LTHForum.com

FYI, we went to Monk's Bar in Wis Dells and they serve old fashioned burgers on butcher paper. I expected a tourist trap but the meat was incredibly fresh and the burger quite tasty.

We tried to go there Friday. It's gone. There's a large, new-looking Walgreens about where it was supposed to be.

Perhaps one or more of these locations is still extant?

Schoop's Hamburgers

695 Torrence Avenue, Calumet City, IL 60409
(708) 891-4270

96 River Oaks Drive, Calumet City, IL 60409
(708) 730-1660

700 West Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 748-7580

700 West Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 598-9993

348 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462
(708) 873-9933

123 Stratford Square Mall, Bloomingdale, IL 60108
(630) 307-9933


We wound up at Vito & Nick's II, for a very good version of cracker-crusted pizza.

_________________
LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

Schoops in the Orland Square Mall is closed.

The arguments presented above regarding the origins of the American hamburger are compelling reading indeed. Nevertheless, I would like to raise a question: Is not the context of the culinary experience inseparable from the hamburger itself? I cannot comment on the context in which one might have eaten a bierock (and my only experience of Salisbury steak is in the metal-infused tomato sauce of the circa 1963 Swanson TV dinner while watching Lassie on black and white TV) Nevertheless, my argument is embedded in postings above that include photographs. From the paper wrapping to the particular charms of the burger stand, an ecological perspective seems warranted in any serious discussion of the hamburger And --dare I say it?-- the "billions sold" at the Golden Arches are relevant. Any thoughts on this?

_________________
Man : I can't understand how a poet like you can eat that stuff.
T. S. Eliot: Ah, but you're not a poet.

The original Schoop's is on Ridge Road in Munster IN, less than a mile east of the Gayety ice cream place talked about here. It has been in that location for more than 40 years...

They also serve homemade ice cream at that location.

Mark

I've discovered a Schoop's Website, which lists only four Illinois locations, including Orland Square.

_________________
LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

Thanks for locating the website! Many years ago I knew there was a place on Calumet Ave in Hammond IN that served Schoopburgers, but the name of the place wasn't Schoops. And as I suspected, most Schoops locations are in Indiana.

I will always have an attachment to Schoops because my very first job was working at the Munster IN restaurant...

Mark

This is going to sound like my cred isnt there but just listen for a sec...I have been eating the burgers at Dairy Queen in Willmette since my H.S days at Loyola and im thinking it might be the definition of a 30's style burger. Before you get all worked up and say "Ive had burgers at DQ, they are nothing like that" let me point out that this is an independent DQ and you can not find burgers like the ones they make here anywhere!!!! First off they have the small patty (a bit smaller than a McD's) which they almost half cook, half steam. Then they take a steamed bun and top it with cheese, chopped onions, pickles and mustard (ketchup optional, no way for me) then they take the burger and stuff it into a piece of white paper allowing it to steam inside. I always order a double b/c its the perfect balance of meat to bread. Im telling yall, im big on burgers and im even bigger on the 30's style and I think this is the perfect example of a 30' style burger, go try one before they close for the season, you wont be mad you did. Pictures coming soon as I was able to haul a digi with me when I went to go grab one last week.

Dairy Queen
3510 Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-8727

Strange but I just ate a burger at the DQ on Lake in Wilmette not 15 minutes ago. It tastes exactly like it did 30 years ago when I ate my first one. You used to be able to order as many patties as you liked and we would sometimes try to out do each other with 10, 12 and 15 patties at a time. The fancy new menu boards now only list a triple. Still wonderful.

Decatur, IL has a place that offers the quintessential '30's-style burger that you seek. It is known as Krekel's Custard (because they also offer frozen custard and shakes made with same that are delicious). Namesake Bill Krekel passed away a feew years back but his progeny are running the place like he did. Krekel's popularized the "Chicken-Car" of central Illinois lore. He bought some Cadillac Fleetwoods and mounted fiberglass chicken heads and tails on them and painted them like Old Glory. Way ahead of his time in the marketing area...

The meat is sourced locally, ground fresh daily and never frozen. Pickles are sliced lengthwise, not a coin shape, which thrills me to no end. They are grilled to order and have that crispy, nearly burnt edge to them. Burgers are tightly wrapped in a waxy white paper and stuffed into a brown paper sack for carryout. When a little grease finds its way to the brown paper sack bottom you know you've gotten their best effort. There are several locations, including Springfield I think, but this is the original and still the best IMHO:

Krekel's Custard
801 E Wood St
Decatur, IL
217-429-1122

I grew up in Wilmette and while it's been 13 years since I lived there, I still get up that way about every 6-7 weeks. But I haven't been to that DQ in probably 20 years, as I boycotted it for having very expensive custard prices compared to other DQs. Plus, I had found Poochie's....

I will have to try it out the next time I'm up there, probably in mid-September.

_________________
"You may not want to take its picture, but you really want to eat it." - Nigella Lawson

In looking at the photos of your burger, I am reminded and now craving a Henry's Hamburger from Benton Harbor, MI. The burger looks just like that. I would suspect Henry's has only been there since at earliest the 1950s, I will have to ask my Mom and Dad.

Growing up near Lansing, MI we used to go to Kewpee Sandwich Shop for burgers. My grandparents used to talk about going there for lunch when they were in high school, which would have been in the 30's. The burgers I remember look very much like the one in the first post.

I notice that there are also locations in Lima, OH and Racine, WI but I haven't been to those.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kewpee

Kewpee in Racine is a treasure.

Regards,

_________________
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

I've been to the two in Lima, Oh many, many times. They make each patty by hand and there is nothing like a double cheese, mustard, pickle and onion. Wrapped up in a piece of waxed paper with the kewpie doll printed on it. I buy them ten at a time, because they are just as delicious heated up.

Gosh, I love seeing posters from central IL and Racine here! I inherited my love of burgers from Dad who is the son of 2 Volga German Catholics. Grandma Frank was born in Catherine, KS and my grandfather immigrated from Rothammel around 1910 to Fort Dodge, Iowa. Dad is from Milwaukee and moved to Chicago after the war. I keep looking for a great burger and what I want is the 30s style as Mike has named it. Around 20 years ago, the Trib had a recipe for a runza which I may still have. It is similiar to the beirock. The recipe and conversation with the writer led me to a distant relative who provided me the missing piece of the puzzle when I was researching Dad's family history. Here's a cool website I just found on Volga German foods: http://www.volgagermans.net/volgagermans/Volga%20German%20Foodways.htm

Im always on the quest for the 30's style burger and Henry's is a great example.


Circa 1965 in Ames. IA


Circa 2007 in Benton Harbor, MI

Also the DQ in Wilmette should be opening for the season soon and it's a little closer.


I dont think this picture does the burger justice but I wanted to post it anyway...from last summer this a triple cheese from the DQ, it looks like the bun wasnt fully steamed which they normally are but everyone has an off day.

Henry's Hamburgers
1832 M 139
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 926-6757

Dairy Queen
3510 Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-8727

Grayslake location closed at the end of December last year. It was one of my destinations over the weekend.

_________________
"Make Lunch, Not War" ~ Anon

Job took me to Orland Park yesterday. Finished up around 2 and as I am not familiar with the area, I used my Navigation system to find nearby eating spots. Schoop's came up within 1 mile of me so off I went. My anticipation started to sour as the system informed that I had arrived at my destination only to find myself in the parking lot of the Orland Square Mall parking lot

As I had seen several full service Johnny Rockets in Malls in the south, I headed in with my fingers crossed. As I turned the corner at the Food Court, there sat Schoop's next to Great American Steak & Potato, Sbarro and Panda Express each with the recquisit "I'd rather be anywhere else than here) staff.

I ordered a Double Cheese with everything, fry and a drink. It took a while which was fine as I saw that it was being cooked fresh.

The Fries arrived luke warm and were mediocre at best.

On to the burger. The burgers were large (a single would have been enough) and the crisp edges looked great. I then realized that "everything" consisted of the burger, cheese and bun. The only condiments at the counter were Mustard, Ketchup, Relish, Chopped Onion and Pickle slices.

When I removed the bun, there was not one spot of grease on it and the bun was so dry that it literally fell apart when I picked it up. Additionally I am at a loss as to how a burger can be this dry when cooked fresh on a griddle.

Now if the burgers had spent a little less time on the griddle, had nice slices of raw onion and fresh tomato and a fresh bun this could have been a very good burger.

I look forward to the opportunity to experience Schoop's at one of the full service stand alone locations.

_________________
Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.
Woody Allen

Im thinking that this is a case of Schoop's being in a foodcourt at the mall. I imagine that the employees dont give a hooha about the burger being good. I frequent the location in Michigan City every summer and its still the best burger chain I have sampled, everything is the exact opposite of what you described aside from the amazing crispy edge's. I like Schoop's a little more than Culver's and find it much better than Redamak's but still enjoy all three places. My problem with Culver's is they vary greatly by location, the ones in Wisconsin are much better than the Michigan City location. Redamak's arent really a 30's style burger but they used to have a spot on Lincoln ave across the street from where baba pita currently moved in...does anybody remember this?

Schoops Hamburgers
MICHIGAN CITY
4105 S. Franklin

Culver's of Michigan City, IN
3967 Frontage Road North
Michigan City, IN 46360
219-872-5065
FAX 219-872-5067

http://redamaks.com/

The origional Schoops was in Hammond Indiana in 1948. 16 stool place.

I had the pleasure of dining at Schoop's in Michigan City a day or two after returning from LA, where I was within a block of the In n Out behind Hollywood HS and had taken full advantage of its proximity. My informal self-contemplative survey resulted in Schoop's Mickey beating out INO's double double animal style. But were talking Hearns-Hagler level competition here.

I agree that the Mickey is a great burger. I always ask for the bun toasted because some Schoop's locations won't serve it that way as a matter of course and an untoasted Schoop's bun is rather insipid.

_________________
Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

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

Having returned from my first trip to Kansas (courtesy of http://scavhunt1.uchicago.edu/, the world's largest scavenger hunt), I must say that the burgers at the Cozy Inn in Salina are everything they're cracked up to be. And don't dare try to order them with cheese.

There are several places in the greater Detroit area that serve these "30s-style burgers", exactly as you describe them.

Many of them are listed here:

http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/miburger.html

Most of restaurants are easy to spot because of their white porcelain enamel tiles, and most of them also sport aluminum counters inside. I believe most opened in the 50's and have changed very little over the years. I've been to at least four or five of the ones listed at the link, and they all serve burgers exactly as you describe (and wrap them in the same thin wax paper you describe for their carry-outs). Most of the restaurants also serve Detroit-style "coney dogs".

Lot's of people call the little delicious burgers "Sliders", but not in a derogatory way. The hamburgers start off as balls of ground beef that are dropped onto a large grill - smaller balls for single burgers, larger balls for doubles. The cook flattens them with a spatula and covers them with fresh onions. Once the burger is flipped, the bun goes on top of the cooking burgers, sopping up the juices.

I'll have to see if I can dig up some better pictures of the burgers. All I can find right now is a picture I took with my cell phone. But at least you can get an idea of the size and note the aluminum counters. This picture is from Greene's:



I also have a few pictures of some coney dogs from Bate's Hamburgers:





And finally, here are a couple shots of The Telway:

I made my annual summer pilgrimage to Wilmette for a 30's style burger from the DQ on Lake ave. This is one of my favorite little burgers in the city, maybe its because I ate them daily in HS or maybe its just my love for this style of burger, but they are still really good and taste exactly the same. Again Ill repeat what i said in a previous post, that this is a independent DQ and the burgers are only available at this specific location.


double cheese (L) Single cheese (R)



Regarding Henry's in Benton Harbor, I was there last week as well and I felt the exact same way. The burger wasnt a good deal and wasnt great but I knew I would be back next summer. The way to go there is the 3 burgers for the price of 2 special.

_________________
Smokin' Chokin' and Chowing

The Kewpee in Racine is still there and turning out amazing 30's style burgers to this day. They grind their meat fresh daily and even have homemade root beer - well worth a stop. I like to make a day of it and visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Johnson Wax building while I'm there.



Kewpee Lunch
520 Wisconsin Ave
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 634-9601
http://www.kewpee.com/index.php

_________________
"Baseball is like church. Many attend. Few understand." Leo Durocher

Can I get an opinion if the burgers at either of these two Chicago classic diners qualify for this category:

The Diner Grill on Irving Park (home of the "Slinger")

The Two Way Grill at Elston and Pulaski

Ursiform, here's a similar visit to Kewpie and Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee you might enjoy.

_________________
Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.

Yes, both Diner Grill and Two Way qualify.

Diner Grill
1635 W Irving
Chicago, IL
773-248-2030

Two Way Grill
4351 N Elston
Chicago, IL

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

Low & Slow