Wynder's, Home of the Spiral-Cut Hot Dog, Closes in New Lenox

Terry Johnson shows off one of his spiral-cut hot dogs in New Lenox in June 2010.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sad to say, I saw this one coming.

Wynder’s restaurant in New Lenox, which opened in June 2010 with the unique product of a spiral-cut hot dog, shut its doors for the last time last week.

I called the shop last week after I saw a notice on the door that they had cut their hours to 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Owner Terry Johnson wasn’t in, but the woman on duty said the store was staying open but cutting back its hours. That’s never a good sign.

Then it was closed.

I remember when Wynder’s opened. Johnson was absolutely passionate about his spiral-cutting technique.

He said the process brought out hidden flavor in something as mundane as a hot dog. He said he got the idea from his mom, who used to make him fried bologna sandwiches.

Johnson has been trying since day one to expand his brand. He had a couple of nibbles from groups in Florida and Texas, but nothing got off the ground.

He originally wanted to open shops in Joliet and Tinley Park, but they never materialized.

He was selling spiral-cutting gadgets from his website, which was still up this week. So, maybe that is still going.

Wynder’s is not the first hot dog shop to fail in that location despite its seemingly great location across the street from Lincoln-Way Central High School. Willie’s Wee-Nee Wagon had a brief run there prior to Johnson taking his shot.

Johnson told the New Lenox Patch this week that road construction on U.S. 30 was partly to blame, and he’s right. Construction along the road has made life miserable for lots of business owners there.

The lousy economy since he opened and what I’m sure are not cheap rents in that plaza also didn’t help, I’m sure.

Johnson is a nice guy who had a clever idea to make a hot dog more than just a hot dog. (I’ve been slicing hot dogs and sausages when I grill ever since I met him.) It’s too bad he didn’t succeed.