Sara Lee is closing down the company:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ope...0,7174364.story

 

The end of a Chicago tradition

Is absolutely nothing sacred?

 

By Susan Berger

 

January 23, 2009

 

The year 2008 is surely one we will never forget. The financial world cratered in a way none of us really thought possible. The years of not only living the classic American Dream but living the New American Dream had taken hold.

 

Every new technological gadget was within everyone's grasp—flat-screen TVs, iPods, cell phones, GPS systems for your cars or perhaps your toddler. We were building the best homes, wearing the best clothes, eating at fine restaurants, vacationing like movie stars.

 

Those of us who grew up with Depression-era parents maybe snickered a little when they would say "That bottle of wine cost how much?" or when we spent four figures for a piece of clothing. We thought our cushy life would have no end.

 

But for my family, and the Jewish community in particular, we are mourning one fatality of the financial meltdown that for us is unthinkable.

 

Hot dogs. Corned beef. Tongue. Pastrami. Bologna. By the end of the month, the company that my great-grandfather Isaac Oscherwitz started in 1886 will close. Best's Kosher Sausage Co., was family owned for more than 100 years. In 1993, Sara Lee Corp. acquired Best's Kosher. Mike Cummins, a Sara Lee spokesperson, said of the closing: "It was not because it's not profitable—it's just not where it needs to be."

 

This is a loss not only for my family, but for the millions of Jews who keep kosher and the many millions who don't but learned to love my family's hot dogs.

 

My great-grandfather emigrated from Germany. On his way to Ellis Island, he met Rabbi Dov Behr Manischewitz. Rabbi Manischewitz asked Isaac to go into business with him. But my great-grandfather had five sons and said he needed to go it alone. They both landed in Cincinnati. Isaac started Oscherwitz's (later changed to Best's Kosher and moved to Chicago) and Rabbi Manischewitz started his matzo and wine business.

 

Isaac's five sons—Sam, Max, Israel, Philip and Harry—joined the business in the early 1900s. The business expanded throughout the Midwest. In 1909, the business was renamed I. Oscherwitz & Sons Co.

 

It was my grandfather, Philip, and his brother, Harry, who moved to Chicago in 1925 after their father died. They opened Best's Kosher Sausage Co., a sister company to Oscherwitz's, which successfully survived the Depression.

 

My father, Sheldon Sternberg, ran the company, along with other relatives, over the years. While the guts of the business was hot dogs, Best's later expanded to include luncheon meats not typically kosher, like Polish and Italian sausages. In 1972, it was ahead of its time, introducing the first low-fat, low-salt hot dog.

 

Business was great. Our hot dogs became The Hot Dog at Wrigley Field, Comiskey Park, United Center and Soldier Field. And, in 1990, you could even buy Best's Kosher at Costco in England.

 

My siblings and I all worked at the factory from the time we were 12. My friends all thought I must be a spoiled little rich girl and nicknamed me the Kosher Queen. But we were far from rich. Truth be told, Best Kosher supported a lot of families (we once had a family reunion and more than 200 family members attended).

 

Oh, the memories. There was my summer on the switchboard. I almost got fired for answering the phone, "Best's Kosher, what's your beef?" One of my favorite stories is when there had been a lot of stealing in the factory, detectives were hired and immediately caught the culprit. It was my Grandfather Phil, who apparently left each night with bags of meat.

 

The employees at the factory stayed for years. It was common before a Jewish holiday to hear African-American, Hispanic, Polish or Asian workers greet each other and say, "Hey man, tomorrow's Tu Bishvat!"

 

It was like family.

 

In 1983 Best's Kosher merged with a competitor, Sinai Kosher. In 1986 we celebrated Best's 100th anniversary at a party at the Museum of Science and Industry. And in 1993, my dad brokered the sale of Best's Kosher to Sara Lee. We were proud that our company, with annual sales of $93 million, would be in solid hands.

 

Last month, when we got word that Sara Lee would be closing Best's at the end of January, my family was heartsick.

 

Any business going under these days is a tragedy. A business built on the backs of one family for more than 100 years is especially so. There will be fewer choices for those who keep kosher now. And lots more, I am sure, will be missing the Best dog.

 

Susan Berger is a freelance journalist who lives in Glencoe.

 

Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

I'm nowhere near Jewish but this is just horrible news.

f*** that!!! If they start serving eckrich (sp?) dogs like at wrigley we are doomed. Hebrew National better be power dialing the White Sox. Vienna Beef should be as well.

Nathan's would be awesome.

Nathan's would be awesome.

Gross. Keep that NYC s*** out of here.

 

 

Vienna Beef: Corner of Fullerton, Damen and Elston. Chicago Dog, chicago baseball. They can also provide extremely great corned beef.

Edited January 23, 200917 yr by RockRaines

I love Nathan's!

f*** that!!! If they start serving eckrich (sp?) dogs like at wrigley we are doomed. Hebrew National better be power dialing the White Sox. Vienna Beef should be as well.

Vienna is a Chicago business, I'd bet they are on the top of the list.

 

Eh, I had Nathan's at Coney Island and it's good, but nowhere near as good as one would think based on the recognizability of the brand. This is sad news. The salty stool served at Cubs games better not show up at the Cell...

 

Not pretending to know much about the hot dog/sausage industry, but this won't be affecting my polish w/ grilled onions, will it?

i know i'll sound like a moron here....but at the games, you could get a Kosher hot dog that was like 4.50. I assume those are beef hot dogs since they are kosher, right? They also sold the hot dogs that were not kosher dogs...the ones that were $1 on thursdays...those were pork, right? And who made those dogs? Did Best Kosher make both the non-Kosher dogs as well as the Kosher ones?

yeah, we hear this AFTER the last ticket payment

 

All Winter I think about the Kosher Dog-drowned in Onions with mustard.

 

Now its gone-poo

yeah, we hear this AFTER the last ticket payment

 

All Winter I think about the Kosher Dog-drowned in Onions with mustard.

 

Now its gone-poo

This has been known for quite some time.

This is the part I don't get about this:

 

Mike Cummins, a Sara Lee spokesperson, said of the closing: "It was not because it's not profitable—it's just not where it needs to be."

 

What the hell does that mean?!? If it's profitable...why close it? If it has value...why not at least try and sell it off? Tax write-off for Sara Lee?

This is the part I don't get about this:

 

 

 

What the hell does that mean?!? If it's profitable...why close it? If it has value...why not at least try and sell it off? Tax write-off for Sara Lee?

 

Sounds like the Cubs sale

 

Eh, I had Nathan's at Coney Island and it's good, but nowhere near as good as one would think based on the recognizability of the brand. This is sad news. The salty stool served at Cubs games better not show up at the Cell...

 

Not pretending to know much about the hot dog/sausage industry, but this won't be affecting my polish w/ grilled onions, will it?

 

 

Once a Cubs fan had a chardonnay or two at the game they probably didn't know what they were eating anyway

Sox games will never be the same again. Those are the best dogs around.

i know i'll sound like a moron here....but at the games, you could get a Kosher hot dog that was like 4.50. I assume those are beef hot dogs since they are kosher, right? They also sold the hot dogs that were not kosher dogs...the ones that were $1 on thursdays...those were pork, right? And who made those dogs? Did Best Kosher make both the non-Kosher dogs as well as the Kosher ones?

 

I believe those were Ball Park...

These dogs are really good. I'm gonna miss those. Hopefully they put in Vienna Beef.

 

I'm not Jewish but to the exact letter of the law, mass produced stuff like Bests Kosher isnt actually kosher. There has to be a rabbi involved in the preparation, hence Skokie's Jewel keeping one on staff at their kosher deli.

Edited January 23, 200917 yr by Princess Dye

Frankly I preferred the ball park franks....still gonna be weird not seeing Best's Kosher at the ballpark anymore.

I believe those were Ball Park...

and f***ing amazing....

 

 

I really wish dollar dog Thursdays still existed. I'd get three dogs and a beer and not feel like I was totally ripped off... Then pile the ketchup and onions on those bad mother f***ers and watch a good old game of baseball.

 

Oh Lord, please bring summer ASAP.

I worked at a Deli and we sold the Best's Kosher salami and bologna in both regular and reduced fat.. and they were definitely of our top sellers.. sad to hear it leaving!

Vienna is a Chicago business, I'd bet they are on the top of the list.

 

Those are some damn good hot dogs.

Frankly I preferred the ball park franks....still gonna be weird not seeing Best's Kosher at the ballpark anymore.

Same here, was never a fan of the kosher dogs. Will be weird not seeing the signs for it anymore.

This is the part I don't get about this:

 

 

 

What the hell does that mean?!? If it's profitable...why close it? If it has value...why not at least try and sell it off? Tax write-off for Sara Lee?

 

 

That's what I want to know about it ..

 

Didn't make much business since does it?

These dogs are really good. I'm gonna miss those. Hopefully they put in Vienna Beef.

 

I'm not Jewish but to the exact letter of the law, mass produced stuff like Bests Kosher isnt actually kosher. There has to be a rabbi involved in the preparation, hence Skokie's Jewel keeping one on staff at their kosher deli.

False, there are plants in chicago that mass produce alot of kosher materials that are supervised by licensed rabbis to make sure the process is kosher.

 

 

 

And to answer the other question, the polish was Best's as well.

I believe those were Ball Park...

 

I thought they were Armor?

Edited January 23, 200917 yr by BobDylan