User:Engl101caison

Hot Diggidy Dog is a restaurant that was opened (on April 15th, 2003) by Billy and Phillis Highsmith. Serving "locally famous" hotdogs, hamburgers, and their well-known chili cheese freedom fries for over 13 years it is one of Fayetteville, North Carolina's very own "ole' fashion southern style" restaurants that has food that is freshly made everyday. Hot Diggidy Dog have an eclectic mix of customers: military workers, lawyers and construction workers, college kids and folks from the DSS office across the street. With three locations and covering two cities, Hot Diggidy Dog is continuing to expand.

History
The first Hot Diggidy Dog Restaurant was first opened by the Highsmith's on 1118 Ramsey Street in Fayetteville in a small building that can hold 60 customers at full capacity. The Highsmith's bought their second location at 454 Roxy Avenue in 2001 that could hold close to 80 people. However, eight years after the Highsmiths bought this new location they sold the business to a local couple, Dawn and Jim Caison. Ironically enough, some of their first costumers were the current owners now, Dawn and Jim Caison. The Caisons bought this business on May 12th, 2009 and continued on this Fayetteville tradition. Billy Highsmith opened the third Hot Diggidy Dog location on November 15th, 2009 in Boone, North Carolina. He started this location, but sold it to a Appalachian State graduate Devin Lattin in 2010. He changed the menu a bit and offers items on the menu like a donut burger and Devin's Deathburger.

Food
The Hot Diggidy Dog's in Fayetteville serve a select menu: specifically their southern style hotdogs, burgers and freedom fries. Their suggested meal is Carolina Style burger or "dog" that has mustard, chili, slaw and onion. Locally known as all the way. Many regular customers just have to say "one all the way" and the Hot Diggidy Dog crew will know what to do! The meat is bought fresh every morning as well as the ingredients for the popular chili and slaw. This has always been the tradition and when the ownership changed it continued on. The meat is bought from a store in Fayetteville, called Kinlaws and a secret formula is used to make their meat exactly how they like it. The slaw is made with fresh cabbage and the chili contains secret spices. Hot Diggidy Dog serves "freedom fries". This has significance because Fayetteville, North Carolina is located right near two main military bases, Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. Both sets of owners wanted to show their support for the local military customers. A specialty item of that was added to the menu was the chili cheese fries, because of the high demand for those additional condiments. The Caison's added this on the menu as well as the double cheeseburger.

Competitors
Because Hot Diggidy Dog is not a franchise is does see the effects of other competitors. Restaurant's such as Five Guys and Wendy's seem to offer a similar menu. However, the support from the local communities is what makes the difference. Hot Diggidy Dog has been quoted that "...and that’s the way locals like it." It has been said that when compared to competing restaurants, Hot Diggidy Dog has a better price, having a meal for only $4.00.

Awards
Hot Diggidy Dog restaurants of Fayetteville have received a couple of awards over the years of being open. These two restaurants were chosen to serve The Best Hotdog in Town in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 from the Reader's Choice Awards in The Fayetteville Observer. They have been featured in Elite Magazine, a local magazine in Fayetteville that is a branch off of The Fayetteville Observer. In this article the writer Chick Jacobs interviewed the current owner, Jim Caison on their "must-visit reputation." Caison said, "We love it here, and we love seeing new faces. It means someone who’s come here has told a friend about us.”

Criticism
Hot Diggidy Dog is known to be busy at noon on Fridays and Saturdays. Its also referred to as a dive and hole-in-the-wall and isn't suggested to take a nice date to or a business meeting because of its lively atmosphere. Also, the Fayetteville locations of Hot Diggidy Dog do not serve lettuce or tomato to avoid spoiling.

Hours
Mon - Fri:	10:00 am	- 6:00 pm Sat:	10:00 am	- 3:00 pm