1 of 2
2 of 2
Nash Dogs is more than a hot dog stand. It is a family story rooted in Nashville and shaped by perseverance, creativity, and a simple but powerful goal: build a life centered around the people you love.
Founder Michael Spencer, a lifelong Nashvillian, husband, and father, set out in 2019 to create something different. After leaving corporate life, he wanted to build a business that reflected his values. Not just success, but time. Time with his wife Jasmina, his high school sweetheart. Time with their son Roman, who sits at the heart of everything they do.
That vision started in a garage. With the help of family and friends, Spencer sketched, built, and refined a single hot dog stand. Every piece of it was intentional. Every decision pointed back to one core priority: family.
The first opportunity came in Old Hickory. Searching for a place to set up, Spencer came across a closed Goodwill location that had turned into an overgrown dumping site. Instead of walking away, he saw potential. He reached out to the realtor with an offer to clean the space in exchange for a place to operate. Then he shared the idea on Facebook.
The community showed up.
From that first day, support poured in. Locals rallied behind Nash Dogs, turning a simple setup into something much more. Encouragement became momentum, and momentum became growth.
By 2022, Nash Dogs expanded into Opry Mills Mall. The move brought new challenges and new lessons. Spencer began building systems, strengthening his team, and creating a support network that could sustain something bigger.
In 2024, the brand took another step forward with the addition of a food trailer, opening the door to catering across Middle Tennessee. From local businesses to events, Nash Dogs began building relationships that stretched beyond a single location.
Then in 2025, an opportunity brought everything full circle. Spencer found an old Subway space just minutes from where it all began. After months of renovation, Nash Dogs Café officially opened in Old Hickory, about a minute’s drive from that original stand.
Today, the menu has grown to include 100 percent Angus beef hot dogs, veggie dogs, loaded fries, burgers, and banana pudding. But the heart of the business has stayed the same. It is about creating memorable experiences, welcoming every guest like family, and serving the community that helped build it.
Nash Dogs continues to grow with a bigger vision in mind. Spencer and his team are working toward becoming a nationally recognized brand while holding tight to the values that got them here. Hard work. Integrity. Community. People over profits.
For the Spencer family, success is not just measured in growth. It is measured in time, happiness, and peace. And every day, they are building something that brings more of that into their lives and into the lives of the people they serve.