A Cape Girardeau-based food truck is expanding into the sit-down scene. Turk Dawgs Restaurant held its grand opening at the City Centre, 2502 Tanner Drive, on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Suzana Higgins, owner, said she and her family opened the establishment so they could sell food rain or shine and no matter the temperature.

“When you’re working out of a food truck or in a small cart, if it rains, you're out for the day,” she said. “Our goal is to have an old-school '50s-style diner. That’s where we want to be five, 10 years down the road.”

Higgins and her husband, Brian, spoke with Cody Kelley, who had operated Encore Pizzeria + Kitchen out of the location, at Freedom fest 2024 in Cape Girardeau. Kelley reopened his restaurant in a downtown location, so the Higginses acquired the City Centre spot.

“We are literally a mom-and-pop business right now. We don't really have outside employees, it’s just me and him and our kids that are working with us. As we expand, that menu may grow, but we’re not doing this because we just wanted to run a business. We’re doing it because we love the passion of cooking,” Higgins said. “For the past 20 years we’ve both had the history in restaurants, and this is what we want to do.”

Turk Dawgs opened in 2021 because Higgins wanted to bring a hot dog cart to the area. The family transitioned to a food truck in May 2023, selling burgers and sandwiches alongside their hot dogs.

The larger space of the restaurant allowed the family to diversify their menu, including many of their best-selling food truck options and adding the likes of fried pies, salads and shrimp po’ boys. Those would not be the only new additions, however.

“My husband is from Germany, so in the next three months or so we’re trying to have his mother come up and start teaching us some of her recipes as well,” Higgins said.

Higgins said the family would keep operating the food truck for larger or private events, and they can also use it as a test kitchen for potential menu items to bring to the restaurant.

Turk Dawgs Restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Higgins said they would add Fridays and Saturdays to their schedule in 2025. Diners can also order from the restaurant using DoorDash.

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