Walk into Yesterdog in Eastown and nothing much has changed. The walls are still orange and covered in vintage signs and artwork; cash only is accepted; coffee is still 15 cents. A gumball machine, juke box, and phone booth (the dial phone has been disconnected) still take up space.
The only things that have changed are the new ATM machine, for those who don’t carry cash, and the owners. Original owner Bill Lewis sold Yesterdog to co-owners Lisa Rapoport and Pat Connor in May 2025. “Bill wouldn’t have sold it until he knew someone would carry on his dream,” said Connor. Lewis still maintains the gumball machine in his retirement.
His dream continues, that’s for sure. The menu is the same: six hot dogs, chips, beverages, dill pickles, cookies, and seasonal chicken noodle soup. The closely-guarded recipes for chili, kraut, and soup are the same. The vibe is the same: relaxed, friendly, fun, a lot like family.
“The beautiful thing is that it’s the same simple menu and people love that it’s the same. They love the consistency,” said Rapoport.
The pair, who have a “Brady Bunch” family, both visited Yesterdog in their youth and understood its importance to the community, as well as the importance to its long-term employees, many of whom have worked at Yesterdog for two decades. One is Dave Walls, who has made dogs and cleaned tables for almost 19 years.
“Yesterdog is bigger than the people in it,” he said. “Customers call me YesterDave and are comfortable when they come in. They feel like they’re going to a friend’s house instead of a restaurant. The crew here is part of their lives.”
Rapoport and Connor bought the entire building, which makes them host to Vinyl Alchemy next door and they have plans to renovate and rent the four apartments upstairs. But it’s Yesterdog that has their heart. Rapoport’s brother Jeff Kagan wrote a song celebrating the 50th anniversary and sang it all day long on July 23, the official opening day back in 1976.
“It was chaos,” said Connor. “We had a line out the door for 13 hours straight and it was one of the busiest days in the history of Yesterdog.”
The three-day celebration including a magician, balloon sculptor, giveaways, and Adam Herz, screenwriter who sold the script of American Pie, based on his years at East Grand Rapids High School. The restaurant Dog Years in the movie is based on Yesterdog, said Connor, a good friend of Herz. The restaurant hosted a showing of American Pie at Wealthy Theatre as part of the celebration.
Connor and Rapoport love that Yesterdog is a place folks feel at home. People come in wearing three-piece suits and bathing suits, they may be millionaires or barely making it. They may want a single dog or a catered dinner for 100 people. There have been birthday parties, friend nights, and even a wedding at the multi-room restaurant in the heart of the city.
“There is something about this place; it’s a little slice of what America should be like,” said Rapoport. “People are humane, they treat each other nicely. People are just glad to be here.”
Interesting facts:
Famous guests include Betty White, President Barack Obama, Aiden Hutchinson, Sinbad, and Josh and Jase. Yesterdog merchandise as available for purchase online or in-store. Be sure to take your photo wearing the merch wherever you travel and post it on the restaurant wall.
1505 Wealthy St. SE
Open 10:30 a.m.-Midnight Sunday-Thursday; 10:30 am-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday
yesterdoggr.com
