Nestled between Abandoned Meander and Whyld Hare, the recently opened RoRo Dogs hot dog shop, a mere 300 square feet, is tiny but mighty. With its bright yellow, red and blue colors it manages to stand out on Roosevelt Row. Inside, a mural by local artist Jesse Perry @mrdowntownphx covers the bottom of the L-shaped counter. It’s worth a close look for those waiting for a meal.
RoRo Dogs was opened by Christopher Campbell, a residential Realtor, and his fiance Donny Ades in February 2024. The two met three years earlier and connected over their love of the outdoors.
Ades had moved from Phoenix to San Francisco for work and came back to visit Campbell. “But we couldn’t see each other because my roommates got Covid,” Ades said.
“I left a Covid test on his doorstep,” Campbell said, and when he was in the clear, the two went on a bike ride for their first date.
On Christmas Day 2023, Ades popped the question, and Campbell said yes. “But now we have a hot dog shop, so we haven’t set a date,” Campbell said.
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RoRo Dogs is like ‘Bob’s Burgers,’ but with hot dogs
RoRo Dogs is the ground floor of the couple’s condo. According to Ades, the fact that they live upstairs reminds some people of “Bob’s Burgers” but with hot dogs.
When Campbell opened a door to the back of the shop, he revealed a storage room that used to be their bedroom. The walk-in closet is now equipped with shelves that house various dried or canned food items.
Up a flight of stairs is their living quarters. One side has been converted to a bedroom, and the other is a living room and kitchen that opens onto a balcony that overlooks Roosevelt Row. This is where they eat breakfast nine months out of the year and people-watch on First Friday.
The space previously served as Campbell’s real estate office. A year and a half ago, Campbell was lamenting to Ades how weird he felt sitting alone in his office.
“It took him 60 seconds to come up with the idea of hot dog shop,” Campbell laughed.
“It just made sense,” Ades said. “We had pizza, tacos, fried chicken, but no hot dogs.”
What’s on the menu at RoRo Dogs?
The main ingredients, namely the buns and dogs, are strictly local. The hot dogs come from Schreiner’s Fine Sausage and the buns from Strictly From Scratch bakery.
“I tell you, we did everything right by mistake,” Campbell said. “We are not chefs, so we went with standards and put a little zing to them.”
“And tried to use excellent ingredients and tap into nostalgia,” Ades added.
The couple offers Chicago, Sonoran-inspired, and chili cheese hot dogs, but with a twist. For the Sonoran dog, instead of an all-beef frank, they used Cajun andouille. The chili cheese hot dog is also a sausage and comes topped with crushed Fritos.
“The Chicago dog we left as accurate as possible,” Campbell said, “except we use an all-beef hot dog instead of Vienna beef.”
And it’s delicious. The bun’s fluffy texture pairs well with the snap of the hot dog and there most definitely is a little spicy zing to each bite.
The Picnic dog is their own creation — an onion bun holds a smoked all-beef dog with pickles, baked beans, coleslaw, crumbled Lays Barbecue potato chips and yellow mustard.
The newest addition to the menu is a RoRo Pup, which is half the size and half the price of a RoRo Dog and a perfect option for kids. Those who prefer variety can order a RoRo Pack O’ Pups or three half dogs for $16.
The menu also offers a vegan option with hummus, avocado, lettuce, tomato, pickle spear, Lightlife smart dog and smoked paprika. Gluten-free patrons can order “everything but the bun” over chips.
What’s to expect at RoRo Dogs in August?
Campbell calls the shop “a hot dog cart without wheels,” with one person running the show. They’re keeping things simple but do plan to add soft-serve ice cream to the menu in August.
(RoRo Dogs will be closed for a summer break from August 12-27.)
Prices: $12 for signature dogs, $10 for off-the-menu build-your-own, $6 for RoRo Pups, $16 for three pups or RoRo Pack O’ Pups.
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Details: 610 E. Roosevelt St., #140, Phoenix. 602-224-0554, rorodogs.com.
Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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