Yinzer Dogs opens brick-and-mortar location in Cranberry
The Yinzer Dog has a house n’at.
The Original Yinzer Dogs food truck — inspired by the Original Hot Dog Shop that had closed in Oakland in April 2020 — opened a brick-and-mortar location this past weekend in Cranberry.
“Cranberry is great because it is close to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and the Milkshake Factory,” said co-owner KDKA radio personality Larry Richert. “There are a lot of hockey tournaments at the sports complex, so we think our grab-and-go concept will do well.”
Richert said he and former WDVE radio host Jim Krenn, along with a group of investors, including Richert’s brother-in-law, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, chose Cranberry because “the area is booming.” Marino was in town and stopped by the shop over the weekend.
Director of operations and a founding member of The Original Yinzer Dogs, Doug Mariani, has been creating tasty Pittsburgh-inspired menu items since the food truck started rolling in 2024, Richert said.
“Doug is the expert,” Richert said. “His food is really good.”
Menu items include a kielbasa sandwich on grilled Cellone’s Italian bread, Yinzer Bites — mini-pierogies filled with mashed potatoes and cheese — Mama Marino’s fried jumbo and an ice cream “sammich.”
The mini pierogies and fries are topped with Yinzer dust, a special secret-recipe seasoning blend.
The food truck is under the umbrella of Yinzer Cards and Yinzer Bars, and food items such as the Original Yinzer Dogs, Stanley P. Kachowski’s kielbasa, Babushka Mama’s Cabbage Noodles Haluski and Pierogies, that are sold in more than 70 Giant Eagle stores.
Richert said they’ve been doing cooking demonstrations at the new Giant Eagle in the Strip District.
A second brick-and-mortar location of Yinzer Dogs is planned to open at 18th Street and Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Strip District in 2026 before the NFL Draft in April, Richert said.
Yinzer Fresh catering is set to launch in 2026.
“The strip district is a happening part of town,” Richert said. “We want to be more than hot dogs. We want to be part of the nostalgia of Pittsburgh.”
The Original Yinzer Dogs is located at 2085 MacKenzie Way, Cranberry.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Details: 412-728-2727 or originalyinzerdogs.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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