A Sign of the Times in Cleveland
Opened in 1928 as the Hot Dog Inn by Emmanouel “Mike” Vasiliou, it became Old Fashion Hot Dog when the Sorma family took over the cash-only grill in 1987. After 92 years in business, a staple of Cleveland’s late-night culinary scene closed in March when the property’s landlords announced they had other plans for the building at West 41st and Lorain Avenue, and its recognizable sign is coming down on Monday, June 8 beginning at 10am. But thanks to a neighboring vintage and collectible business, that’s not the end of the story.
“Even though Old Fashion Hot Dog was only 360-square-feet, it occupies sizable space in the hearts of generations of Northeast Ohioans,” says Tim Yanko, who along with Dwight Kaczmarek, owns All Things for You. The shopkeepers are now helping to keep the restaurant’s memory alive for countless Clevelanders who, over the years, dropped in for lunch or a post-concert snack. The Old Fashion Hot Dog street sign soon will be reinstalled inside of All Things for You. “We wanted to preserve a piece of this community’s history,” says Yanko. “Fans will be able to stop in, see the sign and share their frankfurter-and-cheese-fries-fueled stories with us.”
“We’re proud to have been a part of this iconic eatery and happy that its legacy will live on the memories of our friends, family and customers,” says Old Fashion Hot Dog’s now retired Tom Sorma.
Sam
