by GringoDog’s Mobile Hot Dog Cart Is Opening a Brick-and-Mortar Spot in Wyoming
WYOMING, MI – After 10 years of slinging hot dogs from a cart in downtown Grand Rapids, GringoDog’s is finally getting a permanent home. The popular mobile hot dog shop will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant on June 1 at 3648 S. Division Ave. in Wyoming.
Founder Roger Bouwman has spent the last decade serving his signature all-beef hot dogs at the corner of Ottawa Avenue and Fulton Street, drawing crowds from nearby venues like Van Andel Arena and GLC Live at 20 Monroe. But opening a real restaurant has always been his dream.
“I started with a cart because I couldn’t afford a restaurant at the time,” Bouwman said. “But the restaurant was always the long-term goal.”
The new location, called GringoDog’s Dog House, will feature both a drive-thru and a walk-up window. The menu will include favorites like hot dogs, corn dogs, sausages, smoked mac and cheese, French fries, and a selection of hot and cold drinks.
While he’s still waiting on final building inspections, Bouwman has already started using the new location to promote the space by operating his cart out front.
Initially, the restaurant will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., but Bouwman hopes to extend hours on weekends once he hires more staff. He currently has a team of 10 employees helping run both the cart and the new shop.
And loyal fans of the downtown Grand Rapids cart don’t have to worry — it’s not going anywhere. Bouwman says the cart will continue to operate outside Van Andel Arena every weekend.
“In fact, we’ll probably be running the carts even more now,” he added. “Having a full facility gives us a place to launch from.”
