U.B. Dogs (185 N. Franklin St.), one of the last great hot dog stands left in Chicago's Loop, plans to close at the end of the year. According to owner Joe Plonka, business has been great. He just needs a break.

"It's been a fun eight years," says Plonka over the phone. "Obviously, the decision has nothing to do with our success, but my fiancee and I are tired of cooking. We want to do some traveling." He adds that he wants to take at least six months off to reset before he makes any decisions. "Because of the cooking we do and the pace that we try to uphold, it's very hectic every day," says Plonka. "Each item gets a lot of attention."

That level of care meant that U.B. Dogs was one of the best places to get a fully loaded Chicago-style dog downtown, but other items were just as well prepared. The burgers were made fresh, and the fries were cut in-house. I even included the restaurant's Joey Dog, a hot dog topped with fries and hot sauce, on my list of the best lunches in the Loop.

That drive to get the basics done right meant that Plonka had to stay in the kitchen. You could always expect to see him working the cash register, greeting every customer. "If I'm not here, we're not open," says Plonka.

While U.B. Dogs will close soon, Plonka still has the lease for the space, and he's open to creating another restaurant concept, though preferably one that can also take on some catering orders. "That's so big in the Loop," says Plonka. "But you can't do that with burgers and fries, because they won't hold up."

He won't make any promises, but a new concept could fill the space by late 2019. In the meantime, you have another month to pay your respects.

U.B. Dogs, 185 N. Franklin St., 312-251-7009, ubdogs.com

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nickdk

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