For 46 years, it’s been all about the wieners.
Now it’s about the ice cream, too.
The hot dog chain with a cult following has shacked up with an ice cream darling in the bright yellow A-frame hut on Evergreen Way.
What’s up at Wienerschnitzel is Tastee Freez.
It’s Puget Sound’s introduction to Tastee Freez, a soft-serve wonderland of splits, sundaes, sprinkles, shakes and colorful dipped cones.
That’s why the Everett landmark hot dog stand was closed for two months. That’s right. While you were missing your chili cheese dogs, local top dogs and brothers Domenic and Daniel Baker were in California going to Tastee Freez school and remodeling the store that has been at 5905 Evergreen Way since 1969.
“We renovated just about everything,” Daniel Baker said. “There’s all brand new plumbing and electrical. A lot of our refrigerators and freezers are brand new. New grills. We added a drive-up window. Before we had to actually walk out to the customers. There’s nice fancy window. New register systems.”
The Bakers plan to have a grand reopening event within a month.
The hot dog chain, founded in California in 1961, was one of the earliest franchises in Everett back in the day when there was only a McDonald’s in town.
Wienerschnitzel has a loyal following, even with that sweet $1.50 Costco dog deal a few miles away.
“I’ve been coming 10 years for the chili cheese dogs,” said Rick Day of Mukilteo, who was getting his fix after two months of abstinence.
His first taste of Tastee Freez got the nod. “I’m going to bring my little one back,” he said. “She’ll go crazy over the cotton-candy dipped cones.”
The Baker boys grew up working the Wienerschnitzel that their mom, Sharon Baker-Myklebust, bought in 2000.
Six years ago, the identical twins, now 28, started running the show. “She said, ‘You guys take over. I’m going to relax,’” said Daniel Baker.
The brothers hope to add more stores in the area. But first things first.
“Hopefully, next year we’ll do a wraparound dining room,” Daniel Baker said.
The diner has six red stools, three on each side. Outside are picnic tables with umbrellas.
New stores have booths inside a modern beige and boxy exterior.
“There are only 24 left in the chain that look like this,” Daniel Baker said. “It will stay looking like this forever. The giant yellow roof, you can’t miss it. You can see it from Google Earth.”
To join the Wiener Lovers’ Club, go to www.wienerschnitzel.com/specials.
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