Grand Grand Rapids!

Now if you've seen a certain movie about a certain kid and certain things that he did to a pie, you'll recognize the name "Dog Years". If you didn't already know, "Dog Years" was derived from an actual hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Yesterdog! ("East Great Falls" had replaced East Grand Rapids in this movie.) Yesterdog is a Grand Rapids icon!

This tiny little place squished amidst the Wealthy Street retailers is easy to miss. But just keep your eyes peeled for a brown canopy and an ever-vigilant bum that sings and plays his guitar for tips just outside the entrance.

Upon entering, you may find that during the "lunch rush", it's standing room only. If it's your first visit to Yesterdog, you may feel a bit chaotic; "where's the line to order?!" "Are all these people waiting to order or just waiting for food?!" "That lady just cut in front of me!" You wouldn't be the first to feel this way! Then you'll realize that the employees have a wonderfully unorganized system—that works. As patrons pile in, they point at you and ask "Whaddya want?" (Their blunt approach is part of its "charm"). "One cheddardog, please", you may respond. And the guy behind the counter barely lets you finish responding before he asks the next person "whaddya want." Amazingly, about 1 minute later, a giant batch of made-to-order hot dogs is brought out on a giant wooden rack. (Yes, even yours with no onion and lots of mustard—ketchup on the side.) Your hot dog is put on a sheet of wax paper along with your drink, and you pay the cashier at an archaic cash register—complete with handle to pull down. The total for one cheddardog and small soda? A mere $2.10. No wonder Yesterdog was the only thing I ate during college...