Chicago's Hot Doug's Can 'Accommodate No New Customers' on Last Day of Business

Not surprisingly, there is currently a line of epic — some might say Cronut — proportions outside of Chicago's Hot Doug's, one of the country's most famous hot dog stops, which is closing permanently today after 14 years in the city's Avondale neighborhood. Eater Chicago reports that since yesterday fans have been lining up to get one last hot dog, and that people are offering to sell their place in line for up to $300. Others, in true task rabbit-style, are charging between $12 and $15 per hour to wait in line for less dedicated fans who have money but not time.

A barbecue restaurant, Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse, seized the opportunity to feed the hungry crowd last night. Later, a single bagpiper filled the air with mournful notes. One local news station aired their coverage of Hot Doug's line this morning to the tune of Bette Midler's "You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings."

Sadly, as of this morning, Hot Doug's has closed their line. At 8:30 a.m. EST, owner Doug Sohn announced on Twitter: "Our line, and Hot Doug's in a more general sense, can accommodate no new customers. We love you & we thank you, my friends." Eater Chicago continues to track the progress of the line, which may have been cut off as early as 6:30 a.m. this morning.

Doug tells me he's cutting off line to 200 because people are ordering $60 average. It's a matter of supply. pic.twitter.com/IR8UoVvQQX

— Kevin Pang (@pang) October 3, 2014

Yes, there's already a line for tomorrow's last day at @hotdougs pic.twitter.com/ns0yTsFtbY

— gilberto magaña (@pilsenite) October 3, 2014

This guy, Scott Ingerson, is making hot dog balloons in the @hotdougs line pic.twitter.com/DVcKlujfTm

— Eater Chicago (@eaterchicago) October 3, 2014

The first people in line at Hot Doug's have been there almost 16 hours now http://t.co/UcEKA3MDpG

— Chicago magazine (@ChicagoMag) October 3, 2014