Meet the PUP BEHIND THE LOGO

CJ Lewandowski, a member of the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, has a property in the Tennessee mountains that he lovingly calls Hopeless Holler.

When we began dreaming up this company, CJ was involved from the very start. As we tossed around names and ideas, we visited his home and found it so peaceful.  We all quickly agreed that Hopeless Holler was the perfect name—not only because it described a place, but because it captured the spirit of bluegrass, family, and community that we hold dear. 

And at the heart of that story is CJ’s dog, Gus. 

CJ wasn’t looking for a new dog, but when a friend’s mother showed him a picture of little beagle/chihuahua/dachshund mix pups, he immediately fell in love. He went with the intention of bringing home the little female, but she had already been claimed—so he chose Gus, the biggest of the litter of seven. 

At first, Fred—CJ’s father figure—wasn’t too happy about having another dog to care for (especially since CJ already had one named Dipstick). But before long, Gus had become Fred’s little buddy.  Fred came into CJ’s life after his wife had passed. He was a familiar face at bluegrass festivals, started traveling with the boys, helping out at the merch table, and in 2010, Fred and CJ began living together since they were always side by side anyway. With no family of his own nearby, Fred came to see CJ as the son he never had. 

As Fred’s health declined, CJ encouraged him to stay home with the dogs so he could continue to help in that way. More often than not, Gus was right there on Fred’s lap.

"I (Lisa) never had the privilege of meeting Fred, but at his memorial stone on CJ’s property, I promised him that Nathan and I would support CJ and the boys to the best of our ability—because we believe in them and want to see them succeed. Since Fred used to help with merch, honoring him through our work feels especially meaningful."

So when it came time to design a logo for Hopeless Holler, CJ suggested using Gus as a way to honor Fred’s memory. It clicked instantly.

Gus wasn’t just a dog—he came to represent loyalty, love, and legacy.

Every time you see Gus in our logo, you’re seeing more than a pup. You’re seeing the story of Fred, CJ, and the bluegrass family that continues to inspire everything we do.