UpDawg Grill is coming to The Arcade

While visiting The Arcade, located in the basement of the Rogers Hotel at 100 N. College St., customers will soon be able to pair specialty hot dogs with their nostalgic arcade experience.

UpDawg Grill will offer a street-food style menu with “a twist on the classic hot dog.” The restaurant will be located in the lobby of the Rogers Hotel, but customers can also place an order at The Arcade, and their hot dogs will be delivered to them while they play.

The Arcade recently added multiple booths and tables to its location, and limited seating will also be available at UpDawg Grill.

Ever since opening The Arcade in 2019, owners Alyssa and Sam Westlake have wanted to add food to the experience.

“Our heart for The Arcade has always been to bring people of all ages together,” Alyssa said.

“We realized that we’re missing part of the experience,” Sam added. “We want it to be a community hangout spot, and we realize food is an integral part of that.”

Because they wanted to sell gourmet food and not “frozen pizzas or nachos,” it has taken the Westlakes a while to develop the idea.

Originally, they planned to have the restaurant within The Arcade, but there was not enough space for a full kitchen. When the space in the lobby opened up, they finally felt like it was possible, Sam said.

“We were thinking of what people can enjoy that’s quick and easy but still fun and delicious while playing arcade games, and hot dogs came to mind,” Alyssa said.

Through lots of taste testing and experimenting, the Westlakes then developed their menu, with the help of their head chef, Kenneth Rodriguez. The menu includes eight specialty hot dogs, sides, desserts and beverages.

The Hachie, Sam’s favorite hot dog, includes a beef dog, brioche bun, chopped brisket, BBQ sauce, pickles and onion crisps. Alyssa’s favorite, the Luau, is a beef dog in a Hawaiian bun topped with grilled pineapple, sweet chili and special siracha sauce. The Frilly, named by their 8-year-old son, includes a beef dog, brioche bun, Texas chili, Fritos and cheese.

Other dogs on the menu include the Chorizo, the New York, the Chicago and more. Sam said their hope is to also offer seasonal dogs and to one day expand their menu.

Alyssa came up with the idea of naming the restaurant, UpDawg Grill, after watching an episode (season 2, episode 13) of “The Office,” where Jim Halpert makes a joke to Michael Scott.

“Is it me or does it smell like up dog in here?” Halpert asked.

“What’s up dog?” Scott said.

“Nothing much, what’s up with you?” Halpert said.

When Alyssa approached Sam with the name idea, she said she felt like it was either “the stupidest idea ever or the best idea ever.” While they expected most people to not like the name, many of their friends loved it, and they said it’s been fun to watch people’s reactions.

“It’s just the most awesome dad joke of a name,” Sam said.

Alyssa said they are embracing the “corniness.”

Sam and Alyssa hope to open UpDawg Grill at the end of spring break, with just some finishing touches to be made.

They launched a Kickstarter, an online campaign site, to raise funds for the rest of their kitchen equipment, electrical updates, plumbing, tables, permits, booths and décor. More than $27,000 was pledged to the campaign by people in the community.

“We’re very grateful to Waxahachie and all the people that supported our Kickstarter – that was very humbling,” Sam said.

“We feel super honored and humbled to be able to create this space and welcome the community here and be welcomed by the community,” Alyssa said.

For more information, visit https://thearcadetx.com/updawg-grill. To stay up to date on UpDawg Grill’s opening, follow @thearcadetx on Instagram and Facebook.

Originally published March 9, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/business/updawg-grill-is-coming-to-the-arcade/article_4ee2bac8-be4d-11ed-9d5c-73beafbfda56.html