Not the news that lovers of hot dogs and Italian beef wanted to hear this week: The South Side institution Martino’s announced that it is saying sayonara to its brick-and-mortar (1215 W. Layton Ave.) on Dec. 19.

Owners TJ and Cathy Anderson posted the news Tuesday on their Facebook page , garnering 1,500 reactions, over 700 shares and hundreds of comments from fans reminiscing about their experiences there over the years.

“There are so many emotions that go with [closing] it. I think we have felt them all,” Cathy says. Her late mother-in-law, Mary Anderson, opened Martino’s in 1977 – 48 years is like 480 in restaurant years. Martino’s was a seasonal stand for its first six years, transitioning to its permanent brick-and-mortar in ’83.

Chicago-style hot dogs are their biggest claim t

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