Yinzer Dogs to open a brick-and-mortar location in Cranberry

By Sono Motoyama / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Yinzer Dogs, which got its start as a food truck, will soon open a restaurant in Cranberry.

The wiener eatery’s new location at 2085 MacKenzie Way, in a Cranberry shopping plaza, is currently scheduled to open in August, according to Pittsburgh radio personality and Yinzer Dog partner Larry Richert.  

“That was part of the original plan,” Richert said of opening a brick-and-mortar spot. “The whole genesis was all the hot dog places that went under during COVID.”

Because it is “more challenging” to open a restaurant, he said, the owners decided to launch a mobile dining spot first. Since opening for business in April 2024, the truck has made appearances at corporate and family events as well as area festivals.

“We thought a food truck would be a great way to kick off the process,” Richert said. “It’s been a nice marketing tool. ... We’ve had a great response.”

The menu at Cranberry will feature the company’s namesake Yinzer Dog, a pork-and-beef hot dog in natural casing; a kielbasa sandwich on Mancini bread topped with bell peppers, onion and provolone; Yinzer Bites, mini-pierogies with the company’s “secret” Yinzer Dust; and Steel City French Fries, straight-cut fries also strewn with the secret dust.

Other offerings planned include a self-service toppings bar with a projected 20 items and rotating flavors of Yinzer Pop, bottled locally by Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop. Richert also promises “Yinzer-oriented” trinkets for sale.

The new location will place the business near the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, where the Pittsburgh Penguins practice, a couple doors down from a heavily frequented Milkshake Factory and adjacent to lots where intensive home development is planned, Richert said.

Ownership — which also includes radio personality Jim Krenn and former University of Pittsburgh and Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino — also has plans to open another location in the Strip District. Richert said that the partners have signed a lease, but are waiting for permits to begin renovations.

Richert said the company is also eyeing opening in Oakland eventually — “Grab and go fits in a college town” — though a location has not yet been found.