Quaker St. eatery to feature hot dogs

Vinnie Covino loves fair food, and he’s convinced a lot of other people do, too.

That’s why he and his wife Julie are opening “What’s Up Dawgs?” at 70 Quaker St.

“I go to the fair to get sausage and peppers, and you can’t find them anywhere else,” said Covino, who is the director of information technology for the Poultney, Vt., schools. “We’re going to have a deep fryer, so people can get sweet potato fries, cauliflower and mushrooms. Since we are near the school, we’re going to do things for the kids, like deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos.”

Of course, considering the name of the restaurant, he’s also going to have a wide variety of hot dogs, and the theme of the dining room will be “a dawg and a Coke.”
He will also have roast beef, turkey and ham subs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers and other foods.”

Covino, whose restaurant is in a space formerly occupied by a Chinese restaurant, then a Mexican restaurant, finds himself and his wife part of a revitalization of that stretch of Quaker Street. The changes were triggered by Tractor Supply Co., and will be extended by the Big Lots. A new barbershop is also opening on that stretch.

“It’s a great location,” he said. “We’re going to have the Big Lots right across the road.”

Julie Covino will run the restaurant, and the couple will add a deck in the spring. Customers will be able to eat in the restaurant or get food for takeout.

Vinnie Covino said he’s planning a “soft opening” for Oct. 10 and a grand opening Oct. 13.