Serving up more than just hot dogs and burgers, JDoggs has tucked within the restaurant a fun, family-oriented environment geared toward kids of all ages.
Offered at 136 S. Main St. in Shawano — along with various menu items — are simulated golf courses, cornhole games, Frisbee and much more.
On the menu, patrons will find Chicago-style hot dogs, burgers, homemade pizza, fresh-squeezed lemonade and chili, all offered in a casual, family-friendly place, serving beer and wine, no liquor. Takeouts and DoorDash are provided.
Owner Amber Arneson and boyfriend Jeremy Weed (aka JDogg) gave the former Rades Bowling Alley a facelift but kept the ambience of the past intact as much as possible.
“It was important for us to honor the history of the place,” Arneson said. “We kept the old bowling alley floor and old bar as well as the exposed ceiling — it is all part of its rich history and adds character. We worked with the building and then added a little Chicago flair.”
Running a business in Chicago for 20 years, Arneson was friends with the owner of Vienna Beef and realized she had the desire to bring Chicago north — basically focusing on the Chicago dogs.
“Training in restaurants in Chicago to learn how to do everything just right, we brought that knowledge up to Shawano,” Arneson said. “We knew what we wanted to do.”
Years ago, after sitting down at the kitchen table and forming a plan, the pair literally drew a picture of how they wanted their food truck trailer to look. After serving food out of the truck for seven years, they purchased the building about five years ago.
Arneson and Weed together remodeled the storefront location while still running their business out of their food truck. In March 2024, they opened their doors on South Main and discontinued the trailer.
The original food trailer is recreated in the front of their storefront kitchen. The trailer, then, appears as if it’s been relocated into the stationary business.
Arneson and Weed have worked as a team for the past 11 years.
Arneson handles ordering, works in the kitchen and manages the restaurant’s bookkeeping and inventory.
Devoting his time and energy into keeping the restaurant’s maintenance needs met, Weed is also JDoggs’ main cook and prepares much of the food, including his chili. His own recipe won several trophies and cook-offs and has become a big part of the business.
“We offer a simple menu with different lemonades, a variety of burgers and of course, Jeremy’s famous chili,” Arneson said.
The restaurant has room to hold birthday parties and family celebrations. With virtual golf, disc golf, cornhole, bowling, football and baseball simulators, the restaurant is unique and offers more than simply a place to dine.
With thousands of golf courses to choose from, JDoggs just finished its first golf league this year and its new league started the first week of March, going through the end of April.
“We are thinking about having a junior golf league during the summer,” Arneson said.
Partnering with Shawano Lake Golf Course, participants may sign up at the course or contact JDoggs.
“Our golf league is different than most,” Arneson said. “We have a flexible schedule. If a team can’t make it a certain day, any time we’re open between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., you can put in your time with your league.”
Stressing a family-friendly atmosphere, those with children are more than welcome.
“The kids can be loud, can roll on the floor and just have fun, we’re OK with it,” Arneson said. “Being a family-friendly place, it’s like the parents don’t have to be afraid the kids will be disruptive. We encourage them to hang out, have fun and just be kids.
“The community here is very supportive. Plus there are people from Kenosha, Fond du Lac, and Green Bay that heard about us, found out about our uniqueness and wanted to try it. They just come out for a drive. Saturdays here are amazing, full of out-of-towners.”
Long-range plans are to focus on more Chicago food items. By adding a new deep fryer, they can keep their french fries gluten-free and will soon be able to offer other gluten-free item choices.
“Also partnering alongside of us is my 28-year-old daughter, Morgan, who is deeply involved in the business and does an amazing job. She handles all of our social media, and I’m very proud of her. Along with our great staff, we all work together to make our small business go,” Arneson said.
For information, call 715-701-8000, go to www.jdoggs.com, or find them on Facebook.
JDoggs storefront is a restaurant complete with room to hold birthday parties and family celebrations. With virtual golf, disc golf, cornhole, bowling, football and baseball simulators, the restaurant is unique and offers much more than simply a place to dine. (Kay Reminger)
