Everyone should have the enthusiasm William Pina, 25, does for his job.

Pina's love of cooking led him to leave a better paying manufacturing job and open his own restaurant, Doggie Dog Express in Highland.

Pina graduated from Ivy Tech's culinary school and still attends continuing education classes. He completed an internship at the Center for Performing Arts in Munster, where his passion grew.

"I worked in a tubing mill and would have made more money there. But money's not everything," Pina said. "I could have also worked on the boats, but I thought -- why not? I wanted this place for so long that I just jumped into it when it became available."

Pina wanted to open a fancier place, but remembered his father always saying that Highland needs a good hot dog stand.

"I would have liked to have an Italian café, but I don't know if that would be good in this economy," he said. "Everyone likes and can afford a hot dog. But my training comes in. We do things a little differently here. I use a special rub mixture or homemade marinara sauce to make the food really special -- everything here is homemade."

His longtime friend is an investor in the business and his family helps out with everything from working the cash register to cutting the potatoes for the fries. He also hired an accountant to help with the books.

"Business was rough in the winter, but it's starting to pick up," he said. "We have an outdoor patio and a sports atmosphere. I'm paying the bills but I won't be buying a yacht yet."

He plans to eventually add catering and a "rent a chef" service.

"I can't tell you how much I've matured in the past seven months," he said.

"I'm working harder than I ever did at the mill -- it's so much work standing behind the grill that I drink 12 Gatorades a day. ... But it's also way more fun than I thought it would be."

Doggie Dog Express

Location: 8000 Kennedy Ave., Highland

Phone: (219) 838-6000

Owner: William Pina Jr. and Ahmed Issa

When opened: October

Number of employees: Six

Type of business: Restaurant with Chicago-style hot dogs and sandwiches