Kong Dog opened its first Indiana location in the Southlake Mall's food court earlier this month.

Kong Dog's first location opened in Glenview, Illinois, in September 2021, according to its website. Overwhelming demand led the company to offer franchise options, with the first franchise opening in downtown Chicago just a few months later. The company has a goal of 200 stores in five years.

Kong Dogs already can be found in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Indiana. It promises new locations in Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C., among others.

The franchise features handmade corn dogs of many flavors, including the original. Other flavors include potato, sweet potato, churro, rice puffs, ramen, Cheeto, spaghetti, chili and injeolmi (Korean rice cake.) Fillings come with options too from beef or chicken sausage to mozzarella to vegetarian. Kong fries also are a specialty.

The company's specialty drinks include bubble milk teas, strawberry matcha and citrus flavors.

Southlake Mall is on U.S. 30 off Interstate 65 in Merrillville. It offers 160 retailers for shoppers.