Longtime Mustard's Employee 'Brought Out the Best in People'

Walk in the door at Mustard’s Last Stand, and Keith Woods could probably identify your order before you could open your mouth—even if you hadn’t been there in two years. 

“He’d be like, ‘You got a jumbo dog.’” 

“You’d be like, ‘You got it right, Keith,’” says Lonnie Starkman, co-owner of Mustard’s.

Woods, a 6'2" former U.S. Marine who worked at Mustard’s Last Stand for nearly 30 years, died early Sunday morning from complications of several illnesses. He was 51. 

“Everybody in the neighborhood loved him,” says Starkman, who runs the hot dog stand with his father and brother. “He was a gentle giant.”

Woods’ job was to take orders at the front of the stand, where customers looked forward to his friendly greetings, conversation and even advice. He often talked about Chicago sports or Northwestern football, drawing upon an encyclopedic knowledge of the teams and an amazing memory. 

“He’d never been to a game at Northwestern, but he could tell you all the stats,” Starkman recalls.

Woods lived in Rogers Park and leaves behind his sister, Marilyn, and his brother, Martin. His mother, who was a big part of his life, died about six years ago, according to Starkman.

Although Woods did not have any kids of his own, he loved interacting with them at Mustard's. 

"All the kids loved him, they would treat him so well," Starkman says.

Starkman himself met Woods at age 18, when he moved to Chicago from Miami Beach.

“He was the most welcoming, friendly guy of everybody I met here,” Starkman recalls. “We hit it off right away.” 

Starkman’s nephew, Ryan, who also works in the hot dog stand, says he has known Woods his whole life and always felt like he was part of the family. In fact, Woods regularly came to the Starkman family’s Easter dinners, and sometimes Christmas.

“He would always show up with gifts, even when he was told not to,” Ryan recalls. “He was like an uncle to me.” 

At work, Woods treated everyone who walked through the door like family, too, telling stories and trying to make them laugh, according to Ryan. If someone had a bad day, he would always try to cheer them up.

“He really brought out the best in people,” Ryan says. 

Many customers posted on Mustard’s Facebook page Sunday, mourning the news of Woods’ passing and remembering his warm personality.

“You always had a smile on your face,” wrote Greg Leeb. “Mustard’s will not be the same.” 

Jake Don Lee described him as "one of the most genuine people I knew," while Daniel Reesh said, "he always cleared my head and helped to keep me out of a bigger hole."

“He just loved everybody,” says Lonnie Starkman. “Everybody loved him back.” 

Funeral services have yet to be scheduled.