Dan’s Dawgs reopens in a spacious Chicago setting

By Matt Weafer
Messenger-Inquirer

Snowflakes fluttered to the ground like dimes through water and the wind, more typical of a Chicago afternoon than that of Owensboro, buffeted Kevin and Angela Bruner when they opened the door to the newly renovated Dan’s Dawgs for their Friday lunch ritual. Kevin Bruner drove all the way from Infoserv, located at the south side of Owensboro, just to meet his wife, who works at City Hall, at Dan’s Dawgs, now located in the old two-room Greyhound Bus Station, next door to Dan’s old location at 224 Allen St.

Kevin Bruner said they visit Dan’s Dawgs about once a month for the Italian Beef Sandwich.
The best thing about Dan’s Dawgs, according to Kevin Bruner, is “the small, friendly atmosphere and great food at a reasonable price.”

Construction worker Shawn Vinson said, “When I work downtown, I always come here. I get a smile and a ‘hello’ every time I walk in. They’re really friendly and they take care of you.”

Matt Curry, owner of Dan’s Dawgs, moved from Chicago in May 2004 to purchase the business from his parents. Dan’s had been open for three years before Curry closed the doors on December 23, 2004, to renovate and move next door.

“We were only supposed to be closed a few weeks,” Curry said. “But we ran into a few problems.” Dan’s Dawgs didn’t reopen until February 7.

“That’s what we grew up doing, was remodeling houses,” Curry said. “I wasn’t prepared for the expense or the amount of time this required.”

With fresh red, blue and yellow paint on the walls, decorated with Chicago memorabilia, Dan’s Dawgs now offers a more spacious, comfortable atmosphere for lunch, compared to the hardwood, one-room dining room/kitchen, that was the restaurant next door.

“In the old building,” Curry said, “when people were standing in line, the tables were so close you were just standing beside people while they were eating.”

Curry said the best thing about the new building is the space and central air conditioning.
“We had a small window air conditioner during the summer and it was ninety degrees in the kitchen,” Curry said.

Matt Curry and his brother, Jay, now operate the Chicago style hot dog stand.

“We try to bring the taste of Chicago to Kentucky,” Jay Curry said.

With two rooms, Matt Curry was able to expand the kitchen, which he hopes will open the possibility to expanding the menu as well, possibly including desserts.

“We’re adding to things as we can,” Matt Curry said. “Anytime we come up with a new idea, we toss it in then see how it does.”

Some of the space in one of the rooms is going to be developed into a birthday party room. “It still looks like a bus station back there now, though,” Matt Curry said.

Keep an eye out for Dan’s Dawgs Hot Dog Cart. “It’s been at Friday After 5, or set up on a street corner or an industrial park,” Matt Curry said. The cart also caters private parties, birthday parties and meetings. Dan’s also delivers.

Beginning soon, Dan’s Dawgs will be open on Saturdays from 11:00 to 2:00, for lunch.
According to Matt Curry, restaurants like Dan’s Dawgs are all over the place in Chicago.

“We try to create a different atmosphere for Owensboro – a little more laid-back,” he said.

“Dan’s Dawgs is pretty original to this area,” Jay Curry said. “It’s not your original fast food. We always strive on cleanliness, good quality food, and friendliness at a cheap price.”