This Home Depot Product With a "Cult Following" Is Getting an Upgrade
It's not something you'd expect to find at the home improvement retailer.
If you had to list a few things that you'd buy at Home Depot, you'd probably rattle off paint, tools, building materials, and maybe appliances. What you might not immediately think of is a product that's somewhat outside of the home improvement space, but that has nonetheless developed a "cult following" among Home Depot shoppers. Now, that same product is getting an upgrade that may have you seeking out specific locations. Read on to find out what praised purchase may soon become an even bigger favorite.
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Unusual Home Depot products have been all the rage lately.
A few offbeat Home Depot products have been widely coveted lately, including a massive crab statue. Back in July, shoppers had a field day with the "Colossal Crustacean Grand Scale King Crab Statue," now available on Home Depot's website for a staggering $1,480.86. The review section was filled with sarcastic commentary, with one shopper warning others that the King Crab "does not come with butter."
But the appeal of the giant crab could not hope to compete with Skelly, the nickname for Home Depot's beloved 12-foot skeleton decoration. The giant yard decoration has sold out every year since its 2020 debut. This year is no different, as Skelly is currently out of stock on the Home Depot website, over three weeks ahead of Halloween.
There's another cult product that Home Depot shoppers can't get enough of, however, and thankfully, it's not out of stock. In fact, it's getting an upgrade.
You don't have to go hungry at Home Depot.
As a true American staple, hot dogs conjure images of baseball games and the Fourth of July. Costco's food court is well known for it's $1.50 hot dog combo, too, but you don't expect to find one when browsing for nails and screws at Home Depot. Nevertheless, at 17 locations in Chicago, Illinois, a hot dog cart called Fixin' Franks might catch your eye.
Dubbed a "longtime regional treasure," the company was started by Conley Shirley, originally "selling lattes and cappuccinos" at the home improvement store in the '90s, Block Club Chicago reported. But when Fixin' Franks started selling hot dogs, contractors couldn't get enough.
"I think it's a perfect match," Jordan Shirley, Fixin' Franks manager, co-owner, and son of Conley, told Block Club Chicago. "Hot dogs are a blue-collar, quick-and-easy meal."
According to Fixin' Franks' Instagram page, they offer hot dogs, Polish sausages, and Italian beefs, among other selections at their hot dog stands—all exclusively located within Home Depots. If this wasn't unique enough, Fixin' Franks just upgraded its signature product.
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These dogs just got a whole lot fancier.
If you have a hankering for some upscale Japanese beef, Fixin' Franks has got you covered. Now available at the hot dog stand are Wagyu hot dogs and bratwurst, provided by Michigan-based Vander Farmers, per Block Club Chicago. Regular hot dogs will run you about $4 at Fixin' Franks, while the new upscale dogs are priced at $8. According to Wide Open Eats, Wagyu beef comes from Kobe, Japan, and it's extra pricey because it doesn't "grow intramuscular fat," so it tends to be more tender and juicy.
You can try it in hot dog form at seven of Fixin' Franks' Home Depot locations, according to a Sept. 28 post on the vendor's Instagram page. The trial run is being held at the Elston, Niles West and East, Addison and Kimball, Evanston, Lincoln and McCormick, and Mt. Prospect locations.
"It's shedding light on the business," Shirley told Block Club Chicago of the Wagyu addition. "People who shopped at Home Depot always knew us, and it was almost like a cult following. We want to be open-minded. We want everyone to come in."
You'll want your hot dog to be served Chicago-style.
Hot dogs in Chicago are served after they've be "dragged through the garden," which typically includes a poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, dill pickle spears, relish, onion, celery salt, and tomato wedges, according to Bon Appétit.
If you're a local or find your way to the Windy City, you can try out a Wagyu dog at Home Depot served in this signature style, but Shirley doesn't recommend it with ketchup.
"I haven't heard of anyone not liking them so far," he told Block Club Chicago. "Wagyu is the new thing, and everyone wants to have their hand on it. It tastes different than your typical dog. Every bite is full and smokey."
