The Black Dog facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Founded | January 1, 1971 |
| Founder | Robert Douglas |
| Headquarters |
Wareham,Massachusetts
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United States
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Number of locations
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26 Stores, 2 Outlets, 5 Restaurants & Cafes |
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Area served
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United States |
| Products | Clothing and accessories |
| Owner | The Douglas Family |
The Black Dog is a famous restaurant and tavern. It is located in Vineyard Haven on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The restaurant started in 1971. It became very well known for its souvenir T-shirts. These shirts feature its special logo of a black dog. Later, the company started selling many other products with the same dog logo.
The Black Dog T-shirts became super popular in the 1990s. This happened when photos of famous people wearing the shirts appeared in national magazines. For example, a picture of then-President Bill Clinton jogging in one of the shirts was shared everywhere.
The Black Dog was very good at marketing its products. In the early 1990s, you could only buy their items on Martha's Vineyard. Only a few people could enter the store at once. This meant long lines formed outside. While waiting, visitors could look at catalogs. Today, you can buy their products in many other places. These include stores on Cape Cod, in Mystic, Connecticut, and in Newport. You can also buy them online.
In 2000, The Black Dog released a cookbook. It was called The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard Cookbook. The New England Multihull Association and The Black Dog also host a boat race. It is a 22-mile yachting race. It goes from Vineyard Haven to Edgartown and back. This race is called the Black Dog Dash.
The Black Dog also inspired an author named J.B. Spooner. He created a children’s book series about the story of The Black Dog. There are three books in the series. The first book, The Story of the Little Black Dog, tells how Captain Douglas got his black puppy. The second book, The Little Black Dog Buccaneer, shares the adventures of the Captain and his dog. The third book, The Little Black Dog Has Puppies, is about The Black Dog and her new puppies.
Contents
Where to Find The Black Dog Stores
The Black Dog has many locations. You can find them on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket islands. They also have stores in mainland Massachusetts towns. These include Falmouth, Mashpee, Provincetown, Newburyport, and Chatham.
There are also two outlet stores in Massachusetts. These are in Wareham and Wrentham. Outside of Massachusetts, you can find Black Dog stores in other states. These include Newport, Rhode Island; Portland, Maine; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Mystic, Connecticut; Annapolis, Maryland; Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; and Sarasota, Florida.
The Story Behind The Black Dog Name
The Black Dog got its name from a real dog. Here is how the story goes:
Robert Douglas was an Air Force pilot. He spent his summers on Martha’s Vineyard. He made three promises to himself after watching ferries take people to and from the island:
- He would build his own boat.
- He would get a dog that would sail with him in any weather.
- The Vineyard would become his home.
The Black Dog got its name in 1967. This was when a black lab-boxer mix dog joined Douglas on his ship. The dog was named The Black Dog after a character in the book Treasure Island. In January 1971, Captain Douglas opened an inn for sailors. The Black Dog (the dog!) was always there. From that point on, the story of The Black Dog company continued to grow.
Awards and Recognition
In 2005, The Black Dog received a special award. It was given the Retailer of the Year Award. This award came from the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
See also
In Spanish: Black Dog para niños
