Brian Smith grew up on the Southside of Chicago where a great hot dog wasn't a luxury — it was a way of life. Some of his earliest memories were trips down to Maxwell Street for a polish sausage or a classic Chicago dog. That's where the dream started.

When he made San Diego home, he noticed something missing. Nobody was doing it right.

So he built it himself. Brian and his wife Emma, a New York native, put their cities together and created something bigger than either one. They blended both skylines into a brand, a logo, and a business that gives people a real taste of home, wherever home is for them.

Big City Dogz isn't just classics, though the Chicago Dog and the Yorker speak for themselves. It's a rotating menu of originals built from community input, late-night recipe ideas, and a notepad Brian keeps on his nightstand for the moments inspiration hits at 2am.

Brian doesn't just show up to events. He shows up for his community. From youth sports sponsorships to local givebacks, he and Emma are invested in the same neighborhoods they serve. When you book Big City Dogz, you're supporting a family business that gives back.

What started as a passion became a business. What became a business became a reputation.