With international chains such as Starbucks and McDonald’s quickly expanding around the globe and filling every block with their unhealthy fare, it’s becoming more arduous for college students to find a decent place to eat. These international food chains sacrifice quality for efficiency, and their market aggression makes it difficult for small businesses that may want to offer a healthier alternative to continue. Fortunately for San Diego State students, there is a beacon of gustatory hope.
Located by KB Books and Domino’s Pizza on College Avenue sits a new, graduate student-run business called The Doghouse that is successfully surviving in this dog-eat-dog world.
“(We are) the little guys in the ‘doghouse’ right now,” said Nyle Webster, company partner and coffee operations manager. “On campus, you have the big chain foods like Taco Bell, Starbucks and Peabody’s. You know, that’s food: It’s big, it’s easily accessible, real quick but it’s not good and healthy. It’s not doing anything for the environment.”
With dreams of always opening their own business, Andrew Bent and Justin Deignan were brought together fatefully in an Asian cuisine cooking class at The San Diego Art Institute. Bent had dreamed of opening his own business since high school but took a year off of school to travel and play in his band. Shortly after returning to school, he ran into Deignan who had prior experience managing a business.
After nine months of vigorous paperwork, they finally launched their business, The Doghouse, on Jan. 17 with hopes of providing SDSU students with quality-made, affordable hot dogs and coffee.
However, coffee wasn’t part of the primary plan. Webster, who previously worked as a barista at Starbucks and Bird Rock, offered Bent and Deignan tips on how to add zest to the coffee they were selling and was then offered a full-time position.
Although Bent and Deignan are serious about managing their business, they currently attend The San Diego Art Institute and are studying culinary arts.
“Our success is really a reflection of all the students showing support for other students,” Bent said. “We are students, as opposed to going to other places and putting money into a hole.”
Although The Doghouse is becoming more familiar at SDSU, its laid-back, grass roots feel and humble attitude isn’t losing sight of its mission. Their modest hot dog and coffee stand is decorated by more than five plants that were grown in Bent’s backyard garden where he disposes all compost from a day’s work.
“We’re in this alleyway … How can we make this not just a parking lot?” Deignan asked.
The Doghouse is serious about its organic ideals. Students who recycle a bag of cans and plastic bottles at the SDSU Recycle Center can receive a free drink with a purchase of a food item by showing their receipt at the stand.
For vegan and vegetarian customers, The Doghouse offers vegan sausages and organic drinks. For the carnivores, The Doghouse offers a variety of toppings for hot dogs such as coleslaw, barbecue sauce, chipotle ranch, crispy fried onions, bacon, chili con carne and other essential condiments. If looking for a quick morning fix, order these menu items to receive the best coffee buzz: Vietnamese iced coffee and the iced mocha.
“We’re not trying to take all their (other on campus chain restaurants) customers,” Webster said. “We’re just doing simple good coffee and simple good hot dogs.”
As a result of its initial success, The Doghouse is expanding to a second location at the Qualcomm Headquarters where they plan to continue offering the same quality, quick and affordable food and drinks.
“We created the business in our own image,” Deignan said. “We make this business how we see fit. This is our personality, a reflection of us.”
There is no better time to buck the chain-restaurant trend and taste something new. With a location mere seconds away from the hub of on-campus activity, this casual joint offers all of the conveniences of its more popular competitors. However, it offers the added bonus of unparalleled quality and a chance to support local SDSU graduates.
The Doghouse is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. If customers “check-in” or “like” The Doghouse Facebook page with their smart phone at the stand, they receive $1 off their purchase. If students with munchies stop by from 4:20 to 5 p.m. they can buy a hot dog for $1.
