Yancey’s Dickson Street Dogs in Fayetteville prioritizes safety

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. (KNWA/KFTA) — One of the well-known Dickson Street businesses is serving more than just a hot dog combo with chili and cheese, it’s offering help in the form of a safe space on a busy weekend night.

Dickson Street in Fayetteville is well known for the city’s entertainment and as a nightlife hub. It’s a go-to spot for locals and University of Arkansas students on the weekend.

Cody Yancey is a local business owner on Dickson Street and he has a hot dog stand called Yancey’s Dickson Street Dogs that has seen thousands of people over the past 16 years.

Yancey says he has seen it all and wants everyone to know that they can find a safe place at his stand. “Sometimes people have a dead phone, need a ride home, or have someone following them. “There’s a bit of a need here for late nights and helping people get off of the streets safely,” said Yancey

Over time, Yancey has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly on every corner of Dickson Street, and he’s ready to help. “I think some people think it’s rare and maybe I’m offering to do this once a year or something. Speaking from somebody who’s worked late night Dickson for 16 years, it’s every weekend,” said Yancey.

Just last weekend, Yancey helped two young ladies who approached his hot dog stand. ” I helped them find a safe ride home, and charge their phones,” said Yancey.

Fayetteville police is also ready to help people who need it after a long night out. “There should be at least four officers on Dickson Street on just about any busy night. Especially Saturdays and Sundays, we always have four out here,” said Sgt. Dallas Brashears

“We most often deal with public intoxication and disorderly conduct issues on Dickson Street,” said Brashears.

On Dickson Street, officers are easy to spot around the entertainment district. They usually have officers with blue lights on their vehicles. “Having that presence out here does help people feel more comfortable. If you’re going to go out with your friends, and you’re gonna have a good time, especially a young person, having that constant presence constantly seeing us out on foot in vehicles,” said Brashears.

“Yancey’s is one of the staples in Fayetteville that is well known, and as a department, we have worked with Yancey before. If anybody ever needs help, they’re more than welcome to go over and wait at his booth and give us a call. It’s always an easy place for us to find someone. It’s one of those places where if you don’t know exactly where you’re at, you can say ‘I’m by the hot dog stand’. It’s easy for us to find somebody over there if they need to talk to us,” said Brashears.

“You can’t control the environment around your kids after you leave them. So, I know these parents are worried, and if there’s anything that I can provide or even just a little bit of comfort. Maybe just knowing that if we can let them know ahead of time, that there’s somewhere they can go late at night,” said Yancey.

If you need assistance or just need to find a safe place to be, Yancey’s can direct you, or you can call 911.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.