The Story
In 1929, Abe 'Fluky' Drexler converted his father's fruit cart on Maxwell Street into a hot dog stand. The nickname 'Fluky' came from a childhood incident: during a grade-school initiation, boys dragged him by a rope up some stairs, and a witness said it was a fluke he wasn't killed.
Drexler's stand sold what he called the 'Depression Sandwich' - a frankfurter topped with mustard, pickle relish, onions, dill pickle, hot peppers, lettuce, and tomatoes for 5 cents. This became the template for the Chicago-style hot dog, though the exact formula evolved over time.
The business prospered during the Depression, and Drexler opened additional stands. World War II meat rationing forced closures, but after the war, he reopened at various locations including Western Avenue. Frank Sinatra even put Fluky's franks in the lyrics of 'My Kind of Town' during a 1970s Chicago appearance. The last Chicago Fluky's changed its name in 2006; today, only a Walmart kiosk in Niles remains.
🍽 Signature Dishes
The original Chicago-style hot dog - frankfurter with mustard, relish, onions, pickle, peppers, lettuce, tomato
The formula that became the city's signature
💡 Did You Know?
- The 'Fluky' nickname came from a dangerous childhood prank that was 'a fluke' he survived
- Frank Sinatra mentioned Fluky's in his version of 'My Kind of Town'
- Steve Allen said eating Fluky's hot dogs was one of the few joys of his youth
👤 Notable People
🏙 What's There Now
Maxwell Street Market area redeveloped; only a Walmart kiosk in Niles remains under Fluky's name
Original Address: Maxwell St. & Halsted St., Chicago, IL