Asheville News

Cats and Dawgs to close

Jason Sandford February 21, 2011

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Hello, cyberspace! This is Ashvegas’s littlest of all helpers, Citizen-Times reporter Carol Motsinger stepping in today as our esteemed blogger is out enjoying this great weather.

Hate to start the posting with some sad news, but the owner of Cats and Dawgs announced today that she’s closing the downtown casual eatery after business hours Saturday. Here’s a closer look at what she told me today about her decision:

The restaurant is closing Saturday after almost 8 years in operation. “It’s been such a hard year,” said owner Debora Wessinger.

Wessinger has been battling breast cancer, which is now in remission, she said.

“It’s hard to run a business and work for 60 hours a week” while going through cancer treatment and balancing work with her commitments to her family, she said.

“It’s also a financial decision, and I haven’t had a vacation in year,” Wessinger added. She’s looking forward to time off to enjoy her two children.

But Wessinger might eventually get back into the hot dog game. “Never say never,” she said.

In the mean time, she said she’s going to miss the customers. “I loved every minute of it,” she said.

“I have a wedding invitation from a couple who had their first kiss at Cats and Dawgs. I’ve seen people pregnant, and then bring their kids in for a hot dog,” she said. “I’ve watched a lot of people grow.”

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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7 Comments

Jeff February 23, 2011

Maybe a chinese restaurant can snap up the "Cats and Dawgs" name.

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White Ligihtnin' February 22, 2011

Well put, Kipper. Well put.

-=WL=-

Travis can still sukit.

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Kipper February 22, 2011

Ughhhhh this is awful news! I can't stand to lose those delicious dogs.

Travis, Jason and Carol are friends, and have been friends since before they started working together at the Asheville CT if I'm not mistaken.

Who else would you ask to take care of your blog while you take a break if a friend of yours that you work with that has reporting skills is available?

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SheWhoEats February 22, 2011

This is such awful news! As a native Chicagoan, I have long been smitten with Cats and Dawgs!!! Cheese fries made with cheese sauce, pellet ice in the sodas, delicious lemonade, and most of all, the Chicago dog, complete with sports peppers and fluorescent-green relish. They had it absolutely right. This is such a tragedy for Asheville! I wish the owner the best of luck and healing, but my devastation cannot be overstated.

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White Ligihtnin' February 22, 2011

Aw man, I was just there Saturday. It will be missed.

-=WL=-

PS: Travis can sukit.

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Travis February 22, 2011

I have often wondered if Jason Sandford's Ashvegas blog is part of the Citizen-Times, or independent like it used to be before he went back to work at the paper. It seems that a great deal of the material in the blog is exactly the same stuff that appears on citizen-times.com. And now his vacation replacement is a staff reporter at the newspaper.

What exactly is the relationship between the two online vehicles? This blog used to have a lot of rants about the C-T and Gannett and now all that seems to have vanished. Does the Citizen-Times control the blog? And how is the advertising handled now that there are more ads on the blog? Seems like there is more here than most "loyal readers" may know. Would be interested in how this is structured. Thanks.

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Sarah G February 22, 2011

We'll miss you! Best of luck.

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