Lazy Dog Grill and Catering has become a local favorite in Downtown Jonesboro, known just as much for its delicious hot dogs and lemonade as for the friendly man behind the window. Stationed at the corner of Church Street and Monroe Avenue, owner John Wilson greets every passerby with a trademark wave and smile, adding a personal touch that’s made his food truck a favorite lunchtime destination for many.
Wilson and his wife, Penny, have resided in Jonesboro since 2003 and have three adult daughters and three grandchildren. Prior to opening Lazy Dog Grill and Catering in 2023, Wilson was a manager at Fat City Grill.

“Lazy Dog Grill was opened because I wanted to serve the community delicious dogs with a friendly atmosphere,” said Wilson. “I started with a hot dog cart and ran that for a year while we assessed the profitability of our business. Everyone seemed to love my food, especially my grilled onions and the half-inch thick grilled bologna that we soon added.”

After many customer requests to find a convenient spot to set up in Downtown Jonesboro, the Wilsons found their current spot across from The Forum Theatre.

“We feel like the location is perfect for a part of downtown that doesn’t have as many quick places to eat,” said Wilson. “We have so many businesses and city workers that have become regular customers: City Water and Light personnel, bank employees, attorneys, other downtown businesses, as well as many from the community.”

The Lazy Dog Grill and Catering owner has become known for his charm. On any given day, Wilson can be seen wearing one of his festive shirts – some featuring dogs, of course – as he waves at everyone who walks or drives by the food truck. His white beard and jolly spirit have an old St. Nick vibe, while his playlists feature some feel good tunes by the Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffet and others. Wilson says these acts of friendliness have not only helped him gain customers, but also uplift others.

“My favorite part about running Lazy Dog Grill is being able to sit on the porch and wave at passersby who often honk and share a smile or wave,” he said. “I had one gentleman say he was often depressed before he drove by, but after receiving a wave and smile, the rest of his day was better.”

Lazy Dog offers a wide variety of lunchtime options, including beef and sausage dogs, grilled bologna, angus and chicken burgers, walking Frito chili pies and nachos, as well as an array of toppings ranging from caramelized onions to kraut or hot sauce. The menu also has seasonal items, such as lemonade with optional fruit add-ins, hot chocolate and s’mores.

While they currently plan on staying in their downtown location, the Wilsons have set up shop in a variety of spots around town.

“Lazy Dog Grill has done gigs at the (Judd Hill) Farmers’ Market, hardware stores, in front of local businesses and several factories,” said Wilson. “Currently, we mostly stay in the same location so that our regular customers can find us easily and new customers are always driving by. For now, we are mainly focused on just the lunch crowd from 11 to 3, but we may expand our hours in the future.”

He encourages customers to follow Lazy Dog Grill and Catering’s Facebook page for updates on what days and times they will be open. They offer many perks to customers, such as free chips for those who like their Facebook page, a loyalty punch card and hot dog candies to new customers.

Wilson says he enjoys running his hot dog stand and hopes to continue improving the business.

“We are always looking for ways to make Lazy Dog Grill better,” he said. “We hope to add more seating at our downtown location and plan to add chili to our menu in the fall.”

Lazy Dog Grill and Catering is located at the corner of Church Street and Monroe Avenue in Downtown Jonesboro. To learn more, find the business on Facebook at Lazy Dog Grill and Catering, email lazydoggrill@email.com or call (870) 340-6464.