Chili dogs and chili cheese dogs are coming to Fountain.

Wienerschnitzel, the self-described world’s largest hot dog chain that was founded more than 60 years ago in Southern California, is targeting a Sept. 25 opening for its second Pikes Peak region location, at 8045 Fountain Mesa Road, near Cross Creek in Fountain, south of Colorado Springs.

Franchisees Scott Wohlman and Manny Singh opened the area’s first current-day Wienerschnitzel in 2021 at 4095 Austin Bluffs Parkway in the Springs, just east of Academy Boulevard, and have sought to add more locations since then. (A previous location on Circle Drive that operated under the chain’s original name of Der Wienerschnitzel closed several years earlier).

They’ve been encouraged to expand, in part, because of strong sales at the Austin Bluffs location, Wohlman said. Sales out of the gate three years ago were tops among Wienerschnizel’s more than 300 locations, and have remained in the top 25% of all outlets over that period, he said.

A loyal following among California and Texas transplants in the Pikes Peak region, who were familiar with the Wienerschnitzel brand in those states, has helped boost sales, Wohlman said.

His franchisee group also has made a strong commitment to service that’s helped attract customers, about 70% of whom order through Wienerschnitzel’s drive-thru, Wohlman said.

At the same time, customers like the value they get in Wienerschnitzel food, Wolhman said. Among other items, the quick-serve concept specializes in burgers, fries, Tastee Freez ice cream and a wide variety of hot dogs — including Texas-, Chicago- and sauerkraut-style dogs and Wienerschnitzel’s signature chili and chili cheese dogs.

In fact, a Wienerschnitzel marketing campaign launched this year and dubbed “MMM-erican Food,” sought to brand the chain as a place to “enjoy quintessential American food,” according to an advertising industry publication.

Wienerschnitzel also has joined other quick-serve concepts to offer specials to help attract customers, Wohlman said. Its “Wiener Wednesdays” promotion, for example, has included deals such as a free chili dog with any purchase, then a free soft-serve ice cream with any purchase, he said.

“Each week is a little bit something different, trying to encourage people to come in and give us a try and get something extra to try and encourage future business,” he said.

In looking to Fountain, the city’s population growth and proximity to Fort Carson, where many personnel also are familiar with Wienerschnitzel from other markets, made it an attractive expansion target, Wohlman said.

“It’s blowing up down there,” he said of Fountain’s growth. “We found property that fit in our budget. The big thing is the overwhelming military population there.”

At one point, Wohlman said, the franchisees thought they were in the running to open their Wienerschnitzel as part of the Fort Carson exchange, which is essentially an on-base, military friendly department store. That deal didn’t work out, but it opened up the franchisees’ eyes to the market potential of Fountain and nearby Fort Carson, he said.

The Wienerschnitzel in Fountain, at about 2,600 square feet, was built from the ground up, Wohlman said; it will be roughly twice as large as the Austin Bluffs location, which took over an existing building that was remodeled.

The Fountain restaurant will have indoor seating for about 75 people, also twice as much as the Wienerschnitzel on Austin Bluffs, though the new location won’t have outdoor seating, Wohlman said. The new location also is expected to do about 70% of its business via its drive-thru, he said.

The Wienerschnitzel in Fountain won’t be the area’s last, Wohlman said.

Wohlman said he and Singh, who have franchise rights stretching from Castle Rock to New Mexico, own a parcel on Colorado Springs’ west side that they’re eying for a third location, though he declined to provide its exact address.

Wienerschnitzel was founded in 1961 with a single location south of Los Angeles by former Taco Bell employee John Galardi.

Today, it has 332 locations in 12 states, with a half-dozen openings scheduled this year, Ted Milburn, director of U.S. franchise development for Wienerschnitzel parent company The Galardi Group, said via email. All Wienerschnitzels are franchised and there are no corporate-run stores, he said.

Colorado has one other Wienerschnitzel, which operates in Grand Junction, according to the chain’s website. The Hamburger Stand, Wienerschnitzel’s sister company, has six Denver-area locations.