Colonel Dixie, not ready for retirement March 31, 2008
Inventor of Dixie Dew, the Dixie Dog, and the concept of the southern Colonel logo before Kentucky was even a state. Once a powerful empire across the Southern United States, there is but one Colonel Dixie left in operation. Last weekend after the Azalea Trail Run I went out to celebrate by eating a Dixie Dog and heaping bowl of red beans and rice at the Colonel Dixie on Government Street.
The bathroom is only accessible from outside which can be cumbersome for newcomers who can’t handle the power of the Dixie Dog. Every Mobilian seems to have a story about time spent at the Colonel Dixie. Either as a kid or as a retiree enjoying morning coffee with old friends. For me it was spending countless after school hours between the ages of 10 and 15 at the Spring Hill location (now a bank).
According to local legend the founder of the Colonel Dixie franchise is in jail for hiring a hit-man to take down his wife. I’m not sure if the hit was a success but either way he’s in jail for murder or conspiracy to commit murder. After he landed in prison most of the franchises went under.
Today the menu has been limited by eliminating Dixie Dew and all “Frozen Treats” but expected staples still remain. I highly recommend the Dixie Dog but would label it as the second best Hot Dog in Mobile, next to a Dew Drop Dog. The contents are about the same but the Dew Drop bun is toasted which really ties it together. The Colonel Dixie red beans and rice have a good flavor and a heavy amount of spice. They also serve a full breakfast menu, fried okra, and “giant chili cheeseburger.”
But Stephen, how do I combine my love of chili dogs and marital nuptials? Apparently the good people of The Wedding Directory have already addressed this issue. Making your friends happy at the reception just got a heckofalot easier.
Go before it’s too late. Judging from their stream of business and health inspection number, Colonel Dixie could be gone forever soon. Keep this chapter of Mobile history alive and not just another story for the kids.
BOOYAH.
“The power of the Dixie dog.” Wow!
Indeed. The giant hamburgers are not bad, either.
was the health inspection number in the 80’s?
Wow, I had no idea the Colonel Dixie on Gov’t St. was the last one left. I have many memories of eating there with my grandparents when I was a wee lad.
It’s not technically “in Mobile,” but TiceCream should get a mention in the best hotdogs in town list. I think it’s in Prichard - I haven’t been there in years. Their foot-long chile dogs are full of tasty goodness.
and this is why i come to this blog. good stuff.
paul leverette was the founders name, he was in jail for a long time for the crime but died in prison, might have been a dog attack or somethi9ng like that, or another prisoner who killed him and the warden. all the stores eventually got sold off. i remember eating at the one by USA for thier 28 cent hamburgers. there was also one where applebee’s was across from the fire station on airport. (1985 time frame. we all grew up together, the kids i mean. dont know what happened to them. they lived in the cottage hill neighborhood in a really cool house with an elevator and a terrace on the roof with a great view of mobile. we were all new money so we didint qualify to live in CCOM at springhill. but we did live with murray burger king evans, dr dyass;s kids, it was an up and coming neighborhood, now its a cutthrough to the hoods below. most of us cashed out our trust funds and left to spend out money elsewhere.