YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY

Springfield, MO

Log in Subscribe

Doggy Style Food Truck co-owner Jeremy Mathis is adding a second hot dog food truck this week instead of his original plan to launch Nuke’s Italian Beef and Chicago Dogs.
SBJ file
Doggy Style Food Truck co-owner Jeremy Mathis is adding a second hot dog food truck this week instead of his original plan to launch Nuke’s Italian Beef and Chicago Dogs.

Italian beef food truck plan scrapped

Posted online

A plan by the owner of a hot dog food truck to add a new mobile Italian beef concept this spring has been nixed.

Jeremy Mathis, co-owner of Doggy Style Food Truck LLC, recently decided against launching Nuke’s Italian Beef and Chicago Dogs, an eatery he announced earlier this year would open in April and split time between the Springfield and Joplin areas. He cited the high cost of beef as the primary reason to not move forward.

“The Nuke’s idea was a great idea, but the cost of beef was $7, $8 a pound to make the Italian beef,” he said. “We were going to do a half-pound sandwich to make it huge like we’re known for. We were looking at spending after labor, gas and all the food, nearly $8 just to make the sandwich.

“I personally couldn’t charge someone $15 for a sandwich and make myself sleep at night,” he added.

Mathis said he and wife Tambera already had bought the trailer, so they decided to convert it to another Doggy Style eatery – essentially doubling down on their original concept. The mobile hot dog eatery, which launched in April 2021, features a menu of over 15 hot dogs. Many have unique toppings such as pulled pork, apples, shrimp and buffalo chicken dip, and are named after dog breeds.

He estimated the couple invested roughly $10,000 to renovate and equip the second trailer, which is scheduled to launch on Wednesday. Mathis said his wife will run the new trailer while he operates the other. Two part-time employees also have been hired to help, he said.

“Now we can do two lunches and two dinners every day,” he said. “It’ll be a nice friendly competition between me and my wife for who sells the most.”

Mathis said people from towns across the Ozarks reach out to him “all the time” to bring his truck, adding he travels up to 20 towns on a regular basis. Between the two trucks, hot dogs will be served this week in Billings, Marshfield, Neosho, Republic, Rogersville, Springfield and Strafford, according to its Facebook page.

While Mathis said the Nuke’s concept isn’t moving forward this year, he isn’t ruling out its return down the road.

“It’s out for now but not down for the count,” he said.

Comments

1 comment on this story |
Please log in to add your comment
twlsbl

How can I be placed on an email list to keep track of your locations so I can support your efforts?

Monday, May 9, 2022
Editors' Pick
From the Ground Up: Republic Intermediate School

The Republic School District is on track to open its Intermediate School for fifth- and sixth-grade students for the 2025-26 academic year.

Most Read
Update cookies preferences