up with us. Kids who used to come in with their parents eventually started bringing in their own children. Chi-Town became more than food; it became friendships, memories, laughter and a gathering place.”
In May 2021, Johnson said, his world changed forever. Donna got sick, and she lost her battle with cancer in November 2021.
“Losing her was the hardest thing I have ever faced,” Johnson said. “Not long after, I made the difficult decision to sell Chi-Town because, honestly, I thought the dream was over. Donna wasn’t just my wife. She was my partner in every sense of the word. Without her, it was hard to imagine continuing.”
Johnson said that thankfully, life had other plans. Self reached out to him about the possibility of reopening Chi-Town.
‘This wasn’t just my dream anymore; It belonged to the community too’
“Elizabeth and several close friends kept showing me all the messages online from people in the community saying how much they missed Chi-Town and how badly they wanted it to come back. That’s when it hit me: This wasn’t just my dream anymore; it belonged to the community too,” he said.
“Reopening Chi-Town became an opportunity to continue Donna’s Legacy and keep our dream alive. I realize that what we built over the years matters to people, and that kind of support is something you could never take for granted.”
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Johnson and Self are teaming up as business partners with a simple vision. “We want Chi-Town to continue growing and become an even bigger part of the Clarksville community. We want this to be a place where people can come grab a great meal, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and create memories for years to come.”
Customer on growing up on Chi-Town dogs
Longtime customer Christopher Maille said Chi-Town isn’t just a restaurant to him, but a part of his childhood.
“I still remember when Chi-Town first opened on Dover Crossing. I was probably 9 or 10 years old,” Maille told Clarksville Now. “A few years later, they moved to Riverside Drive next to Big Lots, and that’s when I really started spending time there because it was closer to home. I’ve known the owners, Dan and Donna Johnson, most of my life. They weren’t just business owners; they were good people who made everyone feel welcome.
“That’s why so many people are excited about the reopening. For a lot of us, it’s more than nostalgia. It’s reconnecting with memories, traditions and a place that has meant something to this city for decades. I know I’m not the only one counting down the days until we can walk back up to those windows and order our favorite meal.”
What’s next for Chi-Town
Chi-Town Hot Dogs will be returning to their previous location at 1057 S. Riverside Drive later in June. The building is getting a refresh with a new coat of paint. While a grand reopening date has not been set yet, they expect to make the announcement soon.
A new Facebook page is also expected, so they can see and address customer feedback.
Johnson and Self said the menu is expected to stay mostly the same as it was, only without Donna’s personal touch.
As long as Chi-Town is open though, Johnson said, Donna’s legacy will live on. “And for the record, Chicago may have taught us how to make a hot dog, but Clarksville taught us what home really feels like,” he said.
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