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Delux Dogs to Take Over Stretch's Cafe Location at 943 Orange Avenue

eCoronado.com broke the story earlier this week that Stretch's Cafe will be closing on August 27th next month. The new dining tenant will be Delux Dogs - a gourmet hot dog and artisanal sausage restaurant. Read our interview with owners Kirsten Bertz and James McGee.

What is your connection to Coronado? Tell us your Coronado story.

Kirsten Bertz grew up in the "hot dog capital of the world" (Chicago) and had been a Summer resident for eight years before permanently moving to Coronado four years ago. She has two daughters enrolled in Coronado Middle School. James McGee has been in San Diego since 1994 and has worked for Ruth's Chris Steak House on Harbor Dr for almost twenty years.

Describe your new business Delux Dogs. What will the menu include? What makes it special?

The core of our menu is gourmet hot dogs and artisanal sausages. We will also be serving amazing fries and freshly squeezed and flavor-infused lemonades. Not only are we excited about our product, but we feel we are filling a huge void as there is currently is nowhere to go for a really great hot dog.

Why did you choose Coronado and this location on Orange Avenue?

Orange Avenue is the heart of the restaurant district and our fast and casual concept fits well among the other businesses.

Stretch's has been a Coronado staple for close to 30 years. What do you want to say to their patrons?

Our understanding of Stretch's long success starts with acknowledging Stretch himself. He started a business in a small community and became one with it's patrons. While the business changed hands a few times after Stretch, it still maintained a personal, local feel. Kirsten worked there a short time with Lindsey Palmer and witnessed how she got to know each of her customers on a personal level. While our menu and concept will be entirely different from what Stretch's serves, we too will hope to be a business that gives back to and becomes part of the Coronado community. We want to make the space more family friendly as well and offer items that speak to both children and adults...food that identifies with the "kid" in all if us.

What types of construction changes are you planning and when is the scheduled date to open Delux Dogs?

The space is going to require complete revision and effort to update it both aesthetically and to meet our operational needs. We have targeted November 2011 as our opening date.

Stay tuned!

Tags: business, dining, people

6 members like this

Comment by Jimmy Greco on August 1, 2011 at 2:06pm: Good luck Steve and Lindsey, remember going to get Mr.Collum's lunch at Stretch's almost every day! Will miss the bacon burrito.....ummmmmm

Comment by MIKE GAPP on August 1, 2011 at 3:29pm: I loved Stretches, but I look forward to this welcome new restaurant.

- One more reason to laugh when someone wants me to go eat off of the Rock! We've got so many good places to eat.

'Cant' wait to bring a herd of kids in there for a real Chicago Dog.

Mike Gapp

Comment by Kirsten Bertz on August 1, 2011 at 8:10pm: Our basic dogs will come from Vienna Beef, but we will also use a variety of others based on the flavor profiles we will be offering. We will be open for both lunch and dinner hours...a quicky before a movie is always a good thing ;-)!

Comment by Christine Duryea on August 1, 2011 at 8:29pm: We opened Coronado's first Surf Shop and Health Food store at this location back in 1972. Du-Rays Surfboards and Sunwear. I hope they do well. Our shop did until we sold it and now it is Island Surf. I Love Hot dogs. Can't wait to try them out. Good Luck.

Comment by Tonia Accetta on August 2, 2011 at 9:32am: When you say "offer items that speak to both children and adults...food that identifies with the "kid" in all if us."

does that suggest health items?

Comment by Christine Duryea on August 2, 2011 at 9:18pm: I wish them good luck. We opened Coronado's first surf shop at the same location. Du-rays Surfboards and Sunwear and Health Foods. We were there only a short time until the permanent location was ready down in the next block. After we left H and R Block was there until Stretch's moved in. Will miss them. I love Hot Dogs and will try it out.

Comment by Brian on August 4, 2011 at 12:56am: Kirsten, do you know if you will be carrying Sabrett's? You know Chicago is also known as the Second City...second to...well you know...where Sabrett's are from. :)

Comment by Kirsten Bertz on August 4, 2011 at 10:09am: Tonia-We'll be serving food to fit your mood. One day, you might feel like being bad and having something that's fried and topped with extra cheese. Another, you might be planning on attending a class reunion and decide on something skinny with veggie toppings. We'll have a composed menu with exciting items showcasing trendy or classic flavors, but you'll be able to build your own as well. To us, it's all about choices.

Brian-We've decided to go with Vienna for a variety of reasons. No argument, Sabrett's does deserve it's own accolades. The battle of the "best dog" is a fun and lively one with many passionate opinions. We're hoping to hit as many flavor, texture, and style points as possible given the constraints of our size of operation. We promise to please as many palates as possible. You'll not be disappointed! Now, shall we chat about pizza...? ;-)