614NOW: This Columbus Gourmet Hot Dog Cart Is Serving California Roll Dogs, Frito Pie Specials And A Heartfelt Mission

After years in the restaurant industry, Jack Dale, former chef at COBRA on S High St, launched his one man powered gourmet hot dog cart, Cherry Dog, in July of 2025. Almost a year later, Dale is changing the culture around hot dog carts marking a space for creativity, accessibility and a long-term goal for positive hospitality culture.

“I’d worked in hospitality for so long and felt a little jaded with a lot of the issues in the industry. I wanted to drop all of it and start from scratch,” Dale told 614NOW.

Which is exactly what Dale did. From scratch, he executively crafted the menu, built the cart and launched Cherry Dog all on his own. Instead of opening yet another traditional restaurant funded by investors and a team of business partners, he wanted to build something that was entirely his own with intention and a mission backing it.

“I want to build a place that can offer real living wages, benefits, and ownership to employees,” said Dale.

For Dale, the mission behind Cherry Dog is about influencing long-term change in reshaping the hospitality workplace culture that he experienced throughout his career.

“If I can’t pay everyone in the kitchen at least 20 bucks an hour, I don’t want to run it,” added Dale.

That people-first mindset is at the heart of Cherry Dog and has helped cultivate a strong community following. “I get a lot of just random neighborhood walk-up people that kind of see the cart and come over,” said Dale. “It’s a very approachable thing.”

Cherry Dog has built a strong loyal following stationed every Sunday at Seven Son Brewing and then every Friday evening at Goodland since this past spring. Dale leaves his schedule open for pop-ups, late-night bar events, and occasional catering opportunities throughout Columbus.

For Dale, those everyday interactions embody the kind of hospitality he hopes Cherry Dog brings to the city.

While Cherry Dog’s menu, entirely crafted by Dale, offers classic toppings and a strong base of a Dearborn Michigan Brand dog, served on potato bun, he says the weekly specials are what push the cart into gourmet territory.

The specials feature combinations like deviled egg dogs, Fried Bologna sandwich dog creations, and Japanese curry dogs.

“People always want the special,” said Dale. “That’s where I get a little out there sometimes.”

One of the most distinctive menu items isn't a weekly special at all, it’s Dale's Egg & Cheese Dog inspired by his favorite breakfast sandwich. Made to order, the hot dog is wrapped in a freshly cooked omelet using a Japanese-style omelet pan, creating a mashup of breakfast comfort food and classic street fare.

“I think it's awesome,” added Dale. “It's kind of my version of a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich.”

Even the cart itself reflects Dale's personality. Originally designed to be bicycle-powered, the concept drew from his love of cycling and adventure. Dale has completed multiple long-distance bike tours, including rides from Seattle to Los Angeles and Columbus to Cleveland. While the cart currently operates as a push cart, he hopes to eventually bring back its mobile spirit in a new form.

What started as an offhand joke about leaving the restaurant world has quickly become a recognizable sight around Columbus. Nearly a year after launching Cherry Dog, Dale says the community support has been overwhelming.

“I've gotten a lot of really good feedback and support from the city,” explained Dale. “It really means a lot and kind of reaffirms what I'm trying to do.”

For now, he remains the business's sole employee, handling everything from menu development and operations to serving customers. But he sees Cherry Dog as the beginning of something much larger.

He sees Cherry Dog expanding into a brick-and-mortar space where employees receive competitive wages, benefits, and even ownership opportunities.

Until then, Cherry Dog will continue serving creative specials, unexpected flavor combinations, and a vision for what a small food business can become.

“Keep an eye out,” stated Dale. “I get bored easily, and I always have fun new projects in the works.”