From The Tribune staff reports
CENTER POINT — The Original Hot Dog Factory in Center Point will have a soft opening on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020.
Free hot dogs will be available and other items will be sold à la carte. Dessert options will not be available. The soft opening will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the location at 2400 Center Point Parkway.
The Original Hot Dog Factory is a franchise based out of Atlanta, Ga. The owner of the Center Point location, Charles Wright, Sr., is from Oxford, Ala. and is also opening a location in Anniston. He said his business will be family-based.
“I am family-first,” said Wright. “My daughter, Kierra Wright, is my Operations Manager. She’s a recent graduate of the University of Alabama, and my son, Charles Wright, Jr., he’s is my Training Manager. He goes to Oxford High School and plays basketball. My motto is ‘family first’ and once you become hired, you are part of our family.”
The Original Hot Dog Factory will offer drive-thru and walk-up ordering.
Wright, a retired and disabled veteran, decided to become a franchisee after he saw the business on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
“I was doing homework because I just finished up my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and it was a Sunday night, I’ll never forget,” Wright said. “My fiance, Stacey Wilson, was watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta and it was the episode when Marlo and Porsha went to The Original Hot Dog Factory.”
Wright said after getting the idea, he researched it and he met all of the criteria. Before he knew it, he was a new business owner.
“Corporate has been helpful,” Wright said. “They made me learn fast and helped me a lot. I’m better for it.”
Choosing Center Point was a no-brainer for Wright.
“At the time we went looking for locations, it was in the middle of COVID and we thought that it would be around for a while so, we wanted to go with the contactless drive-thru and the Rally’s building was open for development,” Wright explained. “This is a new concept for the company. They normally have walk-in and sit-down with a full bar.”
The Original Hot Dog Factory is located at 2400 Center Point Parkway, in the former Rally’s building.
The Center Point location will have a walk-up order option and a drive-thru order option.
Wright said Center Point leadership has been helpful
“Mayor Henderson has been available every time I have called,” said Wright. “Allen McCleney, who is the electrical inspector, is very thorough and very knowledgeable, Karen Jaynes who works in the inspections office was very helpful, and Ken Wills with the Jefferson County Health Department was a bright light in this whole process.”
Wright said neighboring businesses have also been welcoming to him.
The new business will create up to 14 jobs. Many of those already hired are high school students from the area. Wright also said he plans to sponsor sports teams at Center Point.
The grand opening of the restaurant will be on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. Regular hours will be Monday – Thursday, 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. and the restaurant will be closed on Sundays.
Available hot dogs are listed below. Click here to view the full menu.
