Our Story
Americans eat over 20 billion hot dogs each year….that’s over 60 hot dogs per person! Yet hot dogs are often the forgotten belly stuffers because of the mediocre products offered by the grocery retail and food service companies.
Forgotten no more! Finally…Tailgate Dogs & Sausages will bring “hot” back to our dogs!
Tailgate Dogs & Sausages is the labor of love of 4 successful entrepreneurs bonded by a passion for great food and tailgate celebrations. After perfecting recipes from around the U.S. and the world, they have finally created a selection of irresistibly delicious and wholesome hot dogs, sausages and side dishes that will tempt all palates!
Every item of our mouth-watering menu (link to menu) is crafted with the utmost care. We please all dietary preferences with our delectable choices of beef, pork, chicken and plant-based dogs and sausages, plus gluten-free items. Our products are free of GMO, antibiotics, hormones and preservatives, and are organically certified.
One taste, and you will come back for more. We guarantee it! Yep, we’re so sure that we challenge you to do a side-by-side taste test between your hot dog brand and our unmatched dogs and sausages (link to taste challenge)!
What’s more, our restaurants are community spaces where customers enjoy food and laughter with friends and families, as well as make new connections. At Tailgate Dogs & Sausages, every day is game day and filled with Doggone Good Eatin’s!
We guarantee you will love our food! If you are not satisfied we will replace your order or provide you with a credit!
I was raised in southern Michigan, where sports and tailgate parties were the community’s passion. Friends and neighbors arrived several hours before high school or college games just to tailgate! I experienced my first tailgate party at age six, and was so excited that I barely slept the night before.
Tailgating was magical… laughter, friendship and my fave – hot dogs! My mom served her Slavic-inspired pork and beef kielbasas on rye bread, topped with sauerkraut and diced onions. My dad grilled plump, juicy hot dogs purchased from our local butcher– prepared to perfection with just the right caramelized flavor.
The positive energy and community experience of tailgating fuels my spirit, not only as a college athlete, but also, throughout my career as a senior executive with several food companies, including Fairway Market, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut and H.J. Heinz.
I co-founded Tailgate Dogs & Sausages, Inc. with partners who are all extremely passionate about food and delighting customers. We offer the best of all worlds: unbelievably delicious hot dogs and sausages at unmatched value! Here’s to Doggone Good Eatin’s!
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, I am hooked on the Italian Dog. It is a hot dog in thick pizza bread topped with onions, peppers and deep fried potatoes. After each baseball practice, my mom rewarded me with hot dogs and mac n’ cheese. Even after five helpings of each, I still wanted more.
Americans eat billions of hot dogs each year. Yet hot dogs are the most under appreciated food. I want to change that by creating Tailgate Dogs and Sausages – a special destination that celebrates the unique hot dogs and sausages recipes from different American cities and regions. I want our customers to savor mac n’ cheese in mouth-watering varieties, including classic, bacon, buffalo chicken and truffled.
Throughout my career, I have led several renowned food businesses. As chief executive officer of Fairway Market, I built up to over $800MM in sales with 14 million customers. Even though I was the “boss”, I worked every weekend so that I can connect with my customers. At Tailgate Dogs and Sausages, our team will delight our customers every visit, every order.
I was born and raised in a first-generation Italian American family in South Philadelphia. I loved the festive street fairs, and devouring sweet Italian sausages, peppers and onions served on crusted, seeded rolls. My favorite meal was forking out the homemade salsiccia from Mama’s delectable ragu made with Italian sausages, meatballs and ribs.
For 24 years, I helped build up Fairway Market. As vice president, I was in charge of fresh and specialty foods, and was immersed in culinary trends. I love how different parts of U.S. offer their own recipes of hot dogs, sausages, toppings and rolls. The Phillie rolls have special texture and body, while Chicagoans prefer poppy seed rolls. My personal favorite is the potato roll from Pennsylvania’s Amish Country.
As a co-founder of Tailgate Dogs & Sausages, I want our menu to please everyone with versatile choices of beef, pork, chicken and plant-based hot dogs and sausages. Nothing is left to chance, and crafted with care and love!
I grew up in a farm in Central Pennsylvania. All meat was either raised or hunted on or near our farm. Butchering was a multi-day community event, with several families joining forces. While a portion of the meat was taken home for freezing, the rest was sent to a local shop, Lee’s, where they would make fresh sausages and hamburgers. My parents would hang a portion of Lee’s sausages, ham and bacon in our smoke house. Words cannot describe the delectable taste of hickory smoked sausages!
Far from the farming days of my youth, I have pursued a rewarding career in technology, including being chief information officer for two national grocery chains. Yet, for a long time, I still craved for the special sausages from Lee’s…until I tasted the handcrafted sausages from the kitchen of Tailgate Dogs and Sausages! Smoke links, bratwurst and sweet Italian sausages – all prepared fresh from the highest quality beef, pork and veal. I love our sausages so much, I have co-founded the company!
