The #1 Hot Dog Cart "How To" Guide | HotDogProfits.com
Winning recipe: Armagh hot-dog business adds second location
BY TOM LAVIS
The Tribune-Democrat
Craig McLaughlin drove a beer truck for six years but wasn’t going anywhere.
With a leap of faith, encouragement from his family and about $6,000, he took a detour that changed his life. Continue reading “Hot Dog Cart Success Story…Yet Another One!”
Lizzie’s Curbside Cuisine Celebrates 18 years at UConn
Katherine Martinez, DailyCampus
Parked off the side of the road between Arjona and Monteith sits Lizzie’s Curbside. The food cart, which just celebrated it’s 18th anniversary on Feb. 1, is owned and operated by the smiling Lizanne Searing.
It only takes one visit to Lizzie’s Curbside to get a feel for her charming personality. Lizzie greets every customer, and their friends, with bright eyes and a wide smile. She calls out the names of customers who have become regulars over the years as they approach from afar.
“I would suffer tremendously if she didn’t exist,” said Anke Finger, a professor of German and comparative literature as she orders a coffee. Finger admits to coming at least three or four times a week. Continue reading “Lizzie Got Her Start With a Hot Dog Cart”
Just read this snippet in Michelle Mitchell’s blog Scribbit, about living in Alaska…
“In fact there’s a guy who has a hot dog cart in down town Anchorage who sells reindeer hot dogs with onions that he caramelizes in Coke and they are TO DIE FOR. He’s so popular that plenty of competing carts have sprung up over the years and I read in the paper that he sells enough reindeer dogs (an oxymoron if ever there was one) to spend his winters in Hawaii. That’s the life.”
Yes Michelle, it is!
Learning from ‘The Simpsons’
On an episode of “The Simpsons,” all that’s on Homer’s mind while attending Bleeding Gums Murphy’s funeral is getting a hot dog. Sure enough, a vendor hollers, “Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs here!”
But why would a hot dog vendor be at a cemetery?
On the TV show, the hot dog man was simply following around a loyal customer, he told Homer’s incredulous wife, Marge: “Lady, he’s putting my kids through college.”
But at the Atlantic City Cemetery in Pleasantville on Monday, the family of the departed hired a hot dog vendor to be there.
The cart was set up a few feet from a row of tombstones. Mourners kept stopping by for dogs and drinks.
One guy manning the cart said it was the fourth or fifth funeral he has worked.
original story at The Press of Atlantic City
MOBILE HOT DOG CART, all cash business. Well established, been at the same busy location for over 11 years now. Steady regular customers. Also has a second location on Fri & Sat nights outside a bar. Could expand by catering at events or adding menu items.
Sales Price $35,000. Contact info removed – business sold.
Or you could start your own for 1/35th that amount or less… Hot Dog Biz 101
I want one. Really. I do. No, REALLY…
– Steve
John Kennedy, fellow hot dogger and all around good guy recently went in halvsies with me to send a copy of my book to one of our soldiers serving in Iraq. Sgt. Kevin had written me expressing his hopes of starting a hot dog cart business when he gets home, and thanks to John’s kindness he’s one step closer to realizing that goal. Here’s Kevin’s email:
“Good morning Steve, i just returned to Iraq and i received your book, i was so excited i stayed up all night reading. I will read it again to make sure i did not miss anything. I am saving my money, and will be purchasing a hot dog cart from one of those sources you mentioned in the book. I dont know what made me go to the “hot dog website” that you have that night but, i am glad i did. I plan on working this just as you said, as i will have about 18 months of living expenses saved up, and if all goes well, i would like to get a mobile kitchen to pull behind my truck to work some of these fairs and such but, we will see, have to do the “crawl, walk, run” phase first. Anyway, i know you are busy but thanks again i believe this will change my life forever. Also, one thing you mentioned was getting used to a “steady paycheck”, something about thinking different about that, as thats what keeps alot of people from striking out on their own, well i am
quickly learning only you can provide for your financial security. Anyway, thanks again , i will be in contact in the future take care. Kevin”
Be safe Seargent – and thanks for all that you and your fellow soldiers do for us!
– Steve
By WYNN KOEBEL FOSTER
Robert Gehrke, 72, of Norridge, made his living as an American Airlines mechanic. But all the while, he dreamed of someday owning his own hot dog cart.
“When I was in high school, my friends and I would hang out at The Hub Roller Rink,” Gehrke said. “Afterwards, we’d head to a pizza place at Addison and Harlem. My friends would eat pizza, but I’d be outside buying hot dogs from the guy with the cart in front of the pizza place.”
On July 16, Gehrke’s life-long dream was fulfilled. Wearing a Vienna beef hat, a Vienna beef apron and a grin that stretched from ear to ear, he presided over the grand opening celebration for his own hot dog cart — Harwood Heights’ newest business, right in front of its oldest, Big John’s Landmark Pub, established in 1938, at 5135 N. Oriole Ave., just south of Foster Avenue.
While Gehrke waited on a steady line of customers, Elvis tribute artist Ronnie Vegas entertained the crowd.
The hot dogs were served on poppyseed buns and suitably dressed for the occasion, with each customer’s choice of ketchup, mustard, celery salt, peppers, tomatoes, onions, dill pickles, cucumbers and every Chicago style hot dog aficionado’s favorite — fluorescent blue-green relish.
“This is really good,” said Gehrke’s grandson, Bobby, a mustard and ketchup man.
Landmark Pub bartender Ed Osborne ordered his hot dog dressed in onion, relish, tomatoes and celery salt.
“This is a great hot dog,” Osborne said. “The condiments are fresh and tasty, and the bun is terrific.”
“Everything’s really fresh,” said Kim Malecki, of Chicago’s Oriole Park community.
“Me? I love the relish,” added Kim’s husband, Mark.
“(You Ain’t Nothin’ But a) Hot Dog — ‘er Hound Dog,” Vegas warbled, following that with “Jailhouse Rock,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Teddy Bear,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Little Sister,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Love Me Tender,” “Suspicious Minds” and more.
Gehrke’s wife, Lillian, took orders and presided over the cash drawer. Many customers went back for seconds. Motorists stopped in the center of Oriole to watch the fun.
Weather permitting, Gehrke plans to be open for business in front of the Landmark Pub from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to midnight every day but Mondays, from March through October.
“I’ll be around even longer than that if the weather’s good,” he insisted.
Unfortunately though, Elvis/Vegas has left the building.
Story courtesy of the Norridge-Harwood Heights News: www.pioneerlocal.com
Hey Steve,
When I had my Hot Dog Cart in New York, the winter was just as good as the rest of the year, in fact I had some record setting days during winter because the other vendors closed for the winter months, my customer base grew and most became regulars year round.
My customers are New Yorkers, New Yorkers love their hot dogs. New Yorkers are HOT DOG CONNOISSEURS. I set up in 10 degree weather and colder.
I bought an old postal truck for $500.00 wheeled the cart inside during winter, cut a serving window, counters and a swing up awning, when the heat from the cart wasn’t enough I fired up a Mr. Heater propane heater, it got so warm in the truck I worked in a short sleeved white restaurant shirt, with the windows open. Appearance is important, I always wore a white restaurant shirt, never just a t shirt or a muscle shirt.
The town workers were steady customers they would make sure my spot was plowed before I got there, all it cost me was a few free drinks every once in awhile I made a deal with the local car wash, on my way home I’d stop by and they would hit the truck with steam, had the cleanest vehicle in town, cost me a 2 chili dogs and a 12 oz can of coke daily.
Consistency is the key in this business, not only with your food, you MUST be at your spot when your customers expect you to be there, my customers knew they could count on me, that’s why in one year my cart became the busiest in town. I’m fast but pumping out 400-500 hot dogs daily in 3-4 hours along with drinks, chips, my wife’s homemade meatball subs and chili served in a cup with a package of Lance Crackers was no longer a one man operation, I had to cut in another burner to keep up with the demand, my wife quit her job and came to work with me. I got so busy my bread man, snack man, and Arnolds driver delivered to my spot instead of my house.
I swear by Boars Head 7/1 natural casing dogs and Arnolds restaurant buns, Arnolds is a hearty bun that can stand up to any toppings. I only served Brand Name Quality Products, they cost more but it’s well worth it in my opinion, never any off brand soda or snacks.
I’m out of the business now but still have thoughts of starting up again, once this business get’s into your blood it’s there forever.
I sold my hot dog cart and truck to a local, a regular customer, he saw the volume I was doing, I told him don’t change a thing, I even offered my wife’s chili recipe, something that’s hardly ever done, he refused, he also refused me staying with him for a week or two until he felt confident, he refused. After a month or so he switched to an off brand 10/1 hot dog, not a natural casing dog, off brand chips and soda. Two weeks after I sold the business I moved to South Carolina got a call from a friend informing me he went out of business, he lasted 4 months.
Jim
