Family Remembers Superdawg Founder Maurie Berman As 'Fun-Loving,' 'Generous'

When recalling memories of growing up in Chicago in the latter half of the 20th century, images of drive-in fast food joints surely come to mind.

Superdawg, a family run joint at 6363 Milwaukee, was one of the pioneers in the business. It opened in 1948 when Maurie Berman and his wife, Flaurie opened it for what was thought to be just for the summer to help pay tuition costs. Berman, most recently of Lincolnwood, died on Sunday in hospice care in Glenview at age 89.

“He was a very fun-loving, charismatic and generous man who loved Superdawg and loved providing the best product he could to all of our customers,” said Don Drucker, Berman’s son-in-law during a phone interview with Patch on Monday.

Berman married Flaurie, his high school sweetheart at Von Steuben High School in Chicago, in 1947 a few years after returning from World War II, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

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At first, Superdawg was just a way to help the two pay for their tuition at Northwestern University, where Maurie was studying to be an accountant and Flaurie a Chicago Public Schools teacher.

Superdawg opened on May 8, 1948, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It was open for the summers of 1948, 1949 and 1950, and when Berman received his CPA the following year, it became a full-time Chicago institution.

“When he saw other GI’s return from the war and open hot-dog stands, he thought we could do that better tith a drive-in,” Drucker said. “He found a piece of property for rent the first year, closed around that Halloween and saw that is was real successful.”

As the years passed, Superdawg turned into more and more of a passion for Berman.

“He didn’t really have any hobbies,” Drucker said. “Superdawg was his hobby. It’s what he loved.”

As the packaging on their products indicates at their two locations, now run by the second and third generation, Berman did his “darndest to serve every customer, every time in a manner in which they will want to come back and bring a friend next time,” Drucker said.

“He lived that, passed it along to me, to everyone in his family and the staff. Everybody knows that’s what we are supposed to do.”

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Business at Superdawg has always been a family affair.

“We learned our ABCs in the restaurant,” Lisa Drucker, Berman’s daughter and Don’s wife, told the Sun-Times. “All of our family grew up together learning the business. It was a really special culture we created. We all know our way around the grill.”

“He wanted to create an experience unique and enjoyable for everyone who walked in the door.” Scott Berman added.

Maurie had been a regular at work up until just a couple months ago, when he began to suffer from heart ailments, the Sun-Times reported.

Since news broke Sunday morning of Berman’s death, Drucker says there has been “an outpouring of support” on social media, in the news, via emails and from customers who have come by the store.

“People have been sad and reminiscent - but that’s good to hear because he wanted people to come in this place and remember they had a good time,” he said.

Both Superdawg locations, one in Chicago and the other in Wheeling, will be closed Tuesday in memory of Berman.

Did you know?

Via the Sun-Times: Superdawg pre-dates McDonald’s and Burger King. Berman turned down offers to join both corporations to focus on Superdawg.

Photos: Maurie and Flaurie Berman outside Superdawg in 2003. Superdawg’s menu from the 1960s.