Lost Yesterdog Documentary Resurfaces in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids' most iconic hot dog joint, Yesterdog, has seen many moments in the spotlight. But did you know that someone once made a documentary about the Eastown staple? This documentary is proof that 2007 Eastown energy deserved an Oscar.

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What Is 'The Yesterdog Documentary'?

Released in 2007, the documentary, titled simply "The Yesterdog Documentary," delves into the history and culture of the seemingly unassuming hot dog joint on Wealthy Street.

It's hard to find a lot of information on it, but here's what we DO know. Moun Movies describes it as,

An independent, all original documentary uncovering the mysteries of Yesterdog, a widely popular hot dog restaurant nestled in the historically hip, eclectic Eastown district of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

How to Watch The Yesterdog Documentary

The documentary doesn't appear to be widely available.

Luckily, you can watch clips from it on YouTube, thanks to Creo Productions, which created and released it back in 2007. (Creo Productions appears to have ceased operations in 2011.)

Here's a look at the trailer for "The Yesterdog Documentary."

Everything about that trailer screams "filmed in Eastown in 2007"...

Creo Productions also posted several clips from the documentary, including this one that is simply titled "The Atmosphere", in which this little kid tells us his favorite part of visiting Yesterdog.

There's also this clip of then-owner Bill Lewis answering the question, "What if someone doesn't like hot dogs?" He's adamant that he'll start selling hamburgers and cheeseburgers, "When Hell freezes over."

During filming, they were even able to find a "Yesterdog Virgin", who also happened to be a vegetarian, but was making an exception to try one of the famous dogs.

The final clip posted from the documentary showcases the "Eastown Nightlife", and features a patron trying to compare Yesterdog to McDonald's and then taking his shirt off for some reason?

If those clips have piqued your curiosity, I have good news for you. The one place that you can find it for sure is the Main Branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library, which has it available to borrow on DVD.

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Source: The Yesterdog Documentary You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

Categories: Grand Rapids News