Thomas Gounley

TGOUNLEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A hot dog stand that operates in downtown Springfield is adding a restaurant in Battlefield Mall.

Wonder Wieners, which specializes in Seattle-style hot dogs and sausages, is slated to open its "family-style tap house" in early June, the mall announced last week.

Seattle-style hot dogs are served on a bun slathered with cream cheese, and typically topped with grilled onions, owner Cory Eden said. Wonder Wiener offers additional toppings such as jalapeño jelly, pineapple relish and tomato jam.

"It just gives it that perfect sweet and spicy kick," Eden said. "I have no culinary background — it just made sense when I started doing it."

Eden, 38, grew up in the Seattle area and said he was "completely infatuated" with the hot dog carts downtown, each of which had "its own personality and flavor." He said Seattle-style dogs aren't really well known outside Seattle, and even to a degree within the city itself.

Eden moved to Springfield to attend Evangel University and ultimately graduated from what is now Missouri State University. He started Wonder Wieners in 2001, but the company operated in a very limited capacity for years. In the last few years, he said, the stand has been set up outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis and invited to cater at weddings.

Wonder Wieners has had a visible presence in downtown Springfield since October, when the company opened what Eden calls "an outdoor kitchen" in the patio of Ernie Biggs piano bar. It operates from 9 p.m. to bar close on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Eden said Battlefield Mall staff then reached out to him to see if he'd be interested in setting up shop there. Eden said he'd long imagined operating a full-service restaurant, but hadn't envisioned it happening so soon. It'll be the first time he works on the business full-time.

In a news release, Amanda Estes, the mall's director of marketing and business development, said the goal was "to introduce a restaurant to the mall that is new and different from anything we’ve had before, but also appeals to all age groups."

"Battlefield Mall always strives to bring the best dining and entertainment options to our shoppers, so Wonder Wieners — with its delicious food offerings and welcoming environment — seemed like the perfect fit,” Estes said in the release.Eden is leasing a 1,000-square-foot location by the Dillard's men's store in the mall. It will feature a full-service bar surrounded by TVs, with seating for about 20.

Sausages and onions are split and grilled, then simmered in a bath of Coors light and spices, Eden said. Customers will go down a line to add toppings, like they do at Subway or Chipotle. Customers will also be able to purchase food to go.

Eden said the typical sausage order is $6. He said Wonder Wieners will also continue to operate on the patio at Ernie Biggs — and that he hopes this will just be the start.

"I envision this thing going all over the nation," he said. "I really do."

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