Short Leash Hot Dogs started a new concept named Sit, Stay last week to extend its business and try something different with their food.
“We wanted to create a space for people to take their time and not feel hurried,” said Brad Moore, who founded Short Leash with his wife, Kat. “This is an opportunity to slow things down a little bit and create a laid-back atmosphere where people are invited to sit and stay.”
Sit, Stay offers Short Leash the chance to experiment with its menu and offer full service while still operating out of the food truck. The concept will be open on Friday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. at a new permanent location Short Leash leases on the south side of Maricopa Manor, near Central Avenue and Camelback Road.
“They’ve been at the forefront of food trucks for a while,” said Rachel Malloy, a boutique owner who came to the opening night of Sit, Stay on Friday. “This is definitely the next step.”
The lot, formerly unused, has been refurbished and turned into an outdoor restaurant. The Moores have decked out the space with wooden tables and strings of twinkle lights, and played music through an old-school radio at the first night of Sit, Stay.
“I’m impressed with what they did to what was an empty parking lot just two days ago,” said Jerry O’Connor, a photographer who came to the first night of the new concept.
Short Leash will be serving up a rotating menu of entrees and large-sized specials in addition to its standard fare of gourmet hot dogs at the new location. The specials for the first night of Sit, Stay included a beer-braised bratwurst in a pretzel roll with a side salad and pigs in a blanket with mashed potatoes.
“This gives us the opportunity to do some things off the menu,” Moore said. “We may potentially do all entrees on Fridays.”
The idea for Sit, Stay came from a once-a-month event, called Short Leash Saturdays, where the food truck would sell hot dogs in the parking lot of Medlock Plaza.
The lot where Sit, Stay is operated is adjacent to Medlock Plaza, which is home to Stinkweeds Records and Francis Vintage boutique.
“It’s a nice, natural progression for us,” Moore added.
Ultimately, Sit, Stay is only a stepping stone to bigger things for Short Leash. Though the concept has just been started, Moore is already looking ahead to the future.
“Our long-term goal is to open a restaurant,” Moore said. “This gives us an opportunity to see what it’s like, to progress before moving into a brick-and-mortar restaurant.”
Contact the reporter at hailey.paquette@asu.edu
