Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • Midnight Flight Book
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Two Guys on Politics Podcast: A Centrist View on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • The Arab street Podcast
  • Submit a Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • Orland Park Trustee Daniel "Dan" Calandriello
    Democrat Calandriello gears up for November General Election to represent the 17th Cook County District Cook County
  • Orland Fire District to honor former Fire Chief Robert M. Buhs Cook County
  • Fireworks display for the 4th of July. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Cook County Comr Donna Miller lists district 4th of July celebrations Cook County
  • Jehovah's Witnesses website at JW.org
    Jehovah’s Witnesses Back on the Streets of Chicago After Pandemic Pause General Topics
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar wins Democratic primary election Cook County
  • Bill Foster Democrat 11th District Illinois
    Congressman Bill Foster thanks voters for their support Cook County
  • State Rep Fran Hurley 35th district
    Hurley and Cunningham Invite Residents to Free Prescription Drug Takeback Event July 9 in Merrionette Park Cook County
  • Preliminary vote shows Abdelnasser Rashid unseats incumbent Mike Zalewski Chicago
  • Former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is the lead candidate to succeed Jessie White as Secretary of State. Photo courtesy of WIkipedia
    Alexi Giannoulias easily captures Democratic nomination for Secretary of State Chicago
  • Congressman Sean Casten
    Sean Casten defeats Marie Newman and will face-off with extremist Keith Pekau Cook County
  • Clifford Law Group
    Chicago-Bound Amtrak train derails in Missouri with 243 passengers aboard breaking news
  • George Kemper, candidate for the 12th Illinois House District in the Republican Primary June 28, 2022
    GOP House candidate George Kemper condemns Feigenholtz Cartoon that attacks Catholics Chicago
  • Chicago Wolves defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds to win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship, June 25, 2022
    Chicago Wolves win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship Chicago
  • Chicago Wolves one win from Calder Cup Championship
    Chicago Wolves win over Springfield Thunderbirds puts them one away from Calder Cup championship Chicago
  • Morrison gets special attention at expense of taxpayers, column in the Regional News Newspaper June 23, 2022
    Sean Morrison gets special police protection at expense of other taxpayers Blogger
The Dugout in Burbank. Photo courtesy of Steve Metsch

Fire shuts down The Dugout

Posted on June 29, 2017June 30, 2017 By Steve Metsch No Comments on Fire shuts down The Dugout
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Fire shuts down The Dugout

Owner pledges return after repairing legendary Burbank eatery 

By Steve Metsch

There’s bad news and good news regarding The Dugout, a longtime fast food restaurant in Burbank that last year joined the Vienna Beef Hot Dog Hall of Fame.

First, the bad. A fire swept through the kitchen in the wee hours of June 14, forcing closure of the restaurant for the first time since it opened in August 1984.

And now, the good. Owner Mike DiStefano, who earlier this year nearly sold The Dugout, said that he will reopen after repairs are made.

“I almost had a buyer, but he backed out with 48 hours to go. The sale fell through, but then, everything was going good. Sales picked up. Then, this past week, I got a phone call which was the most shocking call of my life,” DiStefano said.

The Dugout in Burbank. Photo courtesy of Steve Metsch
The Dugout in Burbank. Photo courtesy of Steve Metsch

A fire in the building, 6300 W. 79th St., started early June 14. Large plywood boards now cover the windows and doors. Fire damage can be seen on the roof near the kitchen.

The fire surprised many devoted diners, along with a Pepsi delivery truck driver who on June 16 parked on Mobile Avenue, got out and was surprised to see The Dugout shuttered.

“What happened?” he asked a reporter, adding that he had an order to deliver.

Burbank Fire Chief David E. Gilgenberg II was surprised as anyone. “I’ve been going there my whole life,” the Reavis High School alumni said. “I hope it reopens.”

The fire department received news of the blaze at 1:07 a.m. June 14 and was soon on the scene, as the Dugout is just a few blocks east of the fire house.

“We quickly brought the fire under control, but the damage was done,” he said. No neighboring houses were damaged, and there were no injuries, Gilgenberg said.

“The cause was not intentional and possibly could have been from an electrical source. It is not being classified as suspicious. It looks electrical and accidental in nature,” he said.

DiStefano, who lives in Mokena, said damage was contained to the kitchen. His sports memorabilia in the dining room was spared damage.
“I have to gut the kitchen, re-do the kitchen,” DiStefano said. “I’m hoping and praying we can get it together.”

“This was really a blow, a punch to the gut. We never in a million years expected something like this,” DiStefano said. “We’re going to make it better than ever, reopen strong and get back to all our faithful (customers).”
When he was there June 19 with an insurance adjuster, about 50 “devastated” well-wishers stopped to chat with him.

“I love that. I love our town. I love The Dugout. My goal is to get us open as soon as possible,” he added.

In September, DiStefano was honored by Vienna Beef, which included The Dugout in it’s Hot Dog Hall of Fame. Two months later, he decided he was tired of working – he had been there pretty much every day since 1984– and put the 875-square-foot restaurant on the market.

When the deal fell through, and sales picked up, he decided that it was too early for him to retire.

Firefighters from the Hometown and North Palos fire protection districts and the village of Bridgeview assisted, the chief said.

— Desplaines Valley News

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at sm4610@sbcglobal.net
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Countryside’s concert series returns - June 13, 2022
  • Age is just a number - June 5, 2022
  • ‘Weird Al’ vanity tour a smash - May 27, 2022
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News Tags:Burbank, Mike DiStefano, The Dugout, Vienna Beef Hot Dog Hall of Fame

Post navigation

Previous Post: Media plays fast and loose with healthcare facts
Next Post: Where to celebrate Fourth of July

Related Posts

  • Layalina_3 (from Left) Layla B Ahmanziari (Script Assistant), Gloria Imseih Petrelli (Young Layal / Marwa), Arash Fakhrabadi (Sahir / Amin) and Louis Sallan (Yasir / Mazin). Photo courtesy of Goodman Theater
    Goodman Theater begins rehearsals for Nightwatch and Layalina Books & Films
  • Members of The Illinois Senate approve a new budget in the wake of the coronavirus May 23, 2020. Photo courtesy of The Illinois Senate
    Legislature passes budget to help victims of COVID-19 Chicago
  • Voting sticker from Chicagoland election. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania. Vote. Election
    Feds charge Twitter user with misleading voters in 2016 election Crime
  • DuPage-Kane Task Force Yields Drug Arrest, Seizure of Cocaine and Fentanyl Crime
  • Hundreds mourn student in Lyons News
  • Brookfield Zoo exhibit. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Coalition Calls for Added Funding of Brookfield Zoo in Capital Bill Entertainment

More Related Articles

Ageless wonders keep rolling News
Chicago Wolves take second game of playoffs against Iowa Wild. Photo courtesy of Chicago Wolves. May 2019 Chicago Wolves’s Big Rally nearly succeeds over Milwaukee Admirals Chicago
Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan CUB to host meeting in Palos Township to help consumers save money Government
Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval. Photo courtesy of Senator Sandoval Sandoval cosponsors legislation to legalize adult-use recreational cannabis in Illinois Government
Congressman Dan Lipinski Lipinski urges restoration of humanitarian aid for Palestinians Chicago
Guitars are silenced News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Morrison gets special attention at expense of taxpayers, column in the Regional News Newspaper June 23, 2022
    Sean Morrison gets special police protection at expense of other taxpayers
    June 24, 2022
  • San Francisco district attorney Chesa Boudin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Continuation of the beginning of the end
    June 21, 2022
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts
    Sean Morrison drops the ball fighting for Cook County Republicans
    June 21, 2022
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Right from the Middle: The China and Russia threat to the US Reserve Currency
    June 8, 2022
  • Sean Morrison just can’t stop himself from lying
    June 6, 2022
  • Ray Hanania Opinion Column published in The Regional News Newspaper, Des Plaines Valley Newspaper and Southwest News Newspaper Group newspaper chain June 1, 2022
    The Sean Morrison letter to the Judge I would have written
    June 1, 2022

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Orland Park Police captur... Orland Park Police capture major theft ring After a string of retail theft... posted on June 27, 2022
  • Senior Care Home, eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on social or copy the text below to attribute. Nursing Home Violations f... Nursing Home Violations for First Quarter of 2022 The Illinois Department... posted on June 7, 2022
  • Jacob Bean, 24. Photo courtesy of the Tinley Park Police Department Charges filed after alter... Charges filed after altercation leads to death of New Lenox man Tinley Par... posted on June 3, 2022
  • Preliminary vote shows Ab... Preliminary vote shows Abdelnasser Rashid unseats incumbent Mike Zalewski ... posted on June 28, 2022
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts Sean Morrison drops the b... Sean Morrison drops the ball fighting for Cook County Republicans Republic... posted on June 21, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Orland Park Trustee Daniel "Dan" Calandriello
    Democrat Calandriello gears up for November General Election to represent the 17th Cook County District
    July 2, 2022
  • Orland Fire District to honor former Fire Chief Robert M. Buhs
    July 2, 2022
  • Fireworks display for the 4th of July. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Cook County Comr Donna Miller lists district 4th of July celebrations
    July 2, 2022
  • Jehovah's Witnesses website at JW.org
    Jehovah’s Witnesses Back on the Streets of Chicago After Pandemic Pause
    July 1, 2022
  • David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive. Photo courtesy of Milwaukee County
    County Executive David Crowley to Sign Legislation Funding McKinley Beach Restoration & Safety Improvements
    June 29, 2022
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar wins Democratic primary election
    June 29, 2022
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Netflix is the best streaming service, despite drop in stock price
    April 20, 2022
  • Book Cover "Laptop from Hell" by Miranda Devince
    Questions remain unanswered about Hunter Biden’s ties to Ukraine
    February 20, 2022
  • Amazon.com's "Day 1" tower in Seattle, WA in January 2017. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Clifford Law to sue Amazon after employee is killed by tornado at downstate distribution center
    January 16, 2022

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wolves defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds to win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship, June 25, 2022
    Chicago Wolves win their 3rd American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship
    June 25, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves one win from Calder Cup Championship
    Chicago Wolves win over Springfield Thunderbirds puts them one away from Calder Cup championship
    June 25, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves take Game 3 for 2nd win in the Calder Cup Finals 2022 over Springfield Thunderbirds.
    Chicago Wolves seize Calder Cup Finals lead over Springfield Thunderbirds
    June 22, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves take 2nd game of Calder Cup Finals June 20, 2022
    Chicago Wolves triumph over the Springfield Thunderbirds in second Calder Cup Finals game
    June 21, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Senior Care Home, eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on social or copy the text below to attribute.
    Nursing Home Violations for First Quarter of 2022
    June 7, 2022
  • John B. Schulz, 36, of the 7400 block of Brookside Drive in Hanover Park
    Hanover Park Man Charged with Multiple Felonies After Attempt to Meet Minor for Sex
    May 27, 2022
  • State Rep Fran Hurley 35th district
    Hurley-led Measure to Support Families of Fallen First Responders Signed by Governor
    May 24, 2022
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair
    May 17, 2022
  • Liz Gorman hosts Forum for Republican Candidates May 20. Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate and conscience of the Republican Conservative movement, will be a keynote speaker
    Barry Goldwater Jr., son of former GOP Presidential icon, headlines Gorman Republican Forum
    May 16, 2022
Two Guys on PoliticsTwo Guys on Politics

John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    House passes two bills sponsored by Congresswoman Newman to support small businesses and strengthen trade
    June 9, 2022
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair
    May 17, 2022
  • Closure notice from Mayor Lori Lightfoot for Arab and Muslim owned Citgo Gas Station at at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago.
    Mayor Lightfoot accused of targeting Arab and Muslim stores in gang crackdown
    May 7, 2022
  • John Husnick provides direction at Worth Township Career Fair
    Building Trades Career Fair offers opportunities for students
    April 29, 2022
Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme