BUCKTOWN — The new owner of the hot dog stand formerly known as Sam's Red Hots, which spanned four generations and two owners before closing this past fall, is neighboring Arturo's Tacos.
Arturo Torres Jr., the second-generation owner of Arturo's Tacos, a Mexican restaurant started by his father at the northeast corner of the Armitage and Western avenues intersection, bought the former hot dog stand and triangular lot at 2345 W. Armitage Ave. in Bucktown.
The $550,000 land sale, from Sam's Red Hots owner Ruth Fischer to Arthur Torres Jr. took place Oct. 11, county records show.
Arturo's Tacos, which is open 24 hours daily and has a bar, opened in 1988, while neighboring Sam's Hot Dogs traces its roots to the 1940s.
Sam's Red Hots offered only a walk-up window and was known for serving Red Hot Chicago brand hot dogs, Polish sausages, tamales and crinkle cut fries.
Torres could not immediately be reached for comment; however, real estate agent Pablo Cazares from PMA Real Estate, who assisted Torres with buying the former Sam's Red Hots, said the spot will continue its legacy as a to-go hot dog stand.
Torres will be adding more items to the menu, in addition to hot dogs, Cazares said. If is unclear what the new name, if any, will be.
On Oct. 27, the city issued a building permit to Torres to replace doors, siding and windows on the tiny stand just east of the Armitage and Western intersection and across from Arturo's Tacos.
The bright red former Sam's Red Hots wooden boards were removed and now show white and brown siding.
Cazares said the proximity of the stand to Torres' existing location was a draw for his client, along with "the opportunity to own another restaurant" nearby.
The now removed Sam's Red Hots sign illustrates how close it is to longtime neighbor Arturo's. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
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