Zippity Do Dog, the hand-grilled hot dog cart that has been a Speen Street fixture for years, is back under new local ownership. The couple behind Doragon Eatery in neighboring Ashland has taken over the stand and reopened the cart at its familiar Framingham spot this month.
New Owners Step In to Keep a Local Tradition
Alan and Paponake MacIntosh, the co-chefs who run Doragon Eatery, officially took over Zippity Do Dog on May 12 and began serving from the cart at 160 Speen Street in Framingham, according to the MetroWest Daily News. The stand’s address is listed as 160 Speen St. on mapping services such as MapQuest, right where regulars expect to find it.
Doragon Eatery Owners Bring Restaurant Know-how
Alan and Paponake MacIntosh are partners and co-chefs at Doragon Eatery in Ashland, a scratch-made ramen and comfort food spot that rebranded from Doragon Ramen as it broadened its menu. Their kitchen leans on house-made broths and small-batch preparations, a sensibility the couple says they bring to every project. Readers can find more background on the restaurant at Doragon Eatery and in earlier coverage of its global comfort fare makeover.
How the Handoff Happened
Prior owner Roland Houle put Zippity Do Dog up for sale in April as he returned to the tech industry, and local posts about the listing drew interest from both potential buyers and anxious customers, according to Patch. Comment threads on the cart’s social post suggested an asking price near $33,000, and Houle told reporters he wanted someone who would preserve the stand’s role in the community. He had owned the cart since 2019 and leaves it with a strong lunchtime following.
Pay-it-forward and Menu Continuity
Houle launched a "pay-it-forward" program in 2023 that he estimates has supplied hundreds of free meals, and the new owners say they plan to keep that effort going, according to Boston.com. For regulars, that means the signature dogs and familiar combos should stay largely intact, with a few small riffs drawn from the MacIntoshes’ restaurant experience.
Back at Speen Street
The cart was already back at its Speen Street spot this week, with Daily News photos showing hot dogs and hoagies being served on May 21, an early sign the transition has gone smoothly. Those images appear via the USA TODAY Network photo service, according to USA TODAY Network/Reuters Connect. For now, regulars can expect the usual combos and familiar, friendly service as the MacIntoshes settle into running the cart.
