Doggie Style opens in Rehoboth Beach

Doggie Style owner Javier Quereguan smiles when asked about the name of Rehoboth’s newest restaurant. He said he wants customers to have a full-body experience when eating at his place.

Kids like the name and the picture, said Quereguan, while adults have a different take on the same name. It starts with the mind and ends with visuals and tastes of the food, he said.

Doggie Style began as a food truck in New Castle County a few years ago and is a two-person operation, Quereguan and his wife of almost 40 years, Aurea. After gaining a strong following, Quereguan said he had been looking to expand to a storefront when he and his grandson walked by what is now the store’s North First Street location a few months ago. He said he jumped at the opportunity and quickly made some renovations so he could open up before the end of summer.

“It just needed a little tender love and care,” said Quereguan, who did the work himself. “There’s more work to be done, but it was important to get open.”

Quereguan wants customers to know there’s much more to the Doggie Style menu than blinged out hot dogs. There’s traditional Mexican, Venezulean and Puerto Rican choices and paninis. He said he also offers vegetarian options for almost all of his creations.

“When people ask for the menu, they don’t expect to get a book,” he said.

Quereguan has been in and out of the culinary industry since working in New York City in the 1980s. He said for him, the key is thinking outside of the box and not following what everyone else is doing. 

“If we’re going to have a hot dog place, it might as well be a hot dog place with a lot of style,” he said.

Quereguan said he likes to hand out samples of his dishes, because he knows if he can get a customer to try something they’ll come back for more.

“It’s like buying a car. They just need a little push,” he said.

Less than a month into being open, Quereguan said he likes Rehoboth because it’s got a small-town feel, and there’s a diverse group of open-minded people who are attracted to the area. People let other people do their thing, he said.

Quereguan said the plan is to be open year-round, but at this point, he’s not sure what the hours will be. After the summer, he said, he’s thinking Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but he might also include Thursday. 

For now, Doggie Style, 4 N. First St., is open seven days a week. Quereguan said they’re still trying to figure out the best hours, but it’s now 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday. For more information call 302-384-4386 or go to the Doggie Style Facebook page.