NILES CHARTER TOWNSHIP — An induction into the Hot Dog Hall of Fame was the mustard on top of a 27-year run for Hot Dogs Plus in Niles Charter Township.

The frankfurter server became inductee number 132 on Tuesday when representatives of Vienna Beef, which runs the hall of fame and provides its dogs to Hot Dogs Plus, came to the restaurant.

The quick service stop, located at 2303 S. 11th St, Niles, was packed with friends, family and fans of the business and its owners, Robert Martell and Colleen Derscha, a father-daughter duo.

Senior Vice President of Vienna Beef Bob Schwartz has traveled across the country recognizing his company’s customers through the hall of fame since its inception in 2006. He said the businesses he recognizes often share the same qualities: quality food, loyal customers and longevity.

“You don’t get these in the chains,” he said of the qualities. “You find these in the independent, special restaurants, and that’s why this has been around for 27 years.”

Chris Kostouros nominated Hot Dogs Plus. He is the Midwest sales manager of Red Hot Chicago, part of the Vienna Beef family of companies.

He said his relationship with Hot Dogs Plus has been great among the many customers he works with.

“This is what we look for in our hall of fame inductees,” he said. “The loyalty through the years, the way they represent themselves, how they’re tied in with the community — it’s not like a business. It’s like where the whole community comes together.”

The Hot Dogs Plus community in attendance clapped frequently during their restaurant’s induction. Many people took photos and videos as Kostouros and Schwartz gave Derscha and Martell a plaque, pins, shirts, a banner and an official letter designating their business as a Hot Dog Hall of Fame member.

During the event, Schwartz and customer Sam Teeters mentioned Hot Dog Plus’s generosity as a reason for its success.

Schwartz noted its sponsorships that placed it within the community it served, such as Brandywine baseball sponsorships.

Teeters noted the business’s work with a local Shriners International chapter’s onion fundraising sale. Hot Dogs Plus bought far more than was expected, he said.

The businesses’ generosity was present at the induction event. Free cupcakes were provided to customers as were the occasional order of mozzarella sticks.

“Getting to know and love the community has often been the key agreement for success, and that is very much the ‘Plus’ in Hot Dogs Plus,” Schwartz said.

The co-owners did not want to stay in the spotlight long, but Martell thanked the Vienna Beef staff for their relationship with Hot Dogs Plus and the recognition.

“I met Chris [Kostouros] a few years ago, and every year, we’d talk about getting nominated for this award,” he said with a chuckle. “Every year, I’d remind him.”

Linda Fish, Jan Teeter and Sam Teeter have been going to Hot Dogs Plus for years. As they Tuesday’s event, they said they loved the owners, the staff, the fellow customers and the food.

Fish said she especially likes Hot Dogs Plus because the staff serves her a salad customized just for her.

“It’s really the people,” she continued. “They’re so nice.”

“You come in here, there might be two, three, four state troopers,” Sam Teeter said. “The next day you’re in, there’s people from Berrien County Sheriff’s Department. There’s lots of firemen here [and] lots of school teachers from Brandywine.”

Schwartz calls the influx of regulars the “Cheers effect,” reflective of the show “Cheers” and the bar of the same name its characters often sat in.

“When you walk over the threshold of that restaurant, they feel part of a soulful ownership of it,” he said. “It makes them feel good. Good times, bad times, people come here.”