Charlie Timmsen and his dogs have found a new home in Santa Rosa. The doggery re-opened this week at the south end of Santa Rosa Avenue, giving the Friedmans-set a snappy new lunch spot.
Though Charlie had a loyal contingency at his old spot in Rohnert Park, he’s hoping to attract new weenie devotees with his $3 chili or Rueben dogs. With a healthy contingency of construction workers, car salesmen, tattoo artists and patrons of The Mighty Quinn nearby, he’s optimistic about finding patrons at the new location.
For his creations, Timmsen proudly uses Casper’s Hot Dogs (a
longtime Bay Area fave). The steaming chili is inspired by
Southern California’s Cupid’s Hot Dogs – his own favorite dog haunt.
It’s a mild and savory chili without the bite of Texas or the sweetness
of Cincinnati, something uniquely SoCal.
Right now the shop’s set-up is pretty minimal, but Timmsen hopes to get a
fryer to make chili fries and a milkshake machine in the near future.
He also has plans for a mobile unit. Stay tuned.
Charlie’s Serious Chili Dogs, 3444 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa. No phone. Open weekdays from 11am to 3pm.
sigh. weekdays only?? 11-3? These taste like the original so cal “Tommy’s” chili dogs to me. So sad that the hours are so limited! can’t go by after work because already closed! can’t stop by on the weekend not even open!
We used to go to Charlie’s in RP at least 4 times a month. Clean place, but there were times where he was to be open and then wasn’t. Now we cannot even go to his new spot because I work in SF 7-4 and he only opens 11-3 M-F. Sorry Charlie….
Interesting all this talk about Charlie’s “crazy hours”. If I recall, Charlie’s was opened M-F, 11:00 to 8:00 and for lunch on weekends. Do lunch and dinner not fall within the hours that people are typically hungry? If all these people that are complaining about Charlie’s hours had actually gone to Charlie’s, he probably would still be in his original location. And regardless of his hours, I’ll take a Serious Chili Dog any time I can get one!
actually had the opportunity to sample Charlie’s chili dogs this afternoon, ate 2 and realized they tasted just as good as Cupid’s although I only ate several thousand of those over the years, maybe more while growing up and attending school in the Valley. cruising Van Nuys through Bob’s and Oscar’s and downing a couple of regulars at Cupid’s are all fond memories. Thanks Charlie, your chili dogs made my day.
actually had the opportunity to sample Charlie’s chili dogs this afternoon, ate 2 and realized they tasted just as good as Cupid’s although I only ate several thousand of those over the years, maybe more while growing and attending school in the Valley. cruising Van Nuys through Bob’s and Oscar’s and downing a couple of regulars at Cupid’s are all fond memories. Thanks Charlie, your chili dogs made my day.
His hot dogs are just ok. But even more annoying is his anal retentive ways of making a hot dog. it is rather disturbing.
Pre-measured little paper cups of cheese and onion, strategically counted spoon fulls of chili.
I think he should build his menu up a little more. Perhaps a low-carb dog, or salad with your hot dog so you don’t have to eat 3 hot dogs to get full. Maybe some potatoe salad or cole slaw.
Seriously, Costco is a much better deal.
If you have a hot dog shop, you should be able to make all kinds of different hot dogs…not just the same old thing.
Dude! What is up with the hours? Is this just a part-time business for you. At least open up on the weekends.
Went there for lunch yesterday, good chili dog. The hours are little baffling though 11-3? Would be nice to swing by later in the afternoon/early evening to grab a quick bite on my way to class.
Rarely has so much been made of so little….
My husband and I really enjoy Charlie’s dogs and have been anxiously waiting for his re-open. We went on the hunt Saturday, only to find that the shop wasnt open on weekends. Stupid me for not reading the hours in the article above..but C’MON! Not open on weekends?
We both commute during the week and get home late in the evening, so I guess we will never get to enjoy the dogs unless he decides to open on a Sat or Sun. He had crazy hours at the last shop too- but you could count on him to be open most Saturdays. Completely dissapointing.
Why not longer hours
I ate at Charlie’s in RP. I was OK. My complaint is put MORE chili on the dog!!!! W T F ??? Use a BIG spoon too!
We are across the street from Charlie. We went over and had a dog. It was great! It is nice to have a lunch joint so close. I encourage every one to go and have a Hot dog. Then walk across the street and check out a patio cover or sunroom!
Costco….yes, but no chili! Bummer.
I have to agree with Brad. The Costco hot dog is tough to beat. A good quality dog and a drink for less than a load of laundry at your local laudrymat.
How can you refuse for $1.59 a long polish dog,, sauerkraut, mustards and 20 oz. soda from Costco?……..I buy a lot of salads and only salads, now, due to excessive weight gain……
If only I had known about Charlies! I too, was in the Valley chomping down those delicious Cupid dogs! And when I got pregnant, that was my craving. Oh, so good!
Whenever I returned to the Valley to visit friends, Cupids was on my “must stop at” list. I will definitely be at Charlies…maybe even today!
Yumm, I love chili cheese dogs. Wonder why they won’t be open on weekends.
Congratulations to Charlie! He is a little too far away for me (Windsor/Healdsburg) so I will instead go to David’s Hot Dogs on the Windsor Towne Green where I think he has the BEST chili dog around. YUM YUM!!!
Have to say, “Sorry Charlie.”
Love a good dog. Grew up in The Valley in LA. Went to Cupid’s regularly and occasionally to Pinks. Been to Gray’s Papaya and to The Varsity in Atlanta.
Went to Charlie’s in RP soon after it opened and I have to say, never went back. Maybe it improved but on my visit, I was sorely disappointed, especially with the photos of Cupid’s he had on the wall.
Frank’s Freeze in Cotati had better dogs. Hate to say, I’ll take a New York hot dog cart’s “grey water” dog over Charlie’s. But, since there’s some good reviews here, I’ll stop by the next time I’m in SR to give it another go. Don’t disappoint me Charlie.
Also, I’m looking forward to checking out that hot dog place in Petaluma at the stockyard where the original Mike’s was.
After nearly a year the prodical chili dog has returned. Charlie’s was a treat in Cotati, we would gather up the family and travel down there for several ‘dogs. I was there on Monday when he reopened and proceeded to devour 4 chili dogs. They were as good as remembered. Welcome back Charlie
Charlie’s is one of my favorite spots, so glad to hear he reopened! I was at the RP location on a weekly basis, I can’t wait to get some dogs!
I’m wondering if this time they’ll be open during normal hours. You know? When people are hungry.
Cupids is one of the favorite memories of the SF Valley in the 1960′s. There were at least two Valley locations, one across from CSU with the original on Victory east of Van Nuys Blvd, across the street from what used to be Honda Van Nuys. At age 15 bought a motorcycle (’63) there, while it was being put together walked across the street for a couple of “regulars” and a soda and soon realized I had found heaven. Still dream of those “regulars” to this day, 46 years later.