Ohio hot dog restaurant, dating back to 1946, opens Sarasota County location

Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read

An Ohio-based restaurant offering hot dogs and chili dogs, burgers, fries, shakes and more has expanded to Florida, opening a Sarasota County location.

Hot Dog Shoppe is open at 415 U.S. 41 Bypass N., Venice, in a former Burger King location. The restaurant will celebrate its opening with a week of festivities Jan. 29-Feb. 4, including daily specials all week and raffle prizes such as free hot dogs for a year. It is the first Florida location for Hot Dog Shoppe, which was founded in 1946 in Warren, Ohio, with the location's owner Marty Rauch planning to open 20 throughout the state.

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Rauch's family was the original developer of what is now known as the Ramada by Wyndham Venice Hotel Venezia, adjacent to the restaurant. The general manager of the Hot Dog Shoppe is Jacob McLeod, whose father opened the original Burger King on the site. Rauch said he owned the former Burger King property for several years and after they didn't renew their lease, he looked for what would take its place, landing on Hot Dog Shoppe, a concept that his college classmate had bought.

“It’s a real value proposition," Rauch said. "You can still get a hot dog for $1.89, under two bucks, which is amazing. It’s great for families and it’s the nostalgia of hot dogs, and we’re trying to continue that old-school pricing to the extent that you can in today’s market, with things costing what they cost.”

The Ohio-based Hot Dog Shoppe, which serves its namesake item along with burgers, shakes and more, has opened its first Florida location in Venice.
The Ohio-based Hot Dog Shoppe, which serves its namesake item along with burgers, shakes and more, has opened its first Florida location in Venice.

Hot Dog Shoppe's menu features a variety of hot dogs, including chili and cheese dogs, as well as hand-cut fries (which can also have chili and/or cheese added on), burgers, chicken tenders and more. It also serves breakfast, including omelets, pancakes, French toast, breakfast sandwiches and combos.

For beverages, Hot Dog Shoppe offers hand-spun milkshakes, homemade lemonade and fountain drinks, as well as breakfast drinks such as coffee and tea, but no alcohol. The Venice location seats around 70 people, Rauch said, with some outdoor seating as well as a drive-thru.

Hot Dog Shoppe is at 415 U.S. 41 Bypass N., Venice, in the former Burger King location.
Hot Dog Shoppe is at 415 U.S. 41 Bypass N., Venice, in the former Burger King location.

Hot Dog Shoppe joins several other out-of-state dining and drinking destinations that have expanded to Sarasota-Manatee in recent years, including The Original Rainbow Cone from Chicago, Faicco's from New York City, Sun King Brewery from Indiana, and Kelly's Roast Beef and LobsterCraft from New England.

The Venice Hot Dog Shoppe's current hours are 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with breakfast running until 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 941-344-2541 or visit hotdogshoppefl.com.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by  subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ohio restaurant Hot Dog Shoppe opens Venice Sarasota County location