In 1976 Bill Lewis decided he could build a better hotdog. And build a better hotdog he did!
Yesterdog has won Grand Rapids Magazine's Best Hotdog category every year since 1991, the year hotdogs were included in the poll. It has also been awarded the Gold Townie Award for Best Hotdog so many times we've lost count!
The restaurant's interior takes guests back to the 1930's and 40's with vintage posters, an ornate hand crank cash register, an antique jukebox, and an old gramophone horn which serves as the "tip target" where customers toss their coins.
Customers range from Janet Jackson and Senator Levin to the business man who drives from south of 28th Street on a regular basis to get a Yesterdog for lunch. If you haven't been in to try a Yesterdog (or Ultra, Kraut, Cheddar, or Killer dog) you don't know what you've been missing!
In 1999 Yesterdog was represented on the big screen as Dog Years, a hotdog restaurant that appeared in the hugely popular teen comedy film American Pie.
American Pie was directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz and written by Adam Herz. Much of the film is based on the writer's days at East Grand Rapids High School in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the film, the town is referred to as "East Great Falls." The restaurant, Dog Years, is based on Eastown's own Yesterdog.
Hours