Soup ‘R Dogs Looks to Fill Void at Nittany Mall

Whenever she shopped at the Nittany Mall, Stephanie Kozel noticed the mall lacked one big thing — it didn’t have a food court.

“I’m originally from the West Coast,” Kozel said. “This is the first mall I’ve ever seen that doesn’t have a food court.”

With that in mind, Kozel has opened Soup ‘R Dogs. The main menu item, of course, is specialty hot dogs. But there are a plethora of menu choices, including homemade hot sausage, chili, macaroni and cheese and Meyer Dairy ice cream.

“I saw the need and I wanted to bring something different; something the area hasn’t seen before,” Kozel explained.

After she decided to go with specialty hot dogs, it was just a matter of choosing what type of hot dog to serve.

The taste tests then began.

“We did a blind taste test and everyone settled on the one we have. It’s an all-beef really good dog. Back West, there are all kinds of hot dog shops. I got some of my ideas from (living) there. But every one has my own flair to them,” Kozel said.

Kozel said that she considers herself a bit of a foodie. She loves to cook. The chili, she said, is one of her favorite things on the menu at Soup ‘R Dogs.

“I like to cook. The chili is my recipe. I won’t even give it to my husband,” Kozel joked.

Kozel also features homemade soups, which change on a daily basis. The soups, she said, have been a hit. During the first week Soup ‘R Dogs was opened, she continuously sold out of soup.

“We have sold out of every soup. The first day, we were sold out at like 2 o’clock. It was crazy,” Kozel said.

Soup ‘R Dogs has been popular among shoppers and mall employees, Kozel said. The mall has a couple of restaurants, but Kozel believes that Soup ‘R Dogs will fill a void.

She said the response has been overwhelming thus far.

“People are amazed,” she said. “We sell a lot of the macaroni and cheese and the chili … comfort foods.”

For those on the go, Soup ‘R Dogs features walking tacos, which are usually found at Little League concession stands.

“I didn’t even know what a walking taco was until I moved here,” Kozel said. “I had no idea. We do it with chili instead of taco meat. It’s been a hit.”

Kozel’s stepfather, James Flug, is co-owner. Although Soup ‘R Dogs is in its infancy, Kozel said that the first few weeks of operation has been a success.

“It’s going really well,” she said. “We’ve had a really good response.”

Soup ‘R Dogs has a half-dozen staff members. Kozel said that if the shop continues to do well, she may add staff.

The restaurant is open during mall hours — 10 a.m. through 9 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.