For almost as long as Roy Renza, 65, can remember, there’s always been a hot dog vendor on Washington Street — and he is keeping up that tradition with a hot dog truck of his own dubbed Diggity Dogs.

When Annie Denet, former owner of American Dogs, closed her hot dog truck in March 2025 after nine years to explore a new opportunity, some wondered what would replace the longtime staple on Washington Street.

As it turned out, the food truck itself would not be going anywhere.

Renza, a Cortlandt resident and a member of a local band called “The Force,” purchased the truck from Denet in March. After navigating the permitting landscape, both at the city and county levels, he officially opened Diggity Dogs on July 7.

“I used to come here when I was a kid to get a hot dog, just walk down Washington Street,” Renza told the Peekskill Herald. “And here I am.”

Renza, an owner of a recording studio in Manhattan, retired from the audio business after 35 years. He produced voiceovers for documentaries, promos, and cartoons for clients like Discovery Channel, National Geographic and Family Guy.

“After Covid, things kind of changed in the industry,” Renza said. “I turned 65 in November, and my son said, ‘Dad, why don’t you buy the hot dog truck that Annie’s selling?’ That’s how I ended up with the truck.”

The biggest hurdles to opening, Renza said, were securing his desired location on the 700 block of Washington Street and going through the permitting process of fingerprinting, fire inspections, and approval from the Westchester County Board of Health.

“Owning a hot dog truck is not an easy thing,” Renza said. “It’s time-consuming. It takes a lot of time to get it up and running. I bought it in March. I didn’t get out here till [July].”

Renza said he had no prior experience in the food business but has been learning from other food trucks. He originally had the food truck open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., but said he is extending that to 4 p.m. after seeing how busy it gets.

Customers will find plain hot dogs, including mustard/ketchup, for $3.50; a Diggity Dog, which includes any or all toppings, for $4; and the Diggity Dog Special for $9, which includes two hot dogs, a soda, and chips. Toppings include mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut, cooked onions, raw onions, relish, and chili.

So far, the reception has been “great,” Renza said.

“We get a lot of people passing Washington Street,” Renza said. “Everybody knows there’s a truck [here].” Renza said he gets both a passerby crowd and those who seek out the truck as a destination. Either way, he enjoys the lunchtime interactions.  “I like talking to people. Everyday you meet people, and everybody’s different. It’s just fun to be out.”

Ralph Miccio, a customer of Diggity Dogs, told the Herald he appreciates the truck’s convenient location.

“I live right down the street, so it’s an easy three to five minute drive down to grab some lunch and get back at my desk,” Miccio said. “It’s an easy excursion and relatively cost effective.”

In addition to its permanent home on Washington Street, Diggity Dogs has been invited to several events at the riverfront. Upcoming events include the Peekskill Shines Together Festival on September 13 and the Rotary Club’s Fall Festival on October 4.

The Parks & Recreation department recently proposed designated food truck zones to the Common Council, including prohibiting trucks from operating within 200 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant unless the truck owner receives written permission from the establishment. 

Jonathan Zamora, site manager and director of the Community Hub, told the Peekskill Herald the City Council will need to adopt a resolution for the updates to take effect. The new food truck policy is being worked on, with implementation anticipated in 2026.