The story
Born in Gostivar, Macedonia in 1901, Stefanovic took over a hot dog stand at Maxwell and Halsted in 1939 and topped grilled Polish sausage with grilled onions and mustard. University of Illinois at Chicago expansion pushed the stand a block over in 2001 and to the corner of Union Avenue and Rochford Street in 2005, where it fed late-night students for two decades. In May 2026 UIC told Jim's it must move again for redevelopment.
Everything that was here
- 1939–present · still open
Jim's OriginalMaxwell Street Polish / Hot Dogs
Jimmy Stefanovic landed in New York in 1939 with seven dollars and invented the Maxwell Street Polish.
See the map in 1940 →
Connected places
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Nearby history
Manny's Deli
1141 S. Jefferson St. · 153 m away
Vienna Sausage (Original Halsted Store)
1215 S. Halsted St. · 210 m away
Fluky's
Maxwell St. & Halsted St. · 250 m away
Lyon's Delicatessen (Nate's Deli)
807 W. Maxwell St. · 269 m away
White Palace Grill
1159 S. Canal St. · 396 m away
Granato's Pizzeria Napolitana
907 W. Taylor St. · 528 m away
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