Fall River Teen Launches Westport Hot Dog Restaurant

While many adults believe that kids don't have the same work ethic as they used to, Lexi Williams of Fall River is proving them wrong.

Williams isn't your average 17-year-old.

The Diman Regional Vocational-Technical High School student is only a junior, but she already has her sights set on the future. She will be launching her very own restaurant on Route 6 in Westport, making her one of the youngest restaurant owners in the state.

"I'm in culinary and I've always loved cooking," she says. "I always wanted to open up a restaurant."

Jonathan Root is the culinary arts restaurant instructor at Diman.

"Normally, I'd be surprised to see a 17-year-old launch a restaurant like this, but I'm not surprised in this case," says Root. "Lexi has been talking about doing this for a few years. She is very determined when she's here. She works hard and goes above and beyond working at Diman's in-school restaurant, Room 251. So, I'm not surprised at all."

Courtesy of Lexi's Road Dogs

Williams is wasting no time.

The 17-year-old is set to open Lexi's Road Dogs at 175 State Road in Westport on Saturday, June 4. The business will share a building with Supreme Gas and Convenience and Dunkin', so it should have a decent amount of traffic.

Lexi's Road Dogs will focus on hot dogs, but Williams says she has planned a summer menu that will include clam chowder, stuffed quahogs, fresh-cut fries and nacho bowls.

"She owns everything. Everything is in her name," says Williams' father, Andrew Smalls. "She just got her business license in the Town of Westport. She has all of her permits in order. She's already done her inspections, now she's just waiting on the Select Board to sign off and she's ready to roll."

Courtesy of Lexi's Road Dogs

Williams says that she plans on staffing the restaurant by herself during the summer. The hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

"I'm hoping to start small, then hopefully expand over time. My instructors at Diman have taught me to reach for my goals, so I am."

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Source: Meet the Teen Who Could Become SouthCoast’s Future Restaurant Mogul

Filed Under: Diman, hot dogs, Jonathan Root, Lexi Williams, Lexi's Road Dogs