Film: Secrets revealed in Yesterdog documentary

Friday, October 05, 2007
By John Serba
The Grand Rapids Press

So, Yesterdog has secret hot dogs that aren't on the menu, eh?

This is one of the revelatory bits of information in "The Yesterdog Documentary," a locally produced 25-minute film examining the popular Eastown hot dog eatery. The place is certainly deserving of its own movie, boasting (arguably) the best dog in Grand Rapids for the last 30 years.

Local filmmakers Andrew Tingley and Aaron Carriere, founders of Creo Productions, filmed the documentary in 2006, interviewing Yesterdog owner Bill Lewis, employees and patrons. Some dog-eaters are young, some are old, some are, in the movie's own words, Yester-Virgins, others Yester-Veterans. And some are apparently inebriated, which is a key element of the restaurant's clientele, being open late specifically for the post-bar crowd.

So yes, "The Yesterdog Documentary" is a fun watch, especially for those of us who have been happily chowing Cheddardogs for many years. The film is available on DVD, which includes deleted scenes, an extended interview with Lewis and filmmaker commentary. Purchase it at Yesterdog, 1505 Wealthy St. SE, or on the Web at Yesterdog.com or Yesterdogdocumentary.com.