Get your dog on

Tarji Carter, chief development officer for the Original Hot Dog Factory, currently based in Atlanta, hopes the coney dog on their menu will get Michiganders in the door, and then have them try a few of their other options. With over 30 different toppings, and multiple proteins to select from – including chicken sausages, turkey sausages, and veggie sausages – the menu has a number of regional style offerings like the LA Dog and New Yorker. “We love the fact that we cater to pretty much everyone,” she said. “We like to say that hot dogs don’t discriminate and neither do we.” The company – whose CEO is Michigan native and University of Michigan alumnus, Dennis McKinley – is looking to open two locations of the franchise in Southfield and Midtown Detroit (one by the end of the year), and a total of 10 across the state by 2021. If you aren’t into hot dogs, they also offer sandwiches, salads, burgers, and chicken wings. Those with a sweet tooth can get excited, too. Desserts include deep-fried Oreos and Twinkies.