Let's Be Frank: Home Depot Drops Hot Dogs, Makes a Huge Mistake

Of all the restaurants I missed visiting during the pandemic, the one that topped my list may surprise you. Nestled inside of my local Home Depot was a small hot dog stand, Hot Diggitty Dog. Every weekend without fail, my youngest daughter Liliana and I would head to Home Depot with a list of hardware items to pick up for our Sunday projects around the house. And every weekend without fail, my daughter and I would get in line with the contractors for one Chicago dog and one plain dog with ketchup with two cans of Country Time Lemonade. The Chicago was for me, the other for Lily.

This weekend ritual of ours wasn't unique to us. No, there were countless examples of families enjoying a snack throughout the aisles or on the way to the parking lot. It became something we looked forward to - and on more than one occasion if Lily was feeling down, I'd surprise her with a trip to HD for a hot dog and a smile. The menu wasn't elaborate, but it didn't need to be. It was an affordable escape that helped strengthen a bond between this father and his daughter.

It became tradition.

But alas, all good things come to an end. This week, without warning, Hot Diggity Dog LLC announced on social media that effective immediately, Home Depot would be removing their stands from all of their Michigan locations.

To say there was a public outcry is an understatement. People took to Facebook and Twitter to express their grief, yes grief. In the time it took to make a red hot, Home Depot put a statement out explaining their decision:

“In March 2020, our in-store food vendors were asked to close for the safety of customers and associates, and the decision has been made to suspend food vendor operations in Michigan so we can focus on serving customers with their home improvement needs. This news was shared with vendors a couple weeks ago, and we appreciate the years and partnership and wish them well in their future business.”

Home Depot is not a restaurant. They offer products and services related to home improvement. And while a core value of theirs is excellent customer service, Home Depot never had to provide a perk intended to feed contractors running to and from the big box retailer without time to make another stop for lunch. Especially when the lunch stands were contracted out with no affiliation to Home Depot outside of the space it leased to serve food.

But that's sadly where Home Depot got it wrong. COVID-19 took something away from us, albeit we assumed wrongly as temporarily. The lowly hot dog stood for more than a cheap lunch. It was a symbol of Home Depot understanding their customers, and when those customers began embracing a DIY spirit to save more and do more, they should've realized quickly that the lunch break they offered to the pros coming in for drywall evolved to something intangible that couldn't be built with the hammers, 2x4's or nails they sold in their aisles. It was an opportunity for this father and daughter to build long lasting memories over a Chicago dog, a dog with ketchup and two Country Time Lemonades.

I'm going to miss that.