Business
Hot Doug’s to Close in October
Iconic gourmet hot dog spot Hot Doug’s, known for its exotic hot dogs and sausages as well as its duck fat fries, is closing. Hot Doug’s owner Doug Sohn tears himself away from the counter to tell us about his decision to close the “sausage superstore.”
Tech Stock Drama
The volatility of tech stocks are apparent today with an 18 percent plummet for Groupon as it moves from email-based business to a marketplace setting. Twitter also took a 20 percent hit this week. But analysts are buzzing about Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, some say it could have the largest initial public offering in tech history.
Smartphone App Rollout to Pay Parking Meter Looms
Chicago is expanding its pay-by-smartphone app to pay parking meters. The plan is to have the service for all Chicago parking meters by summer's end.
Two local economists weigh in on the latest gross domestic product report and what we can expect for the second quarter. The GDP continues to grow but at a snail's pace. We find out what it all means tonight. Read the full report and view a graph of the U.S. economic growth.
No one can dispute Arianna Huffington’s success in the business world. But after an accidental fall from exhaustion and lack of sleep, Huffington began asking herself – Is this really what success feels like? She shares her secrets on success. Read an excerpt of Huffington's book.
Housing prices in some Chicago and suburban zip codes are almost back to their 2007 peak prices, according to a new report. Dennis Rodkin from Crain’s Chicago Business tells us which areas are surging and which are still lagging.
Sites for Presidential Library & More
We share what you had to say about potential sites for the Barack Obama Presidential Library, The Lucas Cultural Arts Museum and a casino when we read some of our viewer feedback.
Chicago's $20 Million Club
We’ll talk to Joe Cahill of Crain’s Chicago Business about Chicago’s $20 million club – the small group of area CEOs that earned $20 million or more last year. View a graphic of Chicago's top-earning CEOs.
Will Walgreens & Cosi Move from Illinois?
We take a closer look at whether Deerfield-based Walgreens will move to Switzerland due to pressure from a block of investors. And could Cosi, the struggling restaurant chain also based in Deerfield, be moving out of state? Brigid Sweeney from Crain’s Chicago Business gives us the details. View a timeline of Walgreens' history.
Vacant plots of land are selling for $1 in Englewood. Brandis Friedman explains why. Read an article and view a map.
The craft brew industry in Chicago has exploded in the last few years and shows no signs of stopping. Is there a saturation point for Chicago’s market? We revisit a conversation with leaders on the craft brew scene and explore the growing trend. Read an article, view a slideshow, and take a craft brew QUIZ.
Next Door is the place people frequent when they can’t get any work done at home, when they are looking for extra space to hold a meeting, and where they want to network and collaborate with like creative minds. It’s also the place where they receive financial coaching and discover their inner awesome. Read an article and view a slideshow.
In a post-recession economy, many people are fearful of credit and credit card debt. But one program is helping people with poor or no credit get credit cards. Brandis Friedman explains why this program is actually helpful. Read an article and watch a web extra video.
At the request of five aldermen, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is calling to restore paid Sunday parking on the north and northwest sides of the city. Merchants in these areas claim that parking can be difficult for customers when there is no time limit enforced. We discuss the measure with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd). Read an article and view a map of streets with free Sunday parking that could be affected by this legislation.
An organization that helps low-income Chicago area residents with free tax return preparation offers some important tips. View a map of tax prep centers.
The construction of Northeastern Illinois University’s El Centro satellite campus is gaining momentum and attention for its design. The color-changing building will be along the Kennedy Expressway between Addison and Belmont. We talk with Crain’s Chicago Business residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin about the “marker” building structure and its significance in the modern architectural world. View a slideshow of campus building renderings.