Cozy Dog Drive In
- Diner & restaurant
- In Springfield, Illinois
- On Route 66
The Cozy Dog Drive In, a restaurant on South Sixth Street in Springfield, IL, is known for the Cozy Dog, a hot dog coated in cornmeal batter. Ed Waldmire began selling them in 1946, and the family business has become a well-known Route 66 stop. Inside are Route 66 memorabilia, a gift shop and a guest book signed by travelers from many places. It makes an easy lunch stop on the Illinois stretch.
What is Cozy Dog Drive In?
The restaurant is a casual counter-service place: orders are placed at the counter and the food is brought out to the table. Guests can eat inside, take food to go or use the drive-up window. The signature item is the Cozy Dog, a hot dog wrapped in cornmeal batter.
Besides the food, the building doubles as a small showcase of the road. It holds Route 66 memorabilia and Springfield keepsakes, and a gift shop sells Route 66 merchandise. Signing the guest book, already filled with names of visitors from far and wide, is part of the ritual for many travelers.
History of Cozy Dog Drive In
The idea came from Ed Waldmire, who sold cornmeal-battered hot dogs he called crusty curs at a USO club and a military base exchange. Back in Springfield, his wife Virginia argued that the name would not win over ordinary customers, so the couple settled on Cozy Dog, and she sketched the first logo, two hot dogs hugging. Ed first sold them to the public at the 1946 Illinois State Fair, and the first Cozy Dog stand opened outside the family house that same year.
A second stand followed and later moved into a building whose seating was shared with a Dairy Queen. In 1996 the business moved to its present site, a little north of the original one. Ed's son Buz and daughter-in-law Sue later leased it, and after their 2001 divorce Sue bought out Buz's half.
Visiting Cozy Dog Drive In: tips
The drive-in sits right along the Route 66 corridor through Springfield, so it works well as a lunch stop on a day driving the Illinois section. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to eat and browse the memorabilia. Fuel is about 0.1 mile away, and the Route 66 Hotel And Conference Center is about 0.4 mile away for an overnight. The Springfield Mine Rescue Station, a historic building, is about 0.9 mile away.
Practical info
- Address
- 2935 South 6th Street, Southern View, IL 62703
- Phone
- +1 217-525-1992
- Website
- cozydogdrivein.com
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 8 am–8 pm
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
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Stops near Cozy Dog Drive In
All of Illinois
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2.3 mi from Cozy Dog Drive In
2.3 mi from Cozy Dog Drive In
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Questions about Cozy Dog Drive In
Is the Cozy Dog Drive In on Route 66?
Yes. It stands on South Sixth Street in Springfield along the Route 66 corridor through the city, and it is a popular stop for Route 66 travelers.
What is a Cozy Dog?
It is a hot dog coated in cornmeal batter. Ed Waldmire first sold them as crusty curs before his wife Virginia suggested the name Cozy Dog.
Own or run Cozy Dog Drive In? Send us a photo or a correction.