The Original Hot Dog Factory Eyeing Halcyon

The Original Hot Dog Factory Franchisee Izzy Ramos is looking to bring the growing fast-casual chain to Alpharetta’s Halcyon mixed-use development, at 6365 Halcyon Way. Ramos, who is opening an outpost of The Original Hot Dog Factory in Marietta Square Market on Saturday, Sept. 26, hopes to debut the Halcyon restaurant in the center’s food hall by early 2021, Ramos told What Now Atlanta (WNA). A lease is still in negotiations but has not been secured, a spokesperson for Halcyon told WNA in an email Wednesday.

On the menu are 100 percent beef hot dogs with options for turkey, chicken, and veggie substitutes that are gluten-free. Dishes include Carolina-style, Chicago-style, Detroit-style, L.A.-style, and Jamaican jerk options. There is also a surf and turf dog that includes lump crab meat. Salads, wings, and burgers are also available with sides like french fries, onion rings, and slaw. Deep-fried Oreos are also a choice on the menu. “We’re keeping it classic and traditional, while at the same time getting eclectic as far as the hot dogs you can get,” Ramos said.

The Original Hot Dog Factory would be one of several new tenants heading to Halcyon. Ponce City Market’s Citizen Supply in October will open an outpost in the center and Buford-based, spa-style barbershop Unique Cuts, just opened its doors last week.

The Original Hot Dog Factory was founded in 2010 by serial restaurateur Dennis McKinley. In addition to launching a new late-night Old Fourth Ward eatery called Good Morning, McKinley is also behind Cru Hemp Lounge and is looking to open anywhere between 25 to 30 new The Original Hotdog Factory restaurants in the next four to five months with the help of local franchisees like Ramos. Markets outside of the Atlanta-area include Philadelphia, Houston, D.C., Memphis, and Brooklyn.

[Editor’s note: this article was updated with details from a Halcyon spokesperson regarding the status of The Original Hot Dog Factory’s lease.]