Vegan cafe with comfort food to replace longtime East Sacramento hot dog restaurant

In the latest sign of a changing city, an entirely vegan cafe will replace longtime hot dog eatery The Wienery in East Sacramento early next year.

Sacramento native Jamie Cavanaugh plans to open Pure Soul Plant Based Eats at 715 56th St. in late January or early February, she announced on Instagram Monday.

Pure Soul has been selling plant-based fried chicken sandwiches, chili cheese burgers, mac and cheese and more at pop-ups over the last few months. The brick-and-mortar will serve a mix of comfort food in the $10-$12 range and healthier fare such as salads, wraps and “soul bowls,” Cavanaugh told The Sacramento Bee.

“We wanted to offer something that would help show them people that you can find foods that are vegan versions of what you’re used to and taste just as good,” she said. “If you’re going out with a friend that’s not vegan, you could both come here and find something that you like. You can still get a burger that tastes like a burger and fried chicken that tastes like fried chicken, even though its not from an animal.”

Cavanaugh was a 2018 semifinalist in Downtown Sacramento Foundation’s Calling All Dreamers competition, which was won by the co-creators of traditional fried chicken food truck Nash & Proper in 2019.

“I know there are going to be some disappointed (longtime) fans that will miss the nostalgic hot dog spot that has been around for 50 years, but I hope that we will be able to honor (T)he Wienery with a vegan homage and make some new memories and history in my hometown!” Cavanaugh wrote on Instagram.

The Wienery celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year but closed about three weeks ago, co-owner and East Sacramento real estate agent Rich Cazneaux said.

It previously closed in December 2017, only to reopen under new ownership two months later with an updated interior design, beer taps and new neighborhood memorabilia. Those tchotchkes and equipment are likely gone, but Pure Soul won’t do much to its 750-square foot space other than a paint job and some minor touch-ups, Cavanaugh said.

Cazneaux said The Wienery needed to be an owner-operated business and had too narrow margins to remain open. A new concept like Pure Soul might be what the shopping center near Sacramento State needs.

“I think (Cavanaugh) is going to do a fantastic job and it’s something the community is going to embrace, without a doubt,” Cazneaux said. “It is sad to lose a legacy, though, of an iconic place.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 1:55 PM.