University Weiner brings hot-dog hustle to Lansing Shuffle

Anyone who has tried to eat at University Weiner in East Lansing recently may have noticed a large, red banner outside that reads “TEMPORARILY CLOSED.”

This was upsetting news for the eatery’s dedicated fan base, many of whom are current or past students at Michigan State University. Disheartened Instagram users took to University Weiner’s comment section, leaving remarks such as “i just fell to my knees in walmart” and “Pls say this is AI.” 

However, it didn’t take long for University Weiner to give the reason for the closure on its social media pages: A new location would be opening at the Lansing Shuffle.

Since its grand opening May 29, the new location has been doing good business, general manager Corbin Swint said. The weekly programming at the Shuffle, like country night, salsa nights, and karaoke, has helped to draw new patrons in.

“All in all, Lansing Shuffle is just a great space for the community to come together,” Swint said. 

Swint called himself an “avid visitor” of Lansing Shuffle. When he and Ben Pikus, who founded University Weiner in 2023, saw that the food hall had open space, they began thinking about bringing their “late-night college eats to another community, such as Lansing, where it’s more family centered and you get to know other characters than just college students,” Swint said.

The eatery’s menu has remained the same, Swint noted, with the exception of hand-cut fries, which are only available at the new location. The business will also test out new creations at the Shuffle.

“We specialize in specialty dogs and quality ingredients,” Swint said. “We do more than just your basic Chicago dog or Detroit dog.”

That includes a barbecue dog coated in barbecue chips, a Seattle-style dog topped with cream cheese and sauteed onions, and even plant-based dogs for the veggie crowd.

There are plans to reopen in East Lansing at some point, though Swint said that the eatery will be “shifting locations.”

For now, the business is focusing on getting settled into the downtown and Stadium District communities. It’s currently giving away two tickets to Friday’s (June 12) Lugnuts game on its Facebook page.

“We have a lot of wonderful businesses around the area, as well as Jackson Field, so we’re just trying to get out there the most we can and find different ways to engage with our community,” Swint said.