I can remember when I had my first Zombie Dogz experience. It was the horror themed truck’s very first outing in the Lowe’s parking lot on Wilmington Pike in 2012 and the idea of a hot dog topped with decadent things like macaroni and cheese, taco meat and fritos just seemed so decadent. In talking with Lee VanArtsdalen, who is the co-ower with her husband Dave, we reminisced about that first outing, where they served 68 people, she even remember my order! Dave’s love of all things Zombie brought them to their second gig for the truck, serving up their street eats at the annual HorrorHound Weekend, where they were bombarded with 30,000 people to feed.
Zombie Dogz Food Truck
And from their the legend just grew. Often the most popular truck at a rally, fans would line up and wait times often hit an hour for the growing list of gourmet hot dogs with an ever changing menu of ingredients. Their popularity continued to grow and in 2016 they were named “Best Food Truck in Ohio” by Ohio Magazines in the annual readers poll. That same year they finished 2nd as 2016 Hot Dog Vendor of the Year poll in the national contest rum by Mobile Cuisine.
In the winter of 2016 rumors started swirling about a brick and mortar location of Zombie Dogz and MostMetro was able to confirm the rumors in June and on Sunday, NOVEMBER 13, 2016 the doors opened at 1200 Brown Street.
Business a the shop has stayed steady, menu items have been added (yeah tots and White Truffle Mac n Cheese) and the truck continued to be out and about around town. The menu continues to rotate with some of the more popular dogs being brought back for limited runs, while new dogs are introduced. In June of this year they even introduced flights of coney sized versions of the gourmet dogs, so you can enjoy multiple creations.
But Today Zombie Dogz posted this on their Facebook page:
What’s up everybody. So, we are winding down our FOOD TRUCK season and wanted to fill you in a little bit. What we’re about to fill you in on is kind of sad. You may have noticed that we don’t make as many FOOD TRUCK posts lately. Well, there’s a reason………. I think after running long and strong for 5 years our little baby has come to an end. We don’t make posts anymore because we aren’t sure if half the time our trucks gonna make it!!! It’s pulled 12,000 lbs and has several tens of thousands of miles under her belt, and unfortunately she’s coming to an end. She’ll hold up for the rest of this months scheduled events, but after this month, we’re putting her to rest
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THE MENU WILL BE EPIC FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON AND WE WILL BE RUNNING SOME OF OUR CLASSICS AND MOST POPULAR DOGS. I’m putting it like this because the post will be so long with our schedule, but if you’re curious, you’re always welcome to contact us through messenger with questions about the menu
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TODAY, October 27th, from 9:30am-4pm we will be at the 13th annual CFC Pumpkin Chuck WPAFB.
5901 Airway Rd.
Riverside, Oh 45431
SATURDAY, October 28th, we’re doing a double
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From 11am-1pm we will be at the KETTERING REC. CENTER AND COMPLEX SOCCER FIELDS for this years WAG-O-WEEN event. Come help support Sicsa and the Humane Society celebrate Halloween with fun family activities and fun times with lots of cute puppies
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From 6pm-9pm we will be at JUNGLE JIMS for their Masquerade Ball in their new multi media facility along with 3 Floyds Zombie Dust Beer.
4450 Eastgate Dr.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45245
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30th from 6pm-10pm is going to be a super amazing event and one of my favorites to visit. We are going to be a part of the Dayton’s Grafton Hill Historic Association that is bringing back the annual STODDARD AVE PUMPKIN GLOW?
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And Lastly TUESDAY 10/31 the last event of our whole food truck existence, we are glad to be ending it with such a cool event, and an amazing supporter of ours over the years. We will be at ENGINE HOUSE TATTOO celebrating their 5 year Anniversary from 5pm-8pm????
21 E. CENTER ST. Germantown, Oh 45327
Thank you all for your support over the years!!!! Our truck has brought us so many great memories and a LOT of customers who we now consider good friends, if not family. It has got us to where we are today and we’ll never forget how we got this far…..
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We hope that you will join us for some of our last events with our truck and help us say good bye and put her to rest properly
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Again, we are very, very appreciative for all the love and support over the years.
Thank you?
Stay Gold Dayton 
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In talking with Lee she shared “this is so bittersweet. The truck was a dream, we grew and nurtured and Dayton welcomed us. But after 5 years the wear and tear on the truck and the trailer are dealing showing. The generator is dying and the repairs to the trailer were becoming to much. But we have the bricks and mortar location and we can really just concentrate on that now.” But as we chatted about the changes over the years, and the birth of her 2 children and all the friend they’ve made in the community, and how the storefront has been a game changer for their business. She also let slip, that perhaps, in time, the truck could come back to life…just what we might expect from a Zombie!
