Dog Haus to open restaurants in NWA, Fort Smith, Little Rock
by June 30, 2025 2:05 pm 2,894 views
Pasadena, Calif-based Dog Haus plans to expand its national footprint with eight locations in Arkansas, including at least four in Northwest Arkansas and one in Fort Smith.
The restaurant company is working with Cherokee Rhoda, founder and CEO of Brooks & Truitt Specialty Group and AirTek Global, and wife Michelle, to open the locations in Arkansas. Rhoda is based in Bee Branch, Ark., and his company also is involved in “precision aerospace welding company serving critical industries,” according to his LinkedIn profile.
In a Monday press release, Dog Haus said eight locations will be built in Arkansas, with sites listed being Bentonville, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Rogers, and Springdale. Fayetteville will be the first location to open, according to the company.
“Arkansas has been home for my entire life, and I see a tremendous opportunity to bring something fresh and exciting to multiple communities here,” Rhoda noted in a statement. “Dog Haus’ bold flavors, welcoming vibe and commitment to quality have made it stand out above other restaurant brands. We’re confident it will resonate from college towns like Fayetteville to metro hubs like Little Rock.”
Dog Haus, founded in 2010 and now having more than 50 locations nationwide, is known for its all-beef dogs, 100% Creekstone Farms Black Angus burgers, hand-crafted sausages, and chicken meals. The company notes that all products are made with hormone- and antibiotic-free meat.
“With his passion for business, community impact and hospitality, Cherokee joining the Dog Haus family with this franchise deal in Arkansas is a huge step in our continued growth,” said Erik Hartung, executive vice president of Dog Haus Franchise Development. “We are excited to expand into Arkansas, and we’re confident that the Dog Haus experience will resonate with Arkansans.”
Hartung said the Fayetteville location could be open “in the latter half of 2025.” He said the cost per location is around $800,000, which includes construction, equipment, inventory and marketing. Each store has about 25 employees and those are split between full- and part-time, he said.