Dog Haus in New Albany, Indiana
Jon and Karen Riddle are no strangers to franchising. Their newest venture, Dog Haus Biergarten, brings a unique flavor and atmosphere to New Albany.
The location opened in May 2024 and is the first Dog Haus location in the area. Jon said they signed on for a total of five locations and have plans to open three in Louisville and one in Clarksville or Jeffersonville.
“We heard about Dog Haus in an article … their food sounded awfully intriguing. My wife and my two kids and I hopped in the car on a Friday and drove up to the closest one, which is all the way up in Chicago, ate some hot dogs, drank a couple beers and drove back home the same night.”
“We heard about Dog Haus in an article … their food sounded awfully intriguing,” Jon said. “My wife and my two kids and I hopped in the car on a Friday and drove up to the closest one, which is all the way up in Chicago, ate some hot dogs, drank a couple beers and drove back home the same night.”
After the visit, they reached out to corporate to express interest in franchising, and they were then invited to Pasadena to meet with the founders and their corporate crew.
Jon’s whole family hopped a plane and flew out to Los Angeles to spend time with them.
“We stayed out there to hit Disneyland and Hollywood; made a little bit of a family vacation out of it.”
After deciding they wanted to move forward, corporate called to say the same and get the ball rolling. From there, Jon said it was just a matter of hammering out how many locations and where.
“We’ve been pretty picky with location. When this spot opened up, we felt like it was a great fit. It had a really great vibe, lots of outdoor space, and we were able to put a stage in, so we have live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”
“We’ve been pretty picky with location,” Jon said. “When this spot opened up, we felt like it was a great fit. It had a really great vibe, lots of outdoor space, and we were able to put a stage in, so we have live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”
The Riddles are experienced in franchising, which really started with Karen. After having spent two decades in the health-care industry, she was ready for a change and fell in love with a restaurant that they then franchised. Jon has worked in the restaurant industry many times in his life, bussing, waiting and bartending.
“I always enjoyed the environment of food service,” he said. “Now we’re back in the restaurant business again.”
Dog Haus stuck out to Jon because of the menu itself. He said the food is “outstanding.” They wanted a niche product that wasn’t fighting against all of the other businesses with similar products.
“What really impressed me the most: Everything that they served us looked dead up like the photos we saw online. Very good control of product and presentation from a brand standard really means a whole lot to us.”
“What really impressed me the most: Everything that they served us looked dead up like the photos we saw online,” he said. “Very good control of product and presentation from a brand standard really means a whole lot to us.”
Jon said the biggest challenge in opening the franchise is that they bought the property instead of leasing it, which has dropped them into the world of commercial real estate. He also said the bar scene is a challenge in terms of making sure they have everything on tap, licenses in order and bands booked.
“It is very different from anything else we’ve done before,” he said. “There are plenty of challenges, and we’re still trying to figure it all out.”
Having lived his life in the area, Jon has loved becoming a part of the business landscape of Floyd County.
“It feels really good to be a bigger part of the town that I’ve grown up in. Hanging out here — this is my favorite place to be.”
“It feels really good to be a bigger part of the town that I’ve grown up in,” he said. “Hanging out here — this is my favorite place to be.”
While there are plenty of unique menu items to try, Jon narrowed down his favorites in each category. For hot dogs, Tooo Chi; sausages, The Fonz; burgers, Little Mule; chicken, The Hot Chick; and breakfast burritos, the Borracho Burrito.
“We have a great management crew and staff, so all of my involvement is from an administrative standpoint — bookkeeping, payroll, booking bands. … When I come in, I get to hang out like any other guest and enjoy myself,” Jon said.
The restaurant hosts bar games every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening, including trivia and bingo.
“My main goal is for people to feel at home here. I want them to feel like they can hang out for a while, chat with family and friends, have a nice cold beer, in a nice, clean, open and bright event.”
“My main goal is for people to feel at home here,” Jon said. “I want them to feel like they can hang out for a while, chat with family and friends, have a nice cold beer, in a nice, clean, open and bright event.”
For the future, Jon said they are working on next locations and doing more with their outdoor space, including converting a barn into an event space.
“After that, it’s a matter of finding the perfect place to put store number two.” •
To keep up with Dog Haus events, check out their Facebook page or visit them at doghaus.com.
Story by Darian Decker
Photos by Michelle Hockman
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