A West Allis man who once made his living as a plumber is trading pipe wrenches for Chicago-style hot dogs, with plans to open Dirty Dogs at 4666 S. Packard Ave. in Cudahy by Dec. 1. Jim Turner said the idea took hold after a heart attack nearly killed him earlier this year, pushing him toward work that demanded less physical strain and offered a steadier schedule.
Turner told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that after the health scare, he wanted less physical work, more time cooking and a more predictable routine. He signed a five-year lease on the Packard Avenue space and has been renovating it from floor to ceiling, inside and out, while also purchasing all-new kitchen equipment for the build-out.
Turner’s health scare is personal, but heart disease is also a significant public-health issue across the state. Milwaukee’s 2025 community health assessment says heart disease is the leading cause of death in every Wisconsin region; it also reports that 6% of Milwaukee city adults have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The assessment’s figures provide broader context without indicating anything about Turner’s individual diagnosis or recovery.
A Menu Built Around the Hot Dog
The restaurant’s signature item will be the Chicago-style hot dog, according to the Journal Sentinel’s report, alongside a BLT hot dog and a dog topped with mac and cheese, pulled pork and coleslaw. The menu will also include Italian beef, chicken, smash burgers and a Friday fish fry featuring hand-breaded, beer-battered fish, the newspaper reported…