Did you know that you have a WORLD CLASS HOT DOG JOINT right here in your back yard at 3525 East Colfax @ Monroe St. in the Famous Blue Bird District? Steve’s Snappin' Dogs is founded and owned by Steve and Linda Ballas and opened on Feb. 20th 2006 in the old Coastal Gas Station between Madison and Monroe Streets.

	ColfaxAvenue.com Steve's Snappin' Dogs FREE LEMONADE PRINT THIS COUPON and get a FREE lemonade with the purchase of a hotdog. One per customer, valid at the 3525 E. Colfax Avenue location only.

Steve’s recently won some Great Honors: Best New Store on Colfax – Westword 2006, AOL City Guide, Best Hot Dogs Across America – 2006 - Honorable Mention, Very Meaty Veggie Dog – 5280, Best New Restaurant 2006 – 5280, Top of the Rockies 2006, Best Hot Dogs – Readers Choice – Westword 2007, 101 Dining Experiences Every Denverite Must Have – 2007, 5280 Magazine and 4 Pigs from the Gabby Gourmet. Steve’s Motto is “We used to do Deli, Now we do Dogs”. Their food career began in 1986 when they founded Corporate Deli in Reston Va. In 1988 they relocated to Bridgeport, Ct. where Steve was born. They remained through 1995 providing great food and service to downtown Bridgeport winning numerous awards.

October 1994, Linda was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and wanted to go home to Denver. (Linda’s Dad is “Blinky the Clown”) In 1997, Corporate Deli was opened in downtown Denver where the honor of “Best Sandwiches in Denver was awarded by Westword in 1998. That honor helped skyrocket their success and growth through 2003 when they sold the deli and changed their path to Hot Dogs! You might remember Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs at the Cherry Creek and Stapleton Farmers Markets in the big 20’ Truck. That is where they decided that the Thumann’s Hot Dogs were so popular that they should open a cool hot dog joint like Steve went to when he was a kid in Monroe, Connecticut. People were craving these dogs so much that his cell phone kept ringing off the hook, Where are you today, I’m craving a dog! Ever since re-locating from Connecticut, the word on the street was ”You can’t get a Great Dog in Denver”!

First and Foremost “Everybody Loves a Great Dog” and at Steve’s, that is what you get: Thumann’s Premium Dog that is all beef and pork in a natural casing that has No Fillers, No MSG, Lower in Sodium and a Smokey Flavor that “Snaps when you bite it”. It’s a place where everyone is welcome! You crave to share with kids, family and friends. We serve a premium product, superior guest service and the fun of re- living childhood memories then and now!

My favorite East Coast Style Dog is what I call the Jersey Dog. Our great Coney Style Bun that is toasted over the dog on a flat top grill. We add Spicy Mustard, Bacon, Green Relish, and Red Onions and top it with Caraway Sauerkraut. This is the dog that I grew up eating in my hometown of Monroe, Connecticut. I must confess that now I eat my Dog “Naked”. What I have been eating lately is just a dog with spicy mustard! The fantastic combination of the Thumann’s Beef and Pork Dog with that Slight Tang of Spicy Horseradish Mustard is Truly MMMGOOD! I came up with the name because I think that everyone abuses N.Y. Style across the country. The theme is all about my rendition of regional Dogs, since the Dogs are from Jersey it was simple and Steve’s Snappin’ Jersey Dog was born.

This is such a diversified neighborhood with great people who live and work here. Everyone is friendly and supportive of the neighborhood. Colfax is becoming a destination with great restaurants like Tommy’s Thai, Bastiens, Goodfriends, Mezcal, Café Star, Atomic Cowboy, Enzos End Pizzeria, PS Lounge, Senger’s on the Fax, the Tattered Cover Book Store and on and on and on. What a GREAT PLACE AND TIME TO BE HERE!

Colfax is in an enterprise zone and there is a money and tax breaks available from the City of Denver, State of Colorado and the Federal Government. There are also programs available for workforce development and guidance from the Mayor’s newly formed Business Assistance Center in the City and County Building. You must be passionate about what you do and realize there are many stumbling blocks. Be persistent and don’t take No for an answer. I can’t tell you how many were turned into a yes.

About all I have is that a customer that lives on Monroe Street came in for a dog. He told me when this was a gas station he bought a lotto ticket and won $10,000 instantly.

The building before Steve got ahold of it. Photo by Chris Barber

Steve's Snappin' Dogs today. Photo by Anistacia Barber