COLUMBUS, Ohio — Move over, pumpkin spice. A major convenience store chain is trying to turn viral internet slang into the defining food culture moment of the season, and they are betting big on Ohio to pull it off.
Sheetz has officially declared 2026 the “Summer of the Glizzy,” launching a massive new menu item and marketing campaign aimed squarely at Gen Z consumers and TikTok culture.
The centerpiece of the campaign is the “Big Glizzy”—a massive, 10-inch customizable hot dog that rolled out systemwide this week. To fuel the hype, Sheetz unveiled the item at an exclusive, invitation-only “Glizzy Gala” attended by loyal brand enthusiasts and top social media influencers.
Turning TikTok Views Into Commerce
The term “glizzy”—viral internet and street slang for a hot dog—has exploded in popularity online over the last few years. By 2023, videos tagged with the term had already generated more than 286 million views on TikTok alone.
Now, Sheetz is attempting to translate those digital views into brick-and-mortar sales. The Big Glizzy is now available at all of Sheetz’s 135+ locations across Ohio, giving the state a front-row seat to the rollout.
To give the campaign mainstream athletic appeal, Sheetz has partnered with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. One of Major League Baseball’s most recognizable and dominant young pitchers, Skenes is serving as the official face of the campaign, bridging the gap between sports culture and internet food trends.
The Strategy: Owning a Seasonal Food Occasion
Marketing experts note that the strategy mirrors how major coffee brands successfully locked down the autumn season by making “pumpkin spice” a cultural phenomenon. Sheetz is aiming to capture that same seasonal lightning in a bottle, positioning the hot dog as the ultimate, indispensable food of the summer.
By embracing Gen Z culture rather than shying away from it, the mid-Atlantic convenience giant is aiming to spark a full-scale hot dog renaissance among younger consumers who value customization, heavy portions, and brand humor. Like the rest of Sheetz’s “Made-To-Order” (MTO) menu, the 10-inch hot dog can be fully customized with dozens of different toppings, cheeses, and sauces via the store’s touchscreen kiosks.
The Big Glizzy is expected to remain a permanent fixture on the menu throughout the warmest months of the year as Sheetz tests whether internet virality can successfully sustain a statewide summer food craze.
