Tar Heel Traveler: Exploring the origins of The Dog House in Durham

RULES ON INDOOR DINING AND

OTHER RESTRICTIONS.

THOUSANDS OF RESTAURANTS OF

COURSE HAVE CLOSED AND MORE ARE

EXPECTED TO DO SO THIS WINTER.

>> A RESTAURANT THAT HAS JUST

CELEBRATED 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS

BUT IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL

RESTAURANT.

>> TONIGHT WE FIND OUR TRAVELER

IN DURHAM.

SCOTT MASON VISITS THE HOT DOG

SPOT THAT DOGS WOULD PROBABLY

LOVE AS WELL.

>>> IT STARTED IN 1970 IN

DURHAM, A MAN WITH A DREAM AND

A HOUSE.

A DOG HOUSE.

>> PEOPLE LOVE IT.

PEOPLE WANT TO COME UP HERE AND

TAKE PICTURES.

AND ENJOY THE DOGS AND THE

BULLDOGS.

BOXER, COLLIE, AND HOUNDS.

>> ALL OF THE DOGS ARE NAMED

AFTER DOG BREEDS.

THE TRASH CANS ARE SHAPED LIKE

FIRE HYDRANTS.

WE HAD THEM CUSTOM MADE.

>> WHAT WAS HE LIKE?

>> A VERY NICE PERSON.

>> HE'S LIKE HEY HOW IS

EVERYBODY DOING.

>> I GUESS THE STORY GOES THAT

YOU COULD NOT FIND A GOOD HOT

DOG IN DURHAM SO HE WANTED TO

BUILD HIS OWN PLACE.

>> HE DESIGNED THE BUILDING

HIMSELF.

OPENED THIS FIRST ONE AND ADDED

OTHERS IN DURHAM.

>> THEY HAVE ALL THEIR OWN

FAMILY RECIPES FOR THE CHILI

AND SLAW AND STEW AND

EVERYTHING.

>> AND THE CROWDS CAME.

LIKE DOGS TO A BONE.

HOT DOGS, HOT RODS, A 74

MUSTANG.

AN OLDIE CAMARO.

A BLUE AND WHITE BEAUTY.

SNOWBALLS AND BARBECUE AND ALL.

>> WE HAVE THE REGULAR HOTDOGS

AND BEEF HOTDOGS.

I GO BACK AND FORTH.

IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY.

>> THE SAUSAGE DOG IS

PHENOMENAL.

>> AND YOU ARE VEGETARIAN?

>> BUT SHE CAN EAT THE FRIES

AND APPLE TURNOVER.

>> ARE THE FRIES GOOD?

>> THEY ARE REALLY GOOD.

>> YOU ALL ARE QUICK.

>> EVER BE LIKE THE HOT DOG.

>> TO HAVE A DOG NAMED FOR A

DOG AT A DOGHOUSE NEXT TO A

FIRE HYDRANT, WELL, THERE IS

SOMETHING ADORABLE ABOUT THAT.

>> HE TOOK A CHANCE.

HE DID.

>> MR. H, STUART HENDERSON, HE

DIED IN 2010.

>> HE WAS A VISIONARY.

HE ABSOLUTELY WAS.

HE WAS A VISIONARY.

HE HAD A GREAT IMAGINATION.

>> HIS DREAM HAS MADE MY DREAM

COME TRUE.

>> WE WANT HIS LEGACY TO LIVE

ON.