The Original Maxwell Street Polish Sausage Stand™
- 1901
- July 11, 1901 Jim is born in a small village outside of Duf, Macedonia (formerly Yugoslavia).
- 1939
- Jim arrives in the United States and travels to Chicago. Jim begins to sell Taffy Apples on Maxwell Street. Jim starts working for his sick aunt at her hot dog stand located on the Northwest corner of Maxwell and Halsted Streets.
- 1941
- Jim buys the hot dog stand from his aunt.
- 1943
- Jim creates the "Maxwell Street Polish Sausage Sandwich" with grilled onions, mustard, and a specially prepared polish sausage (made by Slotkowski).
- 1947
- Jim creates the Pork Chop Sandwich "with the bone on a bun." Jim introduces a hamburger to the menu.
- 1976
- Jim passes away. Jim's family takes over the operation of the stand.
- 1983
- French fries are added to the menu – FREE with any sandwich.
- 2001
- The chicken sandwich is added to the menu. Jim's Original moves to the Northwest corner of Union Avenue and James Rochford Street.
- 2002
- The all beef polish sandwich is added to the menu.
- 2005
- Jim's Original moves to the Southwest corner of Union Avenue and James Rochford Street.
- 2009
- Jim's Original celebrates 70 years of serving Chicagoland with 70¢ polish sausage sandwiches on Founder's Day.
- 2012
- The Layover with Anthony Bourdain recommends Jim's Original and the "Legendary Pork Chop Sandwich" (S2/E1, Travel Channel).
- 2013
- The Sandwich King hosted by Jeff Mauro features Jim's Original and the "Famous Bone-In Chop Sandwich" (S4/E11, Food Network).
- 2014
- Jim's Original celebrates 75 years of serving Chicagoland with 75¢ polish sausage sandwiches on Founder's Day.
- 2015
- Chicago's Best features Jim's Original and the Polish Sausage Sandwich as the Best Sausages (WGNTV).
- 2016
- Andrew Zimmern's Driven By Food: Chicago stops in for a Polish Sausage Sandwich (S1/E6, Travel Channel). Vice Media and Big Dipper visit Jim's Original to talk history and the Maxwell Street Polish Sausage Sandwich for the show "Streets by Vice: Halsted Street, Chicago" (VICE).
- 2019
- Jim's Original celebrates 80 years of serving Chicagoland with 80¢ polish sausage sandwiches on Founder's Day.
- 2019
- Jim's Original celebrates 80 years of serving Chicagoland with 80¢ polish sausage sandwiches on Founder's Day.
- 2019
- Jim's Original celebrates 80 years of serving Chicagoland with 80¢ polish sausage sandwiches on Founder's Day.
- 2020
- Phil Rosenthal, of Somebody Feed Phil, and Julia Sweeney stop by to experience Jim's Original, the Maxwell Street Polish and Pork Chop Sandwiches (S3, Chicago Episode, Netflix).