These are two paths that do not cross often – hot dog and broken heart.
But Todd Jones, owner of Wuddup Dog in Cambridge, says he is “quite a corner.”
From his humble beginnings in 2006, running Wuddup Dog from a hot dog cart, until now with his diner sitting proudly on King Street in Cambridge, Jones has always put the community first.
He is well known for feeding people in need, serving turkey at Christmas and handing out free food to veterans on Remembrance Day.
Wuddup Dog on King Street in Cambridge is pictured on April 30, 2022 (Spencer Turcotte / CTV News)
“The community will keep you alive, and you need to do what you can to help them,” Jones said.
This is more true than ever, with Jones now fighting for his life. Diabetic for two years, the disease overtook him.
He suffers from stage 4 kidney and heart failure. He has lost vision in his right eye and also needs a pancreas transplant.
He has no choice but to part with his dream of focusing on his health and being the single father of his five-year-old daughter.
Todd Jones and his daughter Riley appear during an interview with CTV News at Wuddup Dog in Cambridge. (Spencer Thurcott / CTV News)
“Exclusion kills me,” he says, wiping away tears. “But keeping it open also kills me.”
Unfortunately, he was not left with little choice.
“I don’t think I could pay attention to what this place requires while doing dialysis up to three days a week,” he said.
Jones is now turning to the community to keep his diner from disappearing. He announced Wuddup Dog for sale for $ 150,000. The price includes all equipment, branding, menus and recipes.
“I want to be able to drive on King Street in the future and say, ‘I started this,'” he said.
Cambridge Mayor Catherine McGarry appears during an interview with CTV News on April 30, 2022 (Spencer Turcotte / CTV News)
Even the mayor of Cambridge acknowledges the influence of Jones and his diner on the city.
“Todd Jones supports our community,” said Mayor Catherine McGarry. “For anyone who had to be fed, he would feed him. Now it’s our turn as a community to have the backs of Todd Jones and his family. “
Fortunately, Jones has already received an outpouring of support online.
“I have no words,” he says.
This is the silver lining of hope he needs to make sure his hot dogs are here to stay.
(Spencer Thurcott / CTV News)
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