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Tuesday, July 10, 2001
A memory from my early childhood is going to one of two Yankee Doodle Dandy restaurants in the area. They were pretty much in line with a Bakers Square or a Denny's today, but focused almost solely on fast-food fare. Burgers, chicken sandwiches, and the like were standard on the menu. Thing is, I don't remember much about them either than going to a location or the style of the french fry bag. That's it. I scoured the web, looking for any kind of permutation on the name, and found nothing. A Google search for Yankee Doodle and restaurant pulls up quite a few things, but nothing related to the place I remember... outside of a very cool page that features a lot of names you might remember. But nothing cohesive! There was one on Harlem and Cermak in Berwyn, IL... and I'm certain there was one on LaGrange Road, just north of 31st Street, in LaGrange, IL. Today the Berwyn site is home to McDonald's, and the LaGrange site is a dry cleaners. If anyone can jog my memory on this, please do so. -pm Comments
FROM: Cat
DATE: Tuesday July 10, 2001 -- 12:13:21PM Hmmm...false memories...more evidence that Paul is a replicant. FROM: Terry M. DATE: Tuesday July 10, 2001 -- 11:45:57PM There was a Yankee Doodle Dandy in Waukegan. I used to go there when I was very young but I don't remember it. I think the sign was light blue, white, and black. FROM: sheri DATE: Sunday July 20, 2003 -- 4:21:02 pm I have been searching for a yankee doodle restaurant for years now,and have still found none around. They had the best dandy burgers and fries, and shakes to dip the fries in. FROM: jk DATE: Sunday July 20, 2003 -- 7:44:47 pm Thank you Sheri! I thought I was the only person who likes to dip fries in ice cream. A lovely combination of salty and sweet! FROM: jeffindallas DATE: Thursday August 14, 2003 -- 4:31:41 pm Yankee Doodle Dandy was the coolest! I'm thinking that it was a chain in the Chicago area. We had one in Munster, Indiana outside of Chicago. It may have closed in the late '70's. YDD was the pick in town for kid's birthdays. The employees wore groovy uniforms like the old Burger King uniforms with the big hat. The Munster, Indiana site is now a home to a Greek joint. FROM: jim DATE: Tuesday October 21, 2003 -- 3:30:06 am I too am looking for YDD. There was one at 8900 s Harlem Ave in Bridgeview, IL but it's now a bank parking lot. I guess they are no more. Lets all chip in and open one up. FROM: jill DATE: Friday December 26, 2003 -- 1:15:24 pm There was one on 63rd Street a half block west of Austin Ave. But, it too has been gone for years. FROM: Ray DATE: Wednesday January 7, 2004 -- 2:29:29 am There was one on the 300 south arl hts road in arlington hts ,, closed in 78 ..spent many ditchdays there FROM: Carol DATE: Thursday January 29, 2004 -- 9:38:45 am I worked at the Yankee Doodle Dandy Burger in Mt Prospect-right across from the train station FROM: Heidi DATE: Wednesday February 25, 2004 -- 2:54:18 pm We use to go to the Yankee Doodle Dandy on Villa Street in Elgin. I remember they had great chocolate shakes!!! FROM: Chuck DATE: Sunday March 14, 2004 -- 12:24:23 pm I remember the ones in A.H. Mt. P. and Waukegan. I think the one in Waukegan closed in the early 90's. FROM: kent DATE: Sunday March 21, 2004 -- 10:31:00 am I remember Yankee Doodle in Wheaton on main street and Cole, now a quite good similar restaruant . i remmber not finding one for a while then seeing one open in glen ellyn. i have NO idea how long ago this memory is.. god.. 1992? its amazing how an old flavor can nag at you. ps. if you enjoyed jack in the box Taco's .. try burger king's taco. same thing FROM: dan DATE: Sunday May 23, 2004 -- 5:11:34 pm My brother worked at the one at 89th and Harlem in the early 70s. FROM: Cara DATE: Thursday June 3, 2004 -- 8:52:02 pm There was one in downtown Elmhurst and on York Rd in Bensenville. We used to walk up there in the summers (around 1977) I so loved the shakes, fries and burgers. What a shame they're gone, my kids would love it! FROM: Steve DATE: Thursday July 29, 2004 -- 10:51:21 am The one at 8900 s. harlem was lifted and moved across the way and became the Bridgeview Park District building and still stands today-Good memories FROM: Stan from Brookfield DATE: Tuesday December 7, 2004 -- 2:38:46 pm You are correct that the dry cleaners on La Grange Road (just north of 31st) was at one time a "Yankee Doodle Dandy". FROM: Nate from CT DATE: Wednesday March 16, 2005 -- 3:52:53 pm when i was 7-8, my family lived in wheaton IL on countryside drive. I remember a yankee doodle used to to on the main road (name?) that went thru town a mile or so away.... great silly food memories as a kid learning bout cheeseburgers. FROM: Nate from CT DATE: Wednesday March 16, 2005 -- 3:54:50 pm ....... in fact... there was also a "Popin Fresh Pies" not too far away as well...... mmmm.... banana cream pies..... FROM: Leo DATE: Thursday May 12, 2005 -- 6:57:46 am I remember the YDD on 22nd and Harlem. I used to spend the weekends with my dad and we ate either there or at the Walgreen's in the same shopping center every Saturday afternoon. YDD was the best... FROM: BCJ DATE: Monday October 31, 2005 -- 3:27:47 pm The one on york road in Bensenville is still open but they dropped the name around 2000. Same owner but the menu is much bigger but burgers & shakes the same. Dropped the name because he could not get the branded cups & papergoods anymore. It is in a shopping center at York & Green st by a Walgreens. Last there in 2001 and it was still there. Anyone interested, Fatburger is opening in Chicago soon and burgers are just as good. BK tacos are Jack-in-the-box tacos. No Jack restaurants here so they have agreement to sell tacos, sourdough burger etc. in BK where there are no Jack's located. FROM: Liz DATE: Saturday December 10, 2005 -- 11:55:50 am We had one in Libertyville, Its now Fodracks. FROM: FD DATE: Saturday April 8, 2006 -- 2:51:51 pm I grew up in Waukegan, IL. there was a Yankee Doodle's on Belvidere St and the coner of Lewis Ave. I moved from the area around the late 80's early 90's and it was still there. lLast I heard it was now a mexican restaurant. I certainly miss the Yankee steak sandwich. FROM: FD DATE: Saturday April 8, 2006 -- 2:54:59 pm Oh Ya! I also remember one in Barrington on Route 59? I had family in Elgin and we would pass by when we went to visit. FROM: Phil DATE: Sunday April 30, 2006 -- 3:55:56 pm My grandpa owned that chain of restaurants, I wasnt old enough to remeber them but they own Bailey's Restaurant in Westmont, IL now and if the food was half as good as it is at Baileys. YDD must of been great! FROM: Phil DATE: Sunday April 30, 2006 -- 6:29:27 pm If you would like to see the restaurant my grandpa and father now have, visit www.BaileysWestmont.com. For further questions you can e-mail my Dad at gproyce@baileyswestmont.com. So stop in and enjoy a great meal! FROM: Marvin DATE: Monday June 19, 2006 -- 5:53:35 pm The last time i seen the on on la grange road was about 1988? There also use to be on on 25th near the railroad tracks in Franklin Park and one in Maywood off 9th and Roosevelt road. That one is a car wash now. I remember their hamburger were charbroiled like Burger Kings but not as good. FROM: Sandy DATE: Thursday August 17, 2006 -- 3:47:53 pm I still have the "Don't be a Grabbit" Cups that Yankee Doodle handed out in the late 60's early 70's.....I use to love the fish sandwiches and the Yankee Doodle Dandy Burger!! An Awesome memory and wish they were still around!!!
From: JG
I used to work at the YDD in LaGrange Park in the early 80s (the one that is a dry cleaners now). I could write an entire novella about that place. By that time I don't think it was a cohesive chain but just a bunch of privately-owned restaurants all using the same name.
The main boss was pretty strict, but there's something to be said for "running a tight ship." Towards the latter part of my "career" there, the owner(s) started getting into other sorts of other foods like fried chicken and donuts. A few years later it was sold to a family, and a few years after that it became the dry cleaners. (Re: a previous post, I had no idea that family started selling tools, etc., in the restaurant -- that's pretty wild.) I think what I liked most about the place was that they had good broiled hamburgers in the style of Burger King. And that's coming from a guy who had to climb up and clean out the broiler ventilation at night. I think the Bensenville one may have been the very last Yankee Doodle.
From: Richard
Yankee Doodle Dandy Restaurants was owned by the Proyce family in Elmhurst, corporate office were also in Elmhurst behind the present Ford dealership. I used to date their youngest daughter Linda but her mother didn't approve of me. At one time, there was approx 37 stores in Illinois and Indiana. The owner first name was Chris and he sold the chain in the 1970's and they moved to a large home in Oak Brook where they retired.
From: Juba Kalamka
there was a store in the Austin neighborhood where I grew up off Lake and Central (a block south of the L platform) that closed in late 1976-early 1977. I remember the Harlem-Cermak location ,and it was the only one I actually visited. I remember the commercials too, and was really into them because they sold chicken and burgers. Those were the days.
From: Richard Karczewski
I thought I was goin' nuts.... 'til I found this page. I too have been looking for signs of a "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and thought I was dreaming up these memories. You guys, at least, make me feel better (even though it seems they've all gone to the wayside. I remwember one on Addison and another down on Chicago Ave. in Chicago.
From: susan
cool i used to work at ydd in 1974 in barrington IL
From: JAMinard
For those of you who knew the one in Bensenville, please help me settle an argument I am having with my sister and several others. The YDD, to my recollection, was located in the parking lot, northwest corner, of the old Green Street Market. This would at the corner of Lincoln and York, on the south side of Lincoln. They say it is in the location of the Apollo Burgers joint across Lincoln on York, on the north side. Someone please help me settle this discussion... either way. Thank you!
From: Corinne
I grew up in Wheaton and we used to go to the YDD at Main St. and Cole Ave. It wasn't far from Wheaton North High School and the students used to go there for lunch. After it closed, it became another restaurant that was owned by, I think, a Greek family and they had really great Greek salads (extra feta, please). I haven't been to that part of Wheaton since Shep was a pup and have no idea what it is now. Wow, I had no idea YDD was such a big chain. I only remember the ones in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn. Anyone from Wheaton remember the Cock Robin?
From: Mike
YDD of Bensenville was located north of Lincoln street, the location of Apollo burger. I enjoyed going there for lunch. Have not been to apollo burger to eat.
From: Linda (Lynn, Lindy) Proyce Sims
Who is Richard? I'm the former Linda Proyce and I never dated a Richard. I did date someone named Rick. Is that you? And yes, my father and his brother did own the chain, and later opened Bailey's. My father passed away 11 years ago, but my uncle and cousin are doing a great job in Westmont.
From: Paul G.
I lived in Libertyville, Ill. There was a Yankee Doodle Dandy on Milwaukee Ave.
I was a red, white and blue fast food place. The point where patriotism meets hamburgers, fries and and shakes. There was one inn Waukegan, Ill. also. We would go there when we had the munchies.
From: Andrea
My favorite was the "red, white and blue" ice cream they served. They had scoops of ice cream available if I remember correctly. I frequented the one one on Harlem and Cermak in Berwyn. I loved sitting at the bench and looking out the big picture window onto Harlem and Cermak. I was very little - maybe 5 or 6, but I can still remember what it looked like.
From: Chuck J.
Mt. Prospect on main, 1960s we would save our 50 cent allowance for 2 weeks and that would buy a flame broiled dandy, fries and a coke, Better than the McDonalds by Randhurst,
From: Dan's Daughter
I've never been to nor seen a YDD and am sorry I won't ever get the chance. If it weren't for YDD I wouldn't be here. I mean that very literally. That's where my mom and dad met. I can't remember which they worked at but it was most likely Waukeegan or Elgin. That was little more than thirty years ago. My dad died last June and among his belongings, we found an entire box of YDD matchbooks. We couldn't believe he'd held on to them that long (and kept that many!). Anyway, I guess I didn't have anything important to say other than it's been fun reading through you're comments. Oh yeah, and I tried that link up top of names you might remember but no luck. I'm thinking my dad might have been on it, he was quite a character. For any former coworkers or regulars, his name was Dan.
From: Joe
(URL)
Here's how the jingle went:
"Have a Yankee Doodle Dandy day, Yankee Doodle Dandy. Come on down where the good times are. Yankee Doodle Dandy. Yankee Doodle Dandy."
From: Mike C.
Mom used to pick my sister and I up from Leigh School in Norridge and take us to Yankee Doodle Dandy on Harlem Avenue just south of Irving Park for lunch every Thursday in the early to mid 70's. Great memories of the roast beef sandwiches. There's a bank there now, and there's still an Arby's directly across the street.
From: Gvil
I remember eating the Double Dandy with cheese at the Arlington Heights location. Oh and what ever became of the Cock Robin with their one in a million malts?
From: Paul
(URL)
"Oh and what ever became of the Cock Robin with their one in a million malts?"
That's a whole other Ping, Gvil, but I think I'll write it soon. In addition I wanted to add that the sheer number of comments on this Ping (quality ones, too!) makes me very very happy.
From: Mike
I did a search just the other day and found out that there is one (ONE!) Cock Robin left, in Brookfield. I don't remember much, other than we used to go to the Arlington Heights location on NW Highway on the way home from hockey at either the Arlington Spectrum or Barrington Ice House. I do remember 2 things, the egg buns for the burgers and the square ice cream scoops. I am out in Rockford now (from Mt. Prospect), and next time I am anywhere close, I am taking my family to CR! I just hope it comes close to my memories. I also remember going to the MP YDD, but don't remember much about that either, just going there.
From: Paul
(URL)
You might want to save the gas, Mike; that Cock Robin closed this year. It was indeed the last.
They were still using the square scoops, although they were using Petersen's Ice Cream. (Not a slam against Petersen's - I love 'em.)
From: Mike
Son of a ....
From: George V.
Sure miss them too!! The one in Maywood which was located on 8th and Roosevelt Road sponsored my softball team for several years. The owner/manager of that location Mr. Micheals was actually one of the four people who owned the entire chain. They had great Dandy burgers, and their Roast Beef sandwich was much better than Arbys anyday !!
From: George V.
In regards to the Cock Robin in Brookfield, yes its closed, and theres a For Sale sign in the window, and Petersons Ice Cream which was the last owner of it, is also closed and for sale on Chicago Ave. just east of Harlem in Oak Park.
From: Paul
(URL)
"... Petersons Ice Cream which was the last owner of it, is also closed and for sale on Chicago Ave. just east of Harlem in Oak Park."
Not precisely correct, George. The restaurant is indeed closed but the narrow, wee ice cream shop is still open... which is good!
From: steve
There was one on the north side of Roosevelt Rd in Lombard. In the early 70's there was actually a bus that went from Glenbard East High School to Yankee Doodle during lunch. You could ride one way or both ways. I don't remember the fry bag itself but remember it was the first place I was aware of where you filled your own little containers for catsup instead of opening up a million little packages. It made the fries even better.
From: big bird
Nothing quite like a cock robin double cheeseburger! I guess the trip last year was worth it, 'cause it "ain't there no more". I remember Elmhurst on North avenue, Villa Park on St Charles, and Naperville by North Central College. There is a beautiful memorial to the Prince Castle / Cock robin empire on that location.
Yankee Doodle had an Elmhurst location and one in Bensenville, too. I wish I could find pictures of Sandy's in Elmhurst. It was on Spring Road near York High school and is now the Silverado. Anybody????
From: Peter J.
The old Cock Robin is Wheaton is still open, but more of a Deli and ice cream shop, and they still have the old Cock Robin sign up, high in the air. Does great business. I went to York High in Elmhurst in the early 70's and ate at the old Sandys many times. I think it closed around 1971-72. I also remember the old Yankee Doodle in Elmhurst. Great burgers. Much better than McD's or Burger King. Any body seen a "Dog N Suds" (arf N barf) lately?
From: Jim
My ma used to take me to yankee doodle in her 65,bonneville as a treat{bribe}to go to catechism{spellcheck}boy it was worth it i miss those off brand burger joints sure beats the king and the clown
From: kathy
Isn't there a cock robin in franklin park next to gene and judes? There was also a yankee doodle dandy on irving park rd in schiller park back in the 70"s
From: Leslie
There was a YDD in Waukegan, just east of the corner of Belvidere Road and Lewis Ave, it is now Gators Wing Shack. My best friends worked at the YDD for like a week, I remember back when we were in high school so that was some time between 88 - 92. All I can really remember about them were the colors, I think they were red, white, and blue.
Leslie @ @ @
From: darren
We used to goto YDD on 63rd in Chicago.What a great memory of that place.Great burgers and service.Friendly.We had a Mcdonalds not far but ate there instead.I would like to see a resurge.
From: Tim
There was a Yankee Doodle in Des Plaines at Oakton and Wolf Rds.. The Dandy burger was the best fast food burger to date. It blew away the whopper in my opinion. We used to go there when we were young all the time because it was within walking distance from our house. Those were the days. It's too bad that franchise couldn't still be around.
From: Ferrell Gummitt
There was a Yankee Doodle Dandy in Elgin. Today it is a Currency Exchange, Mortgage Broker and Insurance sales. That is sad.
From: steve w.
I remember the cock robin and the yankee doodle in elmhurst. Grew up there till we moved to Pennsylvania in 1975. Have great memories of both. Its a shame I moved when i was ten. Went to Lincoln elementary. Loved both those places
From: Joe
I lived near the Yankee Doodle Dandy on La Grange road in La Grange Park in the mid '70's. Went to Forest Park Elementary at that time too. Ate at that place probably way too many times! (^8~
I remember that YDD was having some real quality control problems then - they could never seem to get the settings on the automatic burger cooker right - burgers were oozing blood that soaked through the bun. Cheers! Joe
From: lisa
I worked at the park ridge location on nw highway my junior and senior year at taft high school. 1978-79.
that place was blast to work at. the owners had no clue what we employees were up to. many a high time was had. I would like to take this opportunity to thank YDD for suppling our senior prom picnic with food and utensils, unbeknownst to them. best time was trying to tp the tree in front of the restaurant and being stopped by park ridge police. hated broiler night.
From: Earl
I went to the Dandy restaurant in Libertyville and 2 of my sister's worked there. It was great!! I wish it were still around to knock Arby's prices down a bit.
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