BIRMINGHAM, AL — Birmingham has a rich and proud tradition when it comes to hot dogs, as legendary hot dog joints like Pete's Famous, Gus's, Sneaky Pete's and Sam's Super Samwiches have been Birmingham staples for decades. But a new hot dog restaurant chain is now eyeing Birmingham for expansion.

Dat Dog, based in New Orleans, announced it is looking at opening a Birmingham location. Dat Dog Enterprises LLC CEO Paul Tuennerman said in a Birmingham Business Journal report that the chain – known for gourmet sausages and hot dogs – has purposefully targeted Birmingham for its franchise model.

Tuennerman said the company is focused on finding opportunities to partner with individuals and organizations on the development of Dat Dog restaurants in Birmingham, Nashville, Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. He said the company would like to see one or two restaurants in each of those markets.