Just ask anyone in Turlock where they can find the best hotdog in the 209 and odds are they’ll say Main Street Footers.

“Footers is an old-fashioned, hometown eatery where people can come and get the same thing every time: good quality food and friendship,” said owner Glenn Newsum.

The idea behind the highly successful hot dog joint emanated from original owner Dennis Rodgers in 1983 after he traveled to the Bay Area to try out different hot dog eateries. Specifically recognizing the presentation and success of Caspers Famous Hot Dogs, Rodgers was inspired to open Footers on Main Street.

When Rodgers made the decision to relocate to the Bay Area and consequently sell the business in 1997, he turned to Newsum, who he had befriended over 20 years earlier at a Kiwanis meeting, to discuss the value of the business and potential sale.

“After weeks of discussion, I thought it would be a good idea to buy Footers,” said Newsum. “I talked this over with Lisa Wilson, Dennis’ daughter, about partnering up and buying Footers.”

Wilson, who worked at Footers since she was 16 and was running it at the time, loved the business and thus thought it would be a good investment to partner with Newsum. The partners officially purchased Footers in August 1997.

“Footers has changed over the years with many items added to the menu and additional seating outside,” said Newsum. “Footers is not only known for its array of sausages, but also its deli sandwiches, homemade salads, soups, shakes, drinks and chips.”

Since its inception over 30 years ago, Footers has been serving customer favorites, including the Avocado Footer, which is a delicious combination of freshly sliced avocado, Thousand Island dressing, onions, tomato and cheese, and the Western Bacon Cheese Footer, which tantalizes customers with barbeque sauce, onions, tomato, bacon and cheese.

According to Footers employee Molly Amant, these customer favorites have been joined most recently by another menu item, the CK7 Kaepernick Footer, which as a tribute to hometown hero and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is dressed in a special sauce made at Footers, coleslaw, chili and jalapenos.

Footers was also recently inspired to expand their menu thanks to their downtown neighbor Dust Bowl Brewing Company when an employee ventured to try the restaurant’s PB&J; Burger.

“She tried the burger and she liked it, so she thought why not put it on a hotdog?” said Amant.

As a result, customers can send their taste buds on another peanut butter and jelly filled adventure with the Peanut Butter and Jelly Footer, which is a hot dog topped with grape jelly, peanut butter, bacon and cheese.

“It’s pretty popular as crazy as it sounds,” said Amant.

Although most customers arguably come in to Footers for the locally acclaimed hot dogs, the business’s menu also boasts a wide array of salads, sandwiches, soups, ice cream, and other specialty items.

“There are a lot of people who do not like hot dogs,” said Amant, “so this definitely brings more people in.”

Amant reported that the eatery’s salads and sandwiches even rival the hot dogs in popularity with favorites like the Chicken Taco Salad, which is a robust pile of lettuce, onion, tomato, chicken, cheese, sour cream, green sauce, salsa, avocado, jalapenos, and tortilla chips, and the Reuben Sub, which delights customers with pastrami, Swiss cheese, onion, thousand island dressing, and sauerkraut.

“We have something for everyone,” said Amant. “This is great place to come enjoy a meal with just about anybody.”

For those looking to quench their thirst or for the perfect beverage to accompany their hot dog, Footers does not stop at typical soft drinks, as it also offers innovative Red Bull Frozen Infusion Creations, Italian sodas, shakes, and malts.

According to Amant, the average amount a customer can expect to pay for a their food at Footers is anywhere from $10 to $12, a price which most times encompasses an entire meal.

“All of our sandwiches come with a side,” added Amant. “Customers can get chips or they can choose macaroni, pasta, or potato salad—all three of which we make in-store.”

Main Street Footers is located at 425 East Main Street. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 667-8383 or visit

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