Izzie’s K-Dogs has successfully transitioned from a popular pop-up to operating in a permanent home in the historic Crescent Building, at 707 W. Main in the heart of downtown Spokane.

After spending years building a following through pop-up events and vendor markets, owner Izzie Wayuono has transformed a viral food trend into a growing Spokane business with the launch of Izzie's K Dogs LLC in a 1,300 square-foot kitchen in April.

The idea for the specialty restaurant, which focuses on Korean-style corn dogs and Asian-inspired beverages, was born from demand she observed for Korean street food that she contends wasn't available in the Spokane market.

The business has grown to 13 full-time employees. 

Korean corn dogs gained popularity through social media platforms and online food influencers, she says. Prompted by frequent requests from locals wanting to try the viral trend, Izzie launched a pop-up business that served as the foundation for her current storefront.

"Korean corn dogs were going viral on social media, and I tried some in Seattle and immediately knew what I wanted to do," Izzie says. "We realized there was an opportunity to bring something different to Spokane, so we started small with pop-ups."

The journey from concept to storefront took two years of planning, recipe development, and market testing, during which the 29-year-old entrepreneur says the business made appearances at community events building brand recognition and refining its menu.

At the center of the menu is a Korean-style corn dog batter recipe that Izzie says she learned to make traditionally before refining the product into her own version.

Traditional Korean corn dogs are a staple menu item, but Izzie's K-Dogs built a following through creative menu items, such as specialty offerings dubbed the Spokraken and Red Tiger. The restaurant also regularly develops seasonal and community-themed menu items, such as a Fruity Pebbles-coated corn dog created in recognition of Spokane Pride festivities. The eatery also offers drinks to match the food, she adds.

The restaurant's visual identity is designed to stand out as much as its menu. Izzie describes the interior as a retro-kawaii concept featuring bright pink tones and sunset-inspired colors intended to create an energetic and welcoming atmosphere.

"We wanted people to come in and have fun," Izzie says. "The food is important, but so is creating an experience."

The restaurant's beverage menu further reflects that philosophy with signature drinks including the Lychee Blush and Mango Dream, both inspired by Asian flavors and ingredients. Other offerings incorporate regional flavors, such as huckleberries.

Behind the scenes, the business is supported by a family deeply rooted in the food industry.

Izzie's mother, Mida Wayuono, is heavily involved in daily operations and brings decades of hospitality experience to the venture. Before helping with Izzie's K-Dogs, Mida owned and operated an Indonesian catering company in Florida and later a Japanese restaurant on Spokane's South Hill that closed 15 years ago.

Mida says she introduced her children to entrepreneurship at an early age by involving them in the family's businesses.

Izzie says many of the lessons she applies today were learned while helping her mother prepare food, serve customers, and manage day-to-day operations.

"They grew up in the restaurant," Mida says. "They learned customer service, they learned responsibility, and they learned that success comes from hard work."

Watching that growth has been especially meaningful for Mida, because her daughter spent years developing skills outside of the restaurant industry, excelling academically while also pursuing artistic and musical interests, she explains.

"She always wanted to learn," Mida says. "She took painting classes, piano lessons, and she was always reading. Whatever she did, she put her whole heart into it."

Izzie studied classical piano for five years, participated in painting instruction, and later taught herself acoustic and electric guitar. Izzie says that creativity helps drive the design and marketing of the business.

After relocating from Florida to Spokane, the family continued pursuing opportunities in the food industry. Mida says she saw Spokane as a community where small businesses could build strong relationships with customers and become part of the culture.

That sense of community remains central to Izzie's K-Dogs today.

"We want people to feel comfortable when they come here," Mida says. "It's not just about selling food. It's about making people feel welcome."

The restaurant's growth has exceeded initial expectations during its first two months in operation, Izzie says. While the storefront is still is in its early stages, customer response has reinforced her confidence, she adds.

"I knew I liked the idea," Izzie says. "It was tough to gauge the public interest though, but Spokane has a very active foodie scene that is taking us to the next level."

Looking ahead, the primary goal during the first year of operations is to establish long-term stability while reintroducing the brand to community festivals and vendor events that helped launch the company, Izzie says. Over the next three to five years, she says she hopes to expand the business to multiple locations throughout the Inland Northwest.

Izzie is also exploring opportunities to develop retail products, including take-home batter mixes, that would allow customers to recreate some of the restaurant's signature dishes at home. The company's long-term success will depend on maintaining the same customer-focused approach that helped build the family's previous businesses, Mida adds.

"You have to listen to your customers and treat them like family," Mida says. "If you do that, they come back and they bring their friends."

For Izzie, the goal extends beyond simply selling food.

"We want to create a place where people can connect, have fun, and try something new," she says.

On the Table

Denver-based furniture retailer Furniture Row has expanded its Spokane Valley showroom, at 13410 E. Indiana, with a Joybird furniture gallery, according to a press release from the company.

The expansion will give Spokane-area customers a chance to experience the Joybird brand in person, which has primarily been available online, the release says.

Joybird offers customizable furniture collections including sofas, sectionals, accent chairs, and more.

"Bringing Joybird into Furniture Row reflects our commitment to delivering a more complete and elevated furniture shopping experience," says Dyan Wilcox, who works in the buying department for Furniture Row. "While Joybird originated as a direct-to-consumer brand, its emphasis on customization, quality craftsmanship, and design is best experienced in person, where customers can see, touch, and feel the product – especially when investing in high-quality, made-to-order furniture. Our knowledgeable team is on-hand to help customers explore customization options as well as to work through configurations and space planning, allowing customers to feel confident in their purchases."

Furniture Row has been adding physical Joybird galleries to stores across the U.S. The Valley expansion is the first in the Spokane area.