Yesterdog sold: Grand Rapids hot dog landmark for nearly 50 years changes ownership
Posted By: mlive on June 2, 2025. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
Yesterdog, a landmark Grand Rapids eatery that’s been serving hot dogs slathered with chili, cheese, onions, diced pickles and other toppings for nearly 50 years, has been sold by longtime owner Bill Lewis.
“I just turned 80, so I guess I’ve earned it,” said Lewis, who in 1976 opened Yesterdog at 1505 Wealthy St. SE, about six blocks from where he grew up.
Lewis said he sold Yesterdog to Pat Connor and his wife, Lisa. The new owners took possession of the restaurant Sunday, June 1. He declined to disclose terms of the sale.
Not much has changed inside Yesterdog over the past 49 years. It’s still cash only, though delivery and credit card orders were added in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Antiques cover the walls, and customers’ names and initials are carved into the restaurant’s dark brown wood paneling. Pictures of customers sporting Yesterdog shirts during travels abroad hang from the walls.
Lewis, who lives in East Grand Rapids, said he wasn’t looking to sell Yesterdog. However, he was recently approached by four different people who wanted to buy Yesterdog. After he took into account his age, he decided to sell — with conditions.
“I’m eighty,” he said. “It’s going to change hands, and when it changes hands, I would like to have some certain rules that the buyer follows — they don’t change anything, and they don’t fire anybody that works for me unless they’ve got cause.”
Yesterdog’s menu is small and simple. The Ultradog, its most popular item, has shredded Colby cheese, chili, ketchup, mustard, onion and shredded pickles. There’s also the Cheddardog, Yesterdog (chili, ketchup, mustard, onion, shredded dill pickle), the Krautdog, and the Veggie.
There’s also a “build your own” option.
All are under $4, with tax included.
“The menu, I convinced them if they needed convincing at all, that you don’t fix it if it ain’t broke,” Lewis said. “It’s working. We’re getting busier. This might have been our busiest month ever.”
Lewis said he wanted to ensure Yesterdog’s current staff maintained their jobs as part of the sale because many are longtime, dedicated employees. He says the staff will maintain their current pay and benefits.
“My manager has been there 16 years,” he said. “One of my best employees has been there 21 years. Everybody has been there a long time. So it’s a career for them. It’s not like you’re getting high school kids and they work in the summertime and then their gone and you don’t have to give them good wages and benefits.”
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