'Maurie' and 'Flaurie' return to Superdawg in 'happy homecoming'
Wednesday marked the return of two beloved Chicago icons to the Northwest Side.
Following a 10-week absence, the 12-foot-tall hot dog statues dubbed “Maurie” and “Flaurie” were lifted back onto the roof of the Superdawg restaurant in Norwood Park.
Customers celebrated by buying T-shirts, hats and stuffed figures. One woman even shed a few tears.
“She’s been coming here for her whole life, so she was crying by the time they were putting the dawgs back,” said manager Lucas Dominguez. “They bring back a lot of memories of her childhood.”
A fixture atop the eatery since its inception in 1948, the figures were taken down for a “spa treatment,” said Don and Lisa Drucker, who own the business with Scott Berman. They were taken to Orlandi Statuary in Logan Square. Their last "rejuvenation" was 25 years ago, according to the Druckers.
Weighing in at 800 pounds each, Maurie and Flaurie were constructed from chicken wire and paper-mache, and reinforced with fiberglass. Known for their “winking,” glowing eyes, the characters were repainted and refurbished by Orlandi Statuary. Ralph and Tony Cilia, of North Shore Sign in Libertyville, transported and rewired the figures with LED lights in place of the old incandescent light bulbs.
“They are just beaming,” Don Drucker said. “I took a picture of them last night, and they were just bright and shiny and glowing."
He also praised the working relationship between the three companies.
"It was wonderful to see all of the effort, care, love and dedication from all three of these family businesses," he said. "They just really took care of them and got them all cleaned up and ready to go for the next 25 years.”
While they were away, Lisa Drucker said there was a noticeable “absence in the sky.”
But now that the landmarks are back, customers, staff and “drivers-by” can rejoice.
“We are overjoyed,” Lisa said. “It’s like when you have a relative that comes home. It’s a happy homecoming.”