Hot dogs (and more) - The Food Shack moved to Menards!
 |
| The Food Shack sign seen on the front of the new location of the food stand - Optopolis |
Whether you want a hot dog or burrito, bottle of water, or bag of chips, The Food Shack has relocated their food stand to Menards. The Food Shack was previously set up in front of The Home Depot, but they were reportedly struggling to maintain a stream of customers at the old location; now at the new location, things seem to be going better.
History of the shack, including Weenie Wrangler & BorderDogs
The little shack that currently houses The Food Shack was previously located in front of Cheyenne's The Home Depot between the main entry and the exit near the appliance department. In the 2010s, the shack was called Weenie Wrangler Hot Dog Stand, and it was even featured in a People magazine. A post on their Facebook page indicates that Weenie Wrangler had been "slinging weenies since 2013." They expanded in 2018 to "The Weenie Wrangler II," their second food cart which could set up shop at events.
 |
| A customer visits Weenie Wrangler in May 2018 - Google Maps Street View |
In January 2019, Weenie Wrangler Hot Dog Stand stated on their Facebook page that they "recently sold the cart at Home Depot," going on to say, "we are still doing events and catering." Another post in April 2019 said that the stand was sold to Keith Weaver who renamed the stand to BorderDogs. In August 2020, Weenie Wrangler stated that they moved to Saint Michaels, Maryland, which is where they seem to be located today; this was after apparent plans to go to Washington, D.C.
BorderDogs noted on their Yelp page that their business was established in 2018. It's not exactly clear at this time to Optopolis when BorderDogs officially shuttered, but their Wyoming business page states their LLC went inactive on October 9th, 2023. Google Maps Street View from July 2023 reveals that the shack was then-called Ramonas Burritos and so much more. But by September 2023, the hot dog stand had already been renamed to Ninni's Hotdog Stand. It's not currently clear to Optopolis what other ownership changes, if any, occurred during 2023 and prior to October 2023.
 |
| The Food Shack as it was seen in February 2024 at The Home Depot - Optopolis |
Kelly M. McDonald, the current owner of The Food Shack, shared with
Optopolis that "The Food Shack" originally opened in approximately October
of 2023. Kelly shared that the most recent owners of the food stand continued operating The Food Shack's operation until about three months ago (or around mid-2024).
The Food Shack relocates to Menards
Last Saturday, October 26th, 2024, The Food Shack opened at Menards. In order to relocate, they had to transport their shack from The Home Depot and paint the shack green. When observing the shack from afar, the green paint appears to be very similar to the green color seen on Menards' store front.
 |
| The Food Shack seen set up near the main exit at Menards on Windmill Rd - Optopolis |
The owner of The Food Shack, Kelly, shared with Optopolis that the shack was already having much more success at Menards. Kelly believes that a major reason for the struggles faced while located at The Home Depot is that most professional builders and contractors tend to use the lumberyard exit as opposed to the exit near the appliance department where the shack once stood. At Menards, however, they are located immediately outside the primary exit most people typically use.
Upon observation, even if one were exiting through the Menards garden center, one could still potentially see the food stand when exiting Menards. This is certainly in contrast to The Home Depot, where the stand could not easily be seen from either the garden center or the lumber yard exit.
 |
| The Food Shack is located between the main entry and main exit at Menards. - Optopolis |
A menu board in front of The Food Shack states that they serve breakfast
burritos, hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats. A tag on a food warmer
indicates they also have mini tacos, barbecue sandwiches, and other options available. They also have beverages (water, coffee, and others) as well as pre-packaged
snacks (chips, Hostess Donettes, and others) available directly within the
shack.
Kelly said that the stand is open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, seven days per week. His wife who was serving food to passerby customers told Optopolis that they have maintained these hours since opening in front of Menards. For those that aren't aware, Menards is the hardware store located at 4355 Windmill Road, across the street from and to the west of Cahill Park.
 |
| Some of the menu items listed on a chalkboard at The Food Shack include burritos, hot dogs, and brats. The hours seen on this sign hadn't been updated yet; the shack is, in fact, open 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. |
 |
| This sign can be seen on the north-facing exterior wall of the shack. - Optopolis |
If you have further questions for The Food Shack, you can contact the shack at either of the following phone numbers, also listed on the sign seen in the photo above.
- (307) 214-0014
- (307) 256-1203
Comments