As Hot Doug's closes, we take snapshots of the final day

What did people in line do the night before iconic hot-dog stand Hot Doug's closes? Hint: A lot of White Castle was involved
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsThe first person in line outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
10/27
Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
11/27
Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
12/27
Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
13/27
Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
14/27
Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
15/27
Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
20/27
Photograph: Martha WilliamsThe last person in line outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
(Photograph: Martha Williams)
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Photograph: Martha WilliamsPeople lined up outside Hot Doug’s on the restaurant’s final day.
By Amy Cavanaugh |
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The final Hot Doug's line was both somber and merry, as dedicated Hot Doug's fans lined up for a last round of sausages. We spied a dog dressed as a hot dog, a man crafting balloon hats shaped like hot dogs and plenty of new friendships being formed. We talked with the first person in line—"King Max," as the line dubbed him (he took two days off work for this)—all the way to the last person, who arrived at 6:30am. When Doug arrived, he passed out doughnuts and coffee to the line.

RECOMMENDED: Guide to Chicago hot dogs

We surveyed a big chunk of the line to find out when people arrived, what they did all night, whether they're ditching work and more. Some highlights: One woman who spent the night in line told her boss she went camping, which she noted was "technically true," since she ran out and purchased a six-person tent two hours into her wait. One person drank Bloody Marys in line and "made some new drinking buddies." One guy was supposed to be at work, but told his boss that he's "getting fucking Hot Doug's."

Here are the full results:

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