Provided by Tim Yanko and Samantha Fryberger
A SIGN OF THE TIMES
Old Fashion Hot Dog Street Sign Leaving the Streets But Staying in the Neighborhood
After 92 years in business, a staple of Cleveland’s culinary scene closed in March when the property’s landlords announced they had other plans for the building at West 41st and Lorain Avenue. Opened in 1928 as the Hot Dog Inn by Emmanouel “Mike” Vasiliou, it became Old Fashion Hot Dog when the Sorma family took over the cash-only grill in 1987.
“Even though Old Fashion Hot Dog was only 360-square-feet, it occupies sizable space in the hearts of generations of Northeast Ohioans,” says Tim Yanko, who along with Dwight Kaczmarek, owns the nearby vintage and consignment furnishings and collectibles store, All Things for You. Upon learning of the landmark’s closing, the shopkeepers made an offer to their neighbors to help keep the restaurant’s memory alive. The Old Fashion Hot Dog street sign soon will be reinstalled inside of All Things for You.
“We wanted to preserve a piece of this community’s history,” says Yanko. “Fans will be able to stop in, see the sign and share their frankfurter-and-cheese-fries-fueled stories with us.”
COVID-19 cut short the Sorma’s final days at the diner. “A beacon of the neighborhood has come to an end,” acknowledges owner Tom Sorma. “We’re proud to have been a part of this iconic eatery and happy that its legacy will live on the memories of our friends, family and customers.”
On Monday, June 8, around 10am, the iconic Hot Dogs sign will come down from the former location of Old Fashion Hot Dog at 4008 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. But the sign will enjoy a place of honor at All Things for You, located at 3910 Lorain Avenue.
*Media is invited to come down and livestream the process or grab a photo or a video of the de-installation being done by Dean Guernsey of Dynamic Sign in Tremont. All Things for You’s owners will be available for interviews. Press Contacts: Tim Yanko, Owner, 216.509.7755 / Samantha Fryberger, PR Consultant, 216.832.3673.
