www.comstockparkdda.org • Winter - January 2026
It’s about the beef and unique toppings at Mad Dogz in Comstock Park It’s all about the beef at a popular Comstock Park hot dog stand. It’s also about the peanut butter, the bacon, the mac and cheese, the corn chips and all the other interesting toppings you can try on your dog here. From classic to wonderfully wild, Mad Dogz offers quite the variety of hot dogs to enjoy at their busy spot located in Comstock Park. Business partners Diane Leatherman and Marco Pavano first met when they worked together at local retailer Meijer and decided to go into business together in 2008. “It was a combination of inspiration and desperation,” Pavano explained. With the economy a mess, Business partners Diane Leatherman and Marco Pavano opened Mad Dogz the two decided to take in Comstock Park in 2008. a risk and jump into the restaurant industry with no experience, but with a belief in owning and operating their own business. So how did they decide on hot dogs for their business? Pavano was very honest with his answer he gave “because we are not foodie people, we are businesspeople.” They were approached by another local hot dog establishment, Dam Dogs in Rockford, who was looking to add a location and had a business plan all ready to The Chicago Dog (dubbed go, and busy West River Drive in Comstock Park The Rage), is one of the had the traffic that they Two customers enjoy a meal at Mad Dogz, many menu offerings at wanted. 3916 West River Drive in Comstock Park. Mad Dogz. “There is a lot of indusLeatherman. a “franchise” situation, and “She told us all of her try and traffic that goes Leatherman described they credit Dam Dogs pre- secrets and we ran with through and by and that’s this starting partnership as vious owner Jane with set- them,” Leatherman said. what enticed us” about a “friend-chise” rather than ting them up for success. Within just a few Comstock Park, said
months however, things had changed and the partners found themselves solely on their own, running a restaurant that they quickly renamed Mad Dogz, by just rearranging a few letters. The fast casual space has seating for around 30, and a constant stream of customers in and out during the day. You can stop in and sit down, or grab and go for a quick and easy meal. “The hitter in the hot dog world is the all-beef dog,” Pavano explained, and that is exactly what they serve at Mad Dogz. These are pretty big boys, as they come eight dogs to a pound. It’s important to note that these locally-made dogs do not have casings, and do not have the signature coney dog snap that some brands have, and that is with good reason. “We’re not in Detroit, we’re not in Chicago, we’re in Grand Rapids,” said Pavano, who says that snappy dogs just don’t sell in West Michigan, but that steamed buns are a must. The crew at Mad Dogz has heard every interpretation of what constitutes a true authentic coney dog. Their approach is to try to give their guests what they are looking for, whether it fits the traditional offering or not. “We’ve got what we’ve got and we hope you like it.” The menu runs the gamut from simple to inspired, divided into sections like basic dogs, specialty dogs and kraut dogs. They also offer several sausages, including a cheddar jalapeno brat, as well as vegan dog offerings. The bestselling, and signature dog is the Mad Dog, a classic take with chili, ketchup, mustard, pickle, cheese and onion. Where things get fun are with the “hook” dogs, that come topped with inspired and sometimes downright crazy ingredients. The Chi Chi comes with chili, cheese, tomatoes, onion, sour cream and the added crunch of corn chips. Pesto La Vista comes doused in that bright green basil sauce, and then topped with a squiggle of mayo,
tomatoes, onions, banana peppers and crispy french fried onions. The Mac Daddy is Pavano’s favorite, and features crisp bacon, creamy mac and cheese, hot jalapeno and crunchy onions nestled into that steamed bun. Leatherman is partial to the Yo-Yo, a BLT dog that she describes as “so smooth and fresh, people are expecting some pizazz, and it’s not, it’s just smooth, easy to eat, a great savory hot dog.” The Goofy is the dog that put Mad Dogz on the map so to say. Its unique makeup made it into a nationally published article on hot dogs, and created some great buzz for the business. It features chili, pickles, corn chips, and…. wait for it…..peanut butter. Creamy or crunchy. The Goofy remains one of their most popular hot dogs. Chips and cheese, coleslaw, and a walking taco complete the simple menu here. “It’s about service,” said Leatherman. They employ about ten people at Mad Dogz. “Service and food are the two things we really strive for.” Consistency is also important to the team, and nothing makes them prouder than when a guest tells them that it’s “just like we remember”. Pavano explained, “The business is not difficult, what we have. This is very simple, and that is why it has fit us, without having a food background. We’ve learned from the location, being equidistant from Chicago and Up North, and we’re right off the highway, so we get a lot of people stopping on their way.” While they have become a popular destination for hot dog connoisseurs to travel to from all over, the business partners would really like to see more customers from right here in their backyard of Comstock Park. “We would love for the community to come in,” said Leatherman. “Everybody is welcome.” For more information call (616) 647-9449 or visit www.themad.dog. By Amy Sherman
ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER