Thursday, May 10, 2012

Hot dogs headed to East Boulevard

A new restaurant called JJ's Red Hots plans to open in early July on East Blvd., serving smokehouse hot dogs from Buffalo, N.Y.

JJ's will be in the space formerly occupied by Boardwalk Billy's, at 1514 East Boulevard. The building has had a few different restaurants through it in the past several years, and none has been quite able to stick, despite the busy traffic on East Boulevard and the rooftop deck.

JJ's will be relying on quality hot dogs and a touch of nostalgia to make its mark.

"This concept is inspired by beloved hot dog joints like Ted’s in Buffalo, N.Y., where I grew up eating chargrilled hot dogs, onion rings and shakes. Ted’s and other timeless restaurants like them are rooted in classic American values,” said Jonathan Luther, the restaurant's founder, in an email. "At JJ’s we will strive every day to live up to these old-school values."

The renovated restaurant will have a takeout window, Luther said, and the hot dogs will all come from Sahlen's Packing Company in Buffalo. The restaurant will serve beer and wine as well.

Tip of the hat - Charlotte Restaurant Traffic reported this first.

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14 comments:

  1. Can't wait. Should be an awesome hangout for beer and some dogs

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  2. What the best wine to drink with a hotdog? Thunderbird?

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  3. With all the Buffalo transplants in the Wilmore area, this place ought to do well. But as with everyone else who tries it in that sopt, the rest will kill them in the end. Besides, locals know if you want great grilled dogs and onion rings, you go to Mr. K's!

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  4. Good luck to em. My prediction for the space that holds one business each year: Grand opening! Grand Closing!

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  5. This ain't Buffalo dude. If you're selling a $5 hotdog to a packed house, non-stop all day, every day of the week.....you'll do okay at this spot.

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  6. I think this is the place to finally succeed in this spot. The effort they're putting into the space right now shows that they're serious, where the last 4 restaurants to go in there didn't do ANYTHING but slap up a new sign, slightly change the menu and call it a day. This is more of a fast casual thing, the takeout window is unique to the area, and I think this will be a big hit as long as the food delivers.

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  7. Bring it on!! Nice to have a place to get a great dog where you can also watch a game and have a few beers. Brooks Meullers Greens are all good but are primarily take-out counters.

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  8. Unless they change the outside of this place, they are doomed. Looks like a jail house.

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  9. Agree with the poster above. Save yourself $10 and hit Mr. K's. GREAT grilled dogs!

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  10. 10:30, there are PLENTY of successful places in Charlotte with unattractive exteriors. That said, I don't see any problem with the way this place looks to begin with, I actually have always liked it. I'm confident that had absolutely nothing to do with the failures of past restaurants there.

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  11. Being from Buffalo, nothing like having a hotdog cooked over coal or wood. Appalled southerns eat fried on flat top grill or boiled. These places in Buffalo make a killing. Will give Lebowskis a little Buffalo competion, but dont think we can have too many Wny food promoters ! Wish it well and know i will be there!

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  12. There is grilled and then "grilled". If it's Ted's style hot dogs then your talking about grilled over charcoal. Current Charlotte hot dog locations fry or boil their dogs. This is something different and I hope it works at that location.

    Don't knock it before you try it.

    Best of luck to JJ's

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  13. Great news ! These will most likely be cooked over charcoal or wood for best taste. Will give Lebowskis a run on dogs but they have other Buffalo Staples there as well. Cant promote Wny food enough. Just need a Chiavattas chicken place now ! Welcome JJ !

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  14. hours of operation?

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