A new family-owned Charlotte hot dog spot is opening in University City
Imagine gourmet hotdogs prepared any way you like, fried Twinkies, loaded fries and even milkshakes. While it may sound like a trip to the NC State Fair, it is actually a few of the items you will find at one of University City’s newest restaurants, opening Saturday, April 3 at 11 a.m..
Charlotte native Anthony Marc Hailey Jr., his father, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins will open Charlotte’s first location of the Atlanta-based hot dog eatery The Original Hot Dog Factory.
The University restaurant will be the first of three locations the family will open in Charlotte. “This is a family venture,” co-owner Anthony Hailey Sr. told CharlotteFive. “Our entire family is involved, and everyone has a role.”
The Hailey family originated in Queens, N.Y., but they’ve called Charlotte home for more than 40 years. Now, they want to bring something to the city that will not only create a legacy for their own family, but the entire city. In addition to employing local residents, the restaurant plans to hold special events for local students and Charlotte’s homeless community.
“We will do a lot of community outreach to keep with the mission of the overall brand,” the elder Anthony Hailey said. “Our presence is here, and our hearts are here, as well.”
There will be more than 20 types of hot dogs to choose from, including a vegan-friendly Beyond Sausage dog and an Angus beef dog. Customize your dog any way you want or choose from a list of pre-made creations.
“This is not a normal ketchup and mustard experience. Our menu will have customers coming back often just to try new things.”
Carolina slaw hot dog
The Carolina Slaw Dog (a grilled beef hot dog topped with Factory chili and Factory slaw) will be the store’s flagship dog, and the family expects it to be a hit. You can even take a trip around the United States with choices like the New Yorker (a beef hot dog topped with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard), the Detroit Coney (a beef hot dog, Factory chili, shredded cheese and chopped onion) and the Chicago Dog (a beef hot dog topped with tomatoes, pickle spear, sport peppers, sweet relish, onion, mustard and celery salt on a poppy seed bun). All dogs can be swapped out for one of the alternate proteins.
If the hot dogs haven’t sold you, there will be plenty of sides and other options that will remind you of a trip to the fair. Expect items like corn dogs, burgers, onion rings, regular and loaded fries, fried Twinkies and Oreos, as well as funnel cake sticks.
“This is more of an experience,” Hailey said.
The family plans to open the restaurant’s second location in the Five Points area near Johnson C. Smith University. The third location will be announced later.
The Original Hot Dog Factory Charlotte
9211 N. Tryon St., Suite 9
Instagram: @hotdogfactorycharlotte
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Sept. 14, 2020, and has been updated.
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 2:28 PM.
