Jeremy Ratliff
Editor

Its been just shy of a month since a ‘taste’ of the Chicagoland was introduced to downtown Merrill and according to D’s Dogs co-owner Mike Dee; the ‘‘salad dog” business has been good!
D’s Dogs opened late last month, at the former Merrill Glass location of 722. E. Second Street. Owned and operated by Dee and Jay Grohman. Dee is a native of Chicago, Ill and knows all to well the recipe for a highly decorated, Chicago-style hot dog.
Which happens to be the shop’s specialty.
“I grew up working at a hot dog stand, serving what we called salad dogs,” Dee explains.
“You have relish on there, onions, peppers and tomatoes. It’s like a salad on a hot dog,” he adds with a grin.
“After I graduated college, I returned to Chicago and worked construction for several years. When working in downtown Chicago, hot dog stands and street food shops is where everyone went for lunch. Anyone who has spent any time in Chicago knows that street food served by street stands or shops is a thing. No matter where you go in Chicago, you’re ‘gonna find good street food like pizza, sandwiches and of course hot dogs,”
A career switch from construction to corporate sales, led Dee to the northwoods in 2015.
“I loved working in construction and I really enjoyed working in sales, but I still have always had that childhood dream in the back of my mind….you know, to own my own shop. My own hot dog shop,” Dee explains.
After some searching, Dee and his partner decided on the former Merrill Glass property.
“This is exactly what I was looking for, this place is just about the size of a average food shop in downtown Chicago.”
While D’s dogs maintains its emphasis on preparing and serving authentic Chicago-style hot dogs, the shop has an array of additional menu options.
“Our main goal in opening up a hot dog shop was to give the Merrill community something new, give people a food option they can’t find anywhere else and so far it’s been great!” Dee adds.
“The community has been great to us and has been keeping us pretty busy. I knew Merrill was a great community before opening, but I don’t think either of us expected such a welcoming start. We’re happy to be here.”
For more information, D’s Dogs can be reached at (715) 722-1500 during regular business hours of 11 a.m-7 p.m Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m on Saturdays. D’s Dogs is closed Sundays and Mondays.