Times Union: April 30th, 2009

The Hot Dog Spot is a place for friends and family. The shop is run by owner Johns Hayes, his wife Debra and their daughter Amanda. Stop by and enjoy hot dogs and other delicious fare such as burgers, wings, a chicken Philly and wraps.

Enjoy hot dogs and more at The Hot Dog Spot

With a name like ‘The Hot Dog Spot,’ it’s easy to guess what’s to be found in this five-year-old Monument Road eatery. But owner John Hayes wants old and new customers to realize that his business isn’t just hot dogs, it’s “hot dogs and more!”

“I thought about changing the name to ‘More Than Just Hot Dogs,’” said Hayes, who runs the lunchtime destination spot seven days a week with his wife and daughter, “because I lost count of the number of times people would come in here and say, ‘You’ve got more than just hot dogs here.’”

Customers who want to try something different have the option of ordering grilled bratwurst, Italian sausage, grilled kielbasa, Philly Cheesesteaks, a chicken Philly or a sirloin burger, whole wheat tortilla wraps, chicken nuggets, onion rings, chili cheese fries or for a complete change of pace, wings.

Some of the additions to the basic hotdog fare were Hayes’ idea when he bought the shop a few years ago, but he’s not above listening to his customers when they suggest new items.

“Someone came in and asked if we could make a chicken Philly sandwich,” Hayes said. “I thought about it and people liked it. I try to offer new things. Today we served a turkey Rueben, made with sauerkraut and a turkey Rachel, made with coleslaw.”

But while he’s always on the lookout for new items that his customers like, he never loses sight of the fact that it’s hot dogs that started the business and still are the favorite item on the menu.

“I always tell people when they come in for the first time, don’t order the Philly Cheese Steaks for their first order,” he said smiling. “If they try it first, they won’t try anything else!

Hayes prides himself on customer service and enjoying his relationship with old and new customers, but as with any restaurant, it’s the food that’s the focus.

According to Hayes, it’s not just the quality of food that brings customers back, but the fact that everything is cooked to order.

“You order French fries and you get them so hot I have to warn people to be careful to let them cool off a little. You actually have to blow on them to get them to cool off, and how many places are you going to go where that’s going to happen?”
With its menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and wings, The Hot Dog Spot is unabashedly a lunch restaurant. Open from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sundays, it doesn’t serve breakfast or supper, but that’s still enough to bring in not just neighborhood regulars but people from around Jacksonville if they’re in the neighborhood and are familiar with it’s fare.

“I have workmen from around Jacksonville that have been in here and if they’re working anywhere near here, they’ll be back,” Hayes said proudly.

The Hot Dog Spot
2771 Monument Rd., Ste. 32
Jacksonville
646-0050
Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mondays - Saturdays
11:30 - 3:30 p.m., Sundays