PDogs Closes Doors Again, Owner Hopes for Another Chance

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In a time when opening up a small business was considered financial suicide, Alex Yanez took his chances and started PDogs, on the corner of Garfield Avenue and Century Boulevard, in the summer of 2010.

“I did everything backwards,” said Yanez, of his hot dog restaurant.

The Hollydale resident had no notion of mass food production or big scale marketing, but he knew he wanted to offer a product that no other restaurant could provide within a ten-mile radius, outside of a Weinerschnitzel franchise.

While Yanez’s original plan was to open up a restaurant on Paramount Boulevard, hence the title PDogs, he was happy that he was able to purchase the property in Hollydale.

“I had tried other properties [but they] fell short,” said Yanez. “They didn’t follow through.”

Within a week of purchasing the property and working out the legal paperwork at the South Gate City Hall, he had his keys.

“I was the first business in the history of both [South Gate and Paramount] to join both city councils for one grand opening,” maintained Yanez. “It was a real blessing.”

However, things got off on a bad start, when according to Yanez, a law enforcement officer spread a rumor that accused him of being affiliated with a Paramount gang.

This then led to vandalism problems, such as graffiti and broken windows.

Still, Yanez looked past that and continued on. He interacted with the community, offering peace and a friendly environment.

“Next thing I know I had a little following,” he said.

He offered his restaurant as a fundraising location for local groups, as well as a meeting spots for low rider clubs.

Customers seemed to enjoy the atmosphere as much as the various choices of hot dogs. On Yelp, the restaurant has four out of five stars.

“It was good,” said Celeste Becerra, 16, of the food at PDogs. “I like that they had fundraisers and helped people out.”

Then came September 2010 and money ran out.

Alex was forced to close the business for a few weeks, and even work side jobs to bring money for the business.

When Yanez closed his doors, South Gate officials tried to offer help, but said they couldn’t provide money.

“I said, ‘I don’t need your money, I just need you to support me. Show your faces. Come around,” Yanez said.

When Yanez managed to open the restaurant in November, he felt isolated again, with the potential problems from the months prior resurfacing in his head.

He was forced to close again in March 2011, and did so again this October.

Though he wants to continue the restaurant, the access to loans from banks has become difficult, in part because of banks’ wariness in this weak economy.

For now, he has hired a property realtor to help him sell his property but he is hoping for another chance to continue. 

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