The Original Salerno's Red Hots was co-founded by my Father Joseph Cono Salerno Sr & me in Villa Park in 1991. We started out with one hot dog unit mounted on a golf cart. Joe Salerno Sr operated in the Villa Park and Lombard area & grew it to 3 carts serving youth Baseball and Football through roughly 2006,15 + years. He was a affectionately known as "Joe the hot dog man".
Early in life, he worked as a painting contractor,18 years old with his future father in-law, Garnet Leslie Morse out of Bellwood, IL. They painted many schools and churches throughout the city of Chicago and suburbs. Joe took over the painting business in his mid 20's and was self-employed for more than 40 years as Salerno's Decorating. Mostly working residential jobs through word of mouth in the western suburbs. He came to be known as "Joe the Painter."
For years he was contracted to paint 2 large apartment complexes in the Addison, IL. Painting the units between renters moving out and in. Joe Sr and my mother Barbara moved from their home in Elmhurst to Lombard, IL in 1996. A few years later, they purchased a 2nd home in North Port FL hoping to retire and move there full-time some day. My mom Barbara, worked as an administrator to warehouse management at Osco Drug for 30 years. They chose to retire around 2006.
It was just 2 years later, in 2008 that my father Joseph Cono Salerno Sr was diagnosed with the deadly, untreatable, Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We lost him just 14 months later, November 3rd 2009. No treatment or cure. That Corner Hot Dog Stand that you no longer have to drive to Chicago for. Salerno's Red Hots reminds our customers of the hot dog stands they ate at while growing up.
We serve Vienna Beef Hot Dogs, HUGE JUMBO dogs, Fresh Cut Fries, Maxwell Street Polish, Italian Beef and Sausage sandwiches, ILTACO Pizza Puffs(Beef Sausage and Pepperoni), Tom Tom Tamales and much more. Located in the far western suburbs of Chicago, in Yorkville, IL.