Why Greg Vojnovic believes the Hot Dog Shoppe is ready for expansion

o you get a popular local concept ready for prime time?

This week’s episode of the RB podcast “A Deeper Dive” features Greg Vojnovic, the longtime development executive, who joins the podcast to talk about his small chain, called the Hot Dog Shoppe.

Greg has had a long career in the restaurant industry and used to head development for Popeyes and then Arby’s as it formed Inspire Brands.

He has since taken on an 80-year-old hot dog and fries concept out of Youngstown, Ohio. He believes the concept has all the right ingredients for expansion. And we ask him all about what it’s like to prepare a brand like that for expansion outside of its home market.

Greg has spent the past two years getting it ready to franchise. We talk about what he’s done to do that, how the brand can translate its Ohio success to places like Florida, and what kind of locations the chain can go into. I also ask him if the world is ready for more hot dogs.

It’s a fascinating conversation about taking a local concept national so please have a listen.