MUSKEGON, MI – The mission at Slappy’s Slaw Dog and Sandwich is simple: serve the local community with a great attitude.
Owner Jerome Johnson, 47, knows how hard life can get, and if a hot dog or hello can bring a smile or two, he’s for it.
He opened the eatery at 1845 Lakeshore Dr. on his birthday on March 15, 2025, after doing pop-up events at businesses around town.
“Schultz Haus bar in the summer of 2020 was a very pivotal moment for Slappy’s,” Johnson said. “I started to sell Italian beef sandwiches and it slowly snowballed into what it is now.”
He told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle that as the Lakeshore neighborhoods and surrounding areas have already given great reviews, he’s looking forward to a busy summer.
The top orders off the menu feature a filling sandwich and hot dog: Lakeshore Philly cheesesteak and Empire Dog.
The Lakeshore Philly cheesesteak consists of slow-roasted, thin-sliced prime ribeye, craft beer cheese and grilled onions on a turano roll. It’s available as a half sandwich for $9 or $17 for a whole.
The Empire Dog ($8.50) comes with a bacon-wrapped, quarter-pound all-beef dog generously topped with Slappy’s sauce, grilled onions, craft beer cheese and crispy bacon bits, all served on a deep-fried pretzel bun.
Other items that seem to be gaining steam is the $10 veggie wrap and the $7 Slappy’s breaded chicken sandwich.
Johnson said that his favorite off the menu is the whole Italian beef sandwich ordered wet for $16. It comes with slow-roasted prime rib and hot giardiniera and sweet peppers on a turano roll.
“It’s a recipe that’s been passed down from family in Mississippi and Illinois,” he said. “I remember going to Cubs games, different things like that, and we would get hot Italian beefs. I remember trying to reinvent these sandwiches years ago.”
The years of finding a good recipe and sticking with it is what prompted Johnson to name his first business Slappy’s.
He was inspired by the slang reference, ‘It slaps,’ which means something is exceptionally pleasing, after hearing the younger people always refer to it when trying food.
“I said to myself, ‘Man, it’d be cool to have a place where everything on the menu slaps, even the soda,” he said.
Johnson boasts that he’s bringing a different feel on a traditional item to the Muskegon area, with one day hoping to expand into a chain.
“We believe in our commitment to the community and the friendliness to our customers, because we wouldn’t be anything without them,” he said. “We try to do everything with a smiling face and give back when we can.”
The hours of operation for Slappy’s Slaw Dogs and Sandwich will change on May 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Place a carryout order by calling (231) 557-7757 or visit hungry4slappys.com/.
Would you like MLive to consider featuring your favorite restaurant in Michigan’s Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Skyla Jewell-Hammie at sjewell-hammie@mlive.com.
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