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Stopped by Joe's yesterday for a smoked meat and salami fix and learned he's closing up shop. Exactly when wasn't clear. He was a bit vague on the details and it was crowded. I couldn't tell if he's closing around Labor Day or if come Labor Day he's going to start the process of selling off everything and then closing a few weeks later.

He seemed pretty sad about closing, and made a few cryptic remarks ("So are you gonna be retiring or moving on to somewhere else?" "Well, I might go somewhere where they want me") that suggested he was being forced out of the space. But he also mentioned deciding to sell the building (though maybe he had to sell for certain reasons and was hoping to be able to stay on and keep the store?). So I have no idea what the story is.

But whatever the reasons, it will be a devastating culinary loss for the area. Joe will be sorely missed.

Get there while it's still there for the gettin.

P.S. The garlic/Serbian salami was particularly delicious on Saturday

Thanks for the heads up. I'll miss Joe, his charcuterie and all his F-bombs too. I thought I remembered hearing (a while back) that he was trying to sell the biz. I guess that didn't pan out. In any case, I wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to do next.

=R=

_________________
I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

During my last visit (a few months ago), Joe was obsessing about how much property in the area was going for these days. I could almost see the $$$ in his eyes. I'm sure his plan is to cash in on the property. I don't think he has given all that much thought to the store. Instead, I think he is dreaming of a big payday and retirement.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

HI,

I am sure receipt of his property tax bill also helps to expedite the decision.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Instead of speculating about Joe's financial motivations, I'd suggest that everyone stop by to pick up a sausage or two and wish him well.

Best,
Michael

Joe's Sausage Market
4452 N. Western Ave.
(773) 478-5443

I couldn't agree with you more. Those sausages will be missed. No doubt about it!

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Michael,

Excellent advice.

As an aside, a friend called in a semi panic 3 months ago, verging on frantic after a conversation where Joe intimated he would be closing in the next couple of days.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard Joe the Sausage King was closing I'd have pret' near a dollar.

Enjoy,
Gary

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Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

He makes a fine andouille, too. I'm so sad to hear he's closing. He is a man of many stories. I went in there one day, and he predicted that a world-altering explosion or disaster would strike and kill millions. When my mom was visiting last year, I brought her there to meet Joe. She shared a family recipe for sausage and Joe jumped across the counter, bloody, meaty hands and all, to bear hug her. He's also given me a tour of his "factory". To lose such a quirky character...

Stopped in to load my pack with sausage and to suss out the rumors. Joe confirmed he'd sold the building (I won't say for how much, but he will), and plans to build a house for his daughter with the proceeds, before going to work at another butcher shop, TBD. My regrets were rewarded with a brain scrambling 20 minute discourse beginning with relatively stale bromides about every "end leading to new beginnings," continuing on to the superiority of sea salt over Morton's, his plans to prove the deleterious effects of Morton's drying agents on the human body, (which he will reveal on Oprah), leading to critiques of various iconic political and religious figures ("MLK said he climbed the mountaintop. He lied. He didn't climb no motherf*ing mountaintop. I did. It was in Austria."), and concluding with a forceful argument for the Vatican's orchestration of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and its secret control of CNN.

He says he's out of the building before the end of September so get your sausage now.

Thanks for the info m'th'su. Definitely need to load up some more before he closes.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Joe being Joe and all, he said those exact same words about MLK to my visiting father-in-law when I took him to sample Joe's fine wares many months ago. Only on that visit, I think he followed up the MLK bit with a talk about Romanian currency and its impending devaluation.

Hopefully he'll wind up at a butcher shop not too far away.

HA! What a wonderful description of a classic Joe monologue. Funny how most of the time, I thought, 'Okay, can I just get some sausage and get the hell out of here?', and now I think about how much I'll miss the free and unsolicited tirades.

Can you imagine him behind the counter at Fox and Obel?

I forgot: Joe is giving 10% off orders of $20 or more.

Note from July, 2004.

Joe has clearly had some problems with at least one city inspector although this may have some connection with Joe's skills at diplomacy being much less than his skill in sausage making.

Walked past Joe's toay, a sign in the window claimed Joe retired and that the store was closed forever.

Well, since he's closed now and I was going to head out for some sausage and sausage-like products today, any suggestions on "next best" to The Sausage King?

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...Pedro

Since I was already making a batch of Toulouse sausage on Sunday, I dedicated the run to Joe, the effing sausage King of effing Chicago!

=R=

_________________
I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

Joe tells me he is now working part-time making sausage for Stanley's Sausage. He said the varieties include hungarian sausage, thuringer, salami and head cheese, as well as smoked bacon, and that he is using the same recipes that he used at his own shop, except that he now uses sea salt.

(Joe and my Mom were co-workers 20 years ago, before Joe owned his shop.)

Joe Ader, sausage maker
Stanley's Sausage
3648 West Belmont
Chicago, IL
(773) 539-6607
Mon-Sat 8 am - 8 pm
Sun 9 am - 5 pm

hope still as good as before..
pret personnel

I wonder if he will be making cevapcicci? The guys on my husband's soccer team swore by the Cevap. at Joe's. Since it closed we have bought it at Lincoln Quality meats but I would love to re-connect with Joe's!

bjt

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"eating is an agricultural act" wendell berry

I was browsing the forum to see if anyone had new information about Joe, if he is still in the area, is he working at another shop?

I miss Joe and his sausages. He was always so enthusiastic to talk sausages, he actually took me in the back to show me the casings he uses, his sausage stuffing machine and he wanted me to run the machine and make some sausage. I declined, didn't want blobs of meat on the floor.

Hi,

It is too late in the evening to call to verify, if nothing changed Joe may still be at Stanley's Sausage mentioned below. If and when you do check, please advise on this thread, too.

Thanks and good luck!

Regards,
Cathy

Stanley's closed some time ago.

From what Mom tells me, Joe is retired now. City Fresh Market sells a fresh hungarian sausage that they label as "Joe's Hungarian Sausage". I recall Joe telling me that he provides the seasoning mix, but does not make the sausage. I bought some for Mom and Dad, but they said it just is not the same.

City Fresh Market
3201 West Devon Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659-1306
(773) 681-8600

I had a chance to catch up with Joe this weekend. He is fit, healthy, and doing well in his retirement. He still will accept orders for fresh or smoked sausage. If you would like to catch up with him, you can find him at the German Day festival in Lincoln Square the weekend of September 7, 8 and 9, 2012. He will be marching with his choral group in the Von Steuben Parade on Saturday 9/8/2012. He will also be manning one of the grills at various times (I think he said Friday evening and Sunday afternoon).