“What up Doe,” Diamond yells on the beeping drivers passing Diamond Dogs, her scorching canine stand on the nook of Gratiot and Russell, simply outdoors of Detroit’s Eastern Market. “Come and get your glizzies” — a nickname for warm dogs that is change into fashionable on social media — she provides, laughing.
Diamond — that is her business title — had labored as a stripper in lots of 8 Mile golf equipment, with the stage title of, you guessed it, Diamond. But a 2010 automobile accident on the Lodge Freeway modified her life, and he or she began making her dwelling by hustling differently.
After the accident left her with a damaged foot, Diamond spent a while in Arizona, the place she seen that taco vans and different meals distributors have been raking within the dough. “I could do this in Detroit,” she thought.
When she returned to Michigan, Diamond and her associate Fred fought arduous to get the correct allow to safe the busy Detroit road nook she coveted. Diamond Dogs opened later that yr.
Traffic at her stand is dependent upon what’s occurring at Eastern Market, or if the Lions are at home. She’s at all times out on Thanksgiving, and has been for the final 13 years, providing 9 types of scorching dogs.
“From the rich to the poor, all kinds of people come here to eat. I’m a people person. Everybody loves me, and I love my customers.”
Diamond, who wears a gold pendant that spells out “Hustle,” explains her business philosophy: “I keep it clean,” she says, sweeping round her handmade, bejeweled scorching canine cart.
“I eat here once or twice a week. … I can’t do it every day, that would be irresponsible,” laughs Mike Davison, of Ferndale, after ordering Diamond’s well-known Chicago-style canine, which contains a poppy seed bun, a jumbo beef canine topped with relish, onions, a pickle spear, sport peppers, tomatoes and a drizzle of mustard with a splash of celery salt, for $5. The combo, with chips and a beverage, is $8.
Though Ford Field ranks as one of the vital budget-friendly stadiums for warm dogs within the NFL — $6.50, according to ESPN in 2022 — Diamond is proud that Diamond Dogs is an excellent cheaper choice, snaring followers on the way in which to video games.
On busy Eastern Market Saturdays, the cart additionally attracts guests who don’t need to wait in line or pay restaurant costs whereas procuring the farmers market.
On a recent October day, Downtown Danny Brown Jr., of Detroit, ordered a Red Hot Fat (Diamond Dogs additionally affords a Red Hot Skinny). “It’s about love … it’s about food … stuff like this keeps the community going.”
