Catrina Vlisides' Detroit Dog Co. won't open for another couple of weeks in Saline, but she already has plans to expand into Ann Arbor. She's not alone in her high expectation for the hot dog shop for foodies. Before tasting a single dog, she's received franchising inquiries from entrepreneurs wanting to get on board.
But one thing at a time, Vlisides says.
"I want to build a reputation and a staff and make sure everything is running well first," she says. "But I'm so happy it's so appealing and people have responded well already."
Vlisides comes from a family of restaurateurs, and was inspired to jump into the business herself after living in Chicago. The amount of high quality, modern fast casual cuisine available in the Windy City seemed ripe to replicate in the Ann Arbor area.
"Saline has had a lot of growth," she says. "There are a lot of people who are involved in Ann Arbor, and there are a lot of foodies here. I wanted to bring something modern and cool here for them."
Detroit Dog Co. will open in mid- to late November in a 500 square foot downtown Saline space. Vlisides has been hard at work renovating the small space with reclaimed wood from Detroit to make the décor match the locally-sourced hot dogs.
Vlisides says the menu will include a fun variety of Michigan foods, beginning with Dearborn sausages and including McClure's pickles and homemade chili. Options will include a Detroit Dog, with chili and pickles, a Boblo Island
Barbeque Dog with deep friend onion rings and coleslaw, and a Rock City Dog wrapped in bacon and deep-fried.
Detroit Dog Co. will initially employ a staff of up to three, in addition to Vlisides. She hopes to expand with an Ann Arbor location in six months.
Source: Catrina Vlisides, Detroit Dog Co.
Writer: Natalie Burg
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