Iowa. Mighty Iowa. Land to the northwestish. Land of stoic cattlemen. And somehow, of both John Wayne
and Tom Arnold. But today, let’s focus on a lesser-known export: the loose-meat sandwich, which
is sort of like a sloppy joe. But... not sloppy. Maid-Rite, purveyor of this fine savory, has
opened its first Chicago location. There’s really only one way to understand what this means.
Numerically.
1926: Year Maid-Rite was founded in Muscatine, Iowa.
68: Current Maid-Rite locations.
1: Current Maid-Rite locations in Chicago.
1934: Estimated year that inspired the decor.
1993–1995: Years Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr owned a loose-meat restaurant in Eldon, Iowa.
20,000,000: Estimated dollars Tom Arnold gained in the divorce settlement.
0: Estimated dollars from said settlement earned from selling loose meat.
7: Stools at the counter.
5: Malts available.
2: Ideal number of people to drink one chocolate malt.
13: Sandwiches on the menu.
1: Sandwiches containing sliced beef with melted-white-cheese sauce (The Illinois Cheese Steak).
4: Pies brought in from Lovely bakery in Edgewater.
1: Pies that are chocolate pecan.
14: Swedish pancakes you get per order.
6: Hours per week that they’re available (Saturday and Sunday, 8 to 11am).
3am: Closing time on Friday and Saturday.
1: Orders of cheese curds you’ll probably need if you’re there at that time.
1926: Year Maid-Rite was founded in Muscatine, Iowa.
68: Current Maid-Rite locations.
1: Current Maid-Rite locations in Chicago.
1934: Estimated year that inspired the decor.
1993–1995: Years Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr owned a loose-meat restaurant in Eldon, Iowa.
20,000,000: Estimated dollars Tom Arnold gained in the divorce settlement.
0: Estimated dollars from said settlement earned from selling loose meat.
7: Stools at the counter.
5: Malts available.
2: Ideal number of people to drink one chocolate malt.
13: Sandwiches on the menu.
1: Sandwiches containing sliced beef with melted-white-cheese sauce (The Illinois Cheese Steak).
4: Pies brought in from Lovely bakery in Edgewater.
1: Pies that are chocolate pecan.
14: Swedish pancakes you get per order.
6: Hours per week that they’re available (Saturday and Sunday, 8 to 11am).
3am: Closing time on Friday and Saturday.
1: Orders of cheese curds you’ll probably need if you’re there at that time.