Mill Avenue has a new addition to its block. Part hot dog stand, part beverage store, Thirsty Dog 2 Go is a rare oasis found on Mill.
Gil Schmitt, the owner and resident of Tempe for 25 years, created Thirsty Dog when he realized there was no small hot dog stand where students and residents could go to along Mill Avenue. Already the owner of Coldstone down the street and Arizona Shorts across from Thirsty Dog, he took it upon himself to open such a place.
Schmitt purchased the old loading dock from the Post Office next door on Fifth Street, refurbished it and converted it to a small hot dog stand and beverage store.
The name Thirsty Dog 2 Go was easy to come up with. “‘Thirsty’ stands for the beverages in the store and ‘dog’ stands for the hot dog stand,” Schmitt says. As for the “2 Go” part, “someone got a hold of the public records and saw Thirsty Dog and had the assumption it was a late night sports bar. You can eat at the counter but you can’t sit,” Schmitt says. “Hence we added the ‘2 Go’ part to our name.”
Some may shy away from a hot dog stand with no place to sit, but the atmosphere is pleasant and friendly. The dogs are easy to eat on the go while shopping down Mill Avenue.
Thirsty Dog isn’t as big as a Circle K or QuikTrip, but Schmitt emphasizes that Thirsty Dog is different from the average convenience store.
The shop offers a variety of beverages including coffee, cappuccinos, water, sport drinks, beer, wine, champagne and a mix of sodas.
Thirsty Dog also sells specialty items such as ASU t-shirts and hats, Thirsty Dog’s own specialty t-shirts, greeting cards, cigarettes, candy, sunglasses, simple school supplies (pens and pencils) and even miniature cacti for any special occasions that may arise.
Of course, no visit is complete without trying one of their tasty dogs. Thirsty Dog’s menu includes all-Vienna-Beef hot dogs, brats, chili dogs and sausages, all with their own special touch. Some of the featured dogs include the Jalapeno Brat with diced jalapenos inside the meat, the spicy and flavorful Sicilian sausage and the Four Peaks Beer Brat — a brat which has been soaked in Four Peak’s Kilt Lifter beer and then thrown on the grill.
Luckily, Schmitt understands the Mill Avenue District is full of college students and offers his dogs at prices anyone can handle. His dog combos are less than $5.00 and his sausage combos are less than $7.00.
Thirsty Dog 2 Go is open late and will satisfy anyone’s late night needs for a beverage and simple meal.
Reach the reporter at theresa.dillon@asu.edu.
