Uncle Dan's

Considering the array of city-themed hot dogs dotting the menu of Manolis Alpogianis’s America’s Dog restaurants, it’s not surprising to learn that U.S. travel has played a major role in the Chicago native’s life. Indeed a wall of about a hundred photos in one of his Loop storefronts displays the road trips he’s taken with his family over the years; not to mention, the concept for the fast-food business came about on a journey in 1993.

“Right when I graduated college, I took off and drove with my brother around the U.S.,” Alpogianis says. “We noticed that as we went to different cities everyone has their own way of making hot dogs, so on the back of napkins of every hot-dog stand, we wrote down the name and city and everything [the dog came with]. Two years after that, we pitched the idea [of having different city dogs] to Navy Pier.” Thirteen years and four America’s Dog openings later (with two more on the way), Alpogianis says that first outpost still attracts the most business per square foot out of all the restaurants on the Pier.

These days, his pit stops around the country entail scoping for more city dogs that he can add to his evolving menu. And that’s where Uncle Dan’s comes into play. While he casually browses the latest offerings at the “great outdoors store” a few times a week, it’s those twice- or thrice-yearly on-the-road adventures that inspire him to load up on items like Blundstone boots and sleeping bags.

Running a tad late and jumping out of his jumbo-size truck—an emergency french fry refill at the restaurant called him to duty—the six-foot four-inch, Greek-blooded Alpogianis whisks through the shop with the brazenness of a cowboy, trying on fishing hats and disparaging the display of Crocs—“More like crock of shit,” he whispers. At the same time, he gushes with a kind of kid-in-a-candy-shop enthusiasm, fiddling with packs of Glee gum and sea creature-shaped flashlights, and fawning over the store’s technical gear.

Still, to look at him in his fancy watch and crisp olive-colored dress shirt—he admits a weakness for designer wares from high-end boutiques like Jake—the 38-year-old entrepreneur doesn’t seem like an “outdoorsy” kind of guy. “Um, I definitely enjoy the outdoors, but at the end of the trip…my friends give me a hard time,” he says. “[I like to spend a few days] at the Ritz, St. Regis or the Four Seasons. You know, two days to get cleaned up. You need a little bit of balance.”

Manolis Alpogianis’s favorite finds

1. Smart phone case “That’s the total city guy [in me]; I take [my BlackBerry] everywhere. This case is thin enough that it can fit in my back pocket, and [my BlackBerry] won’t break if it falls.” $20.
2. Alligator solar-power flashlight “The great thing about these lights is the size of ’em. If you’re in your tent, you can feel it pretty easily. And it has a clip for your belt.” $10.
3. Mountain Hard Wear jacket “This takes up a small amount of space [in your backpack], and it looks good. You can wear it just about anywhere.” $99.
4. North Face base camp flip-flop “You can never have too many flip-flops. It’s the easiest shoe in the world.” $26.
5. Timbuk2 backpack “Uncle Dan’s turned me on to Timbuk2 a few years ago. I’d wear this on the mountains hiking or when I’m biking to work.” $75.

Uncle Dan’s, 2440 N Lincoln Ave (773-477-1918). America’s Dog, locations around the city.