Americans eat an estimated seven billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
Hot dogs are considered patriotic food in the United States because they are deeply intertwined with American culture, particularly around holidays like the Fourth of July and sporting events.
Here’s why:
Whether you like hot dogs boiled, grilled, or both, Leelanau has some of the best Fourth of July delights around.
Even with a cold spring, Capital Dog in Lake Leelanau is reporting a tick up in business from 2024 to 2025.
“We didn’t really envision ourselves being where we are now,” Capital Dog owners Sue and Kevin Burns said. “I can’t wait till the weather breaks. It should be phenomenal.”
Capital Dog has grown a hot dog customer base from kids to construction workers to anyone in-between since opening in 2021.
The local eatery has ventured into more than just hot dogs since opening in 2021. They also do burgers, grilled sandwiches, fried foods and ice cream.
“I call it clean food and really simply well done. That’s what we’ve known for,” Kevin said.
Based in the old firehouse, Capital Dogs opened in 2021 after almost three years of planning and renovations.
The idea of Capital Dogs was born before the pandemic with co-owner Kevin purchasing the old fire house.
In terms of help, Capital Dog relies on community relationships and has resulted in having return workers and a series of new high schoolers.
“We want a return customer base, so while we get the people who are transient, it’s the local people who live here and support us that really make us available to continue. It’s great to see familiar faces, even our young staff in here is remembering their names when they come in. That’s a really big deal for them to recognize them by name,” Sue Burns said.
In the hot dog world, Kevin and Sue know exactly where they sit with a boiled style of hot dog that is designed to melt right in your mouth.
Capital Dog admits in the first year they would have patrons come in telling them to do this or that, but they stuck to their gun.
“We wanted steam hot dogs, steamed bun that melts in your mouth. We never wavered,” Sue said. “We never saw us going in a different direction. So, in our opinion, that’s the best dog. Steamed and not the hard casing.”
Capital Dog recommend stopping by over the Fourth of July instead of making their own.
Whether you are grilling out or at home bringing in the holiday there are plenty options around the county for hot dogs including Bunting’s Market (Cedar), Hansen Foods (Suttons Bay), Gabe’s (Maple City), Anderson’s IGA (Glen Arbor) and The Mercantile (Leland).
