how it all began

Nate Dawgs was born from hard work, determination, and a refusal to take "no" for an answer.

It all started back in 2017. While working full-time as a union welder, I took on a side hustle in landscaping to help make ends meet. One day, a buddy and I were talking about how to work smarter, not harder, in a world where paying the bills seemed to take more effort than ever. We bounced around ideas—expanding the lawn care business, offering mobile oil changes, even mobile fuel-ups. The goal was simple: provide convenience because people are busy.

Fast forward to 2020. I was laid off from my welding job, but thankfully, I still had my mowing route, which had grown to 45 yards. It was enough to get by, but just barely. I needed something more. That’s when the idea of a hot dog stand came to life. Cooking had always been a passion of mine, and with little money to invest, I set out to make it happen.

I bought an abandoned gas station, hoping to convert it into a stand, but finding financial support was impossible. No bank was willing to take a chance on a tattooed, out-of-work welder with a dream of slinging hot dogs. “Go back to welding,” they said. But I wasn’t about to give up.

Determined, I overcame my fear of computers, taught myself how to write a business plan, and started pitching my idea for a food truck. But for two years, all I heard was "no." That changed when I shared my story with one of my lawn care customers, a fellow small business owner. He believed in me and agreed to help.

With his support, I purchased a cargo trailer and started the build. But just as quickly as I had found an investor, they backed out, leaving me with an empty trailer and no money. Still, I kept pushing forward. I was mowing lawns during the day and working on my vision whenever I could. Then, just four months after meeting him, my customer—the one person who truly saw the potential—became my investor. After more than 20 rejections, he gave me my first and only “yes.” That "yes" changed my life forever.

By April 2022, the build was underway. By July, it was complete. And on August 6, 2022, Nate Dawgs officially opened for business.

I’m Nathan Davis, owner of Nate Dawgs, a chili dog food truck based in Tazewell County, Illinois. I’m a full-time single dad, a welder by trade, and now, I proudly sling wieners across central Illinois. My crew includes my daughter, Sammy Davis, and her boyfriend, Steven Monticello—both recent high school graduates who have been instrumental in helping me build this dream into a reality.

Nate Dawgs isn’t just about hot dogs—it’s about perseverance, community, and proving that no matter how many times you hear "no," all it takes is one "yes" to change everything.