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Sioux City hot dog shop to close amid eviction

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May 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City hot dog shop is closing because the building’s landlord intends to demolish the structure, just months after the closure of another longtime hot dog shop. George and Mary Demetroulis were informed earlier this month that their lease for will be terminated May 31, the Sioux City Journal reported . The couple has operated George’s Hot Dog Shoppe since 1975. They began the business five years after moving to the U.S. from Greece.

The shop will stay open until the end of the month, but plans to move to another location are uncertain, Mary Demetroulis said. “In 30 days, what are you going to do?” she said. The restaurant uses all-beef hot dogs served with toppings such as mustard, chili, chopped onions, relish, sauerkraut and jalapenos. The menu also features Mary Demetroulis’ homemade potato salad and baklava.

Landlord Wayne Bradley of Fargo, North Dakota, said he plans to demolish the entire complex once all the tenants have vacated and wants to eventually redevelop the property. “The building is tired, old, worn out; I can’t justify continuing to put money into it,” Bradley said. “I don’t have any plans yet, just aspirations to develop the property.”

The strip mall was built in 1960, according to records from the Sioux City Assessor’s Office. Another well-known Greek hot dog restaurant in the downtown area recently closed. Coney Island closed in November after owner Steve Margeas’s death.