Steve,
Long ago before I ever thought about selling hot dogs, my son, who was 5 at the time, came up with the idea of selling hot dogs and lemonade on our street. Things were going just fine on his first selling adventure when the neighbor lady called the cops on my son. Funny things is the officer that received the call was chowing down on one of his hot dogs and drinking lemonade. He then proceeded to march over to the ladies house and tell her that my son was not doing anything wrong and to mind her own business!
Thanks,
David Ficke, Casey’s Hot Dogs & Entertainment
*****************
LOL! I love it. Thanks David!
– Steve
I wish we could hear more stories about kids that are out there and doing things that will help them in life. To Casey: Great Job To the cop: Thank you. To the neighbor: Nan Nan Boo Boo.
Duggs Doggs
Good!! Good!!
Nan Nan Boo Boo indeed!
See why we have the rep we do as slingers it is out professionalism and maturity!!!!!
Nan Nan Boo Boo! LOL
If people would mind their own business, maybe America could create some of our own jobs! My very first day out before I could even set up someone called the cops on me! And one woman hasn’t given up the fight yet. HEAVEN FORBID! I added an umbrella so I wouldn’t have to boil in the sun anymore!
Agreed!
There’s an A$$ born every second Steve. There I’ve said the obvious, now no one else has to worry about saying it.
Thanks Boo. The obviousness of your comment is very obvious, obviously 😉
Ooops!!! Did I say that. Sorry to offend any A$$ES that might be offended.
Why don’t people quit messing with kids who are obviously are doing nothing but being industrious.
Right on brother Boo.
FUNNY
Nice !!!!!!
Yep. Did you get the gold leaf lettering on your E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart yet Parker?
Great stuff. I wish someone set me up with a hot dog business when I was 5. I had to wait until I was 9 before I started my own lawn mowing business. That’s the time to teach entrepreneurship, when your kids are young. School isn’t going to teach it.
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
Most super successful people had some sort of lawn mowing, paper throwing, or lemonade stand businesses when they were kids. You’re right, it’s the best time to learn entrepreneurial skills.
I lived in China for a while. In my suburb just outside Beijing, the police would regularly come and smash up tables and take all the goods of street vendors. They often brought a truck and threw the carts in back – effectively stealing them. People were back out in a few hours selling their goods again with another cheap old cart. I think street vendors should be allowed to sell with minimal interference from the state. But locals should be diligent about reporting bad hygiene and running the bad folks out of town. This is a community issue, not one to be legislated by bullies.
Sounds like the East LA bacon dog cart skirmishes.
“This is a community issue, not one to be legislated by bullies.” I like it!
My town is the poster case for “politicians who don’t get it” regarding encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and free enterprise– and kind of “street” selling, whether it be lemonade, hot dogs, or ice cream truck– require a pile of paperwork applications just to try and get a license to sell… including a full FINGERPRINT submission and a sign-off by the CHIEF OF POLICE… then, the permit fee is $190 PER MONTH.
Needless to say- there are no lemonaid stands, hot dog carts, or ice cream trucks in my town. Yet there are quite a few “for lease” signs in the empty store fronts along main street.
I tried to discuss this with city hall people, mentioning that someone (like me) who is out of work and low on funds could start an ideal business without all the red type– and was shot down with “we don’t want that in our town– it will hurt the “legitimate” businesses (i.e. brick & mortar stores)”. I also detected what I felt is some level of racism in their decisions– the city hall folks don’t want third worlders coming in and setting up all these little enterprises, like they do in the next town over.
I had to go through the police chief too before I opened by hot dog biz. They just want to see who will be doing business in their town I guess.
Here Here!!!!!!
Yep Yep!!!!
Amen to the “people minding their own business”!!!! Not only am I a hot dog vendor, but I recently bought 8 acres and have a hobby farm. People keep calling the cops on me because they are “worried about my animals”. I am out there 4 or 5 times a day making sure that they have fresh water and plenty of food. My animals are fat, sassy and happy. They live better then I do!
My customers are fat, sassy and happy. They eat better than I do too.
Good Job on the Cop, but technically, you have to have permits to vend food, no matter what your age. It keeps us all safe.
I am all for kids doing the entrepreneural thing, I make all 5 of my kids work with me vending food. But the parents should teach the kid to do things the proper way!
Wanda
Good point Wanda.
Yes, we forget the good old days when one could sell on the streets, even have a garage sale without a permit(heaven forbid)The one I always get is it is such an easy way to make money. I do not even try to explain anymore. People just think hot dogs do not cost much and you can charge big bucks for them and make money hand over hand. A lot will change in a few weeks when I have my sister help me at and event (i sell 60+ dogs and hour with drinks)she will set the record straight with family members.
Good luck Jerry!
Like my pop always told me Steve “You can’t polish a terd”.
For sure.
I just don’t get it, when someone wants to do something good, why is there so much political “crap” you have to answer to?
Let’s remember WE have the right to vote them OUT!
Yes we do!
People like that drink their own special Kool Aide. I used to sell Kool Aide in the summer when I was a kid and our Mailman was my best customer. 3 cents a glass and he would always give me a 2 cent tip. This was in the late 50’s and a nickel went a long way back then.
Great memories….
I love it!
TRUST ME !!!!!!! THE POLICE OFFICER HAS WAY MORE THINGS TO DO THAN WORRY
ABOUT SOME “NOSEY BUSY BODY ” “AIN’T GOT NOTHING BETTER TO DO” “AIN’T
GOT NO LIFE” PERSON THAT CALLS 911 TO REPORT A CHILD TRYING TO LEARN SOMETHING POSITIVE AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.HURRAY
FOR OUR POLICEMAN THAT STOOD UP FOR THIS CHILD.I HOPE YOU CONTACTED HIS SUPERVISOR AND “PRAISED” HIM FOR STANDING UP.THIS PERSON NEEDS
TO BE CHARGED WITH “MISUSE OF 911″…KEEP SELLING THOSE HOT DOGS!!!!!!!!
Thanks for keeping the streets of Asheboro safe for all those years sarge.
well, in Canada, you would be charged with child labour practices and have been through millions of dollars and years of the court system by now for ‘making’ your
kid work, which is what they would say.
People just have to stop wearing their underwear too tight and appreciate the
fact that entreprenuers are born every day and they are not all between the ages of
21-50 years old. It is excellent experience for them and gives them a feeling of
accomplishment.
Keep encouraging those little “slaves’ haha.
Lynda
“People just have to stop wearing their underwear too tight”
HA! Thanks Lynda!!!
Same thing happened here in Portland at a local street fair. A kid was selling food and drinks and another ‘vendor’ called the health department and they closed him down. The vendor was miffed that he had to pay $1,200 a year for his permits and the kid was selling food and drinks without any. He suggested the parents should pay for the permits.
Made a big splash in the local news. I’m all for young enterprise on the front lawn or the street corner; but at a fee paying professional cart event; should the rules be the same for everyone, or perhaps not?
Tommy im thinking that at big events everyone should be the same. the parents should know that if they want their child out there doing this kind of thing and they want him to run with the big dogs they ought to put out some $$$ just like us others. dont take me wrong im all with letting kids be out there and learn how to make money but lets not get other vendors mad by having your child do it so they dont have to pay.
Right on Tommy and Debbie.
Just as a side bar. I was arrested [just a free ride home to my parents] for selling single cigarettes on a street corner for .50 cents a piece. I was 10 years old.
A very profitable business! And still is to this day.
Nice. You are a natural born entrepreneur Tommy, 🙂
You say more goverment is good? Give me a break!
See what I mean!!!!!!!
Well, I heard last week that none of us hot dog business owners were successful on our own because we use the roads that were built with government money.
Truth: There is no such thing as “government money”.
That money came from you, dear slinger. It was produced as a result of your your sweat, your willingness to take a risk, and your desire to be a free, independent, self sufficient individual.
When the government saw that you had made some money it licked it’s lips, stuck it’s hand in your pocket, and took some of it. That’s where “government money” comes from.
And just to be clear, we are being “done” that way by both political parties.
You are the true American heroes my slinger friends. And yes, you did it – not the government.
If my boys were much younger I would build one of Steves kid cart.
Then I would try to set them up as near to the offender as I could !!
I agree with Robin, MYOB !! We need a law for that.
Lets not make the kids an excuse for butting in !!
AAAAArrrrgggggggggggggg!!!
1st mate Jim.
Arrghhhh!
Hey Jim,
Tell me again where you are located on the river. I’m planning a paddle trip one day and I want to stop by.
ARRRRRRRRRg.
We had a good one reported in the newspaper last week…..
Street vending is tightly controlled in our area. One gypsy street hotdog vendor set up in different locations in town on Friday and Saturday nights – usually around the bars and after 11:00 PM. The local health officals aren’t out that late – so he has been operating for years.
Well, last Saturday night – he picked the wrong spot. He set up in an area that had a traffic camera. Not only did the get his sales on video, but his license plate number and vehicle make. They hunted him down and he is now facing both health and city regulation violations…
Watch it folks, big brother really is watching!
Nothing to worry about if you’re doing it legally like we teach here.
Thanks Mark.
I got my first trade name certificate and sales tax # when I was 14. Would surprise the heck out of the wholesale “trade only” folks when I walked in, and they thought I was some punk just trying to buy cheap, and they’d say “you need a sales tax # to buy here”– and I’d whip my cert out… sometimes they questioned that I just swiped it from my father… anyways, my various enterprises as a young teen were indeed legal. Of course if I had to pay $1,200 for a permit as a 14 year old, I wouldn’t have been at that festival…
That is very cool. A born entrepreneur!
Too much government. Kids here in my part of Florida need a permit for a lemonade stand 🙁 and we can’t get a location for a hot dog cart. We have to do events only, where the event promoter obtains a blanket permit for all of the vendors.
Events can be very lucrative so I guess that’s the good part. Thanks Karyl!
Sorry guys – typos corrected.
They approval. y say politics corrupts, but I don’t think that is true. I think it better said that crooked people go into politics.I have a similar story not involving hot dog carts but still points out the same issue: I owned a restaurant on the beach in Florida, on a small island. I thought it would be great to have a house and carriage and have sunset carriage rides with Champagne, etc for couple or even families. The mayor of that town was a dear friend of mine and he and his wife and entire family ate in my restaurant almost 7 days a week. I discussed the idea with him and he said I would need to file an application with city council. I did a lot of research and was very detailed in my presentation only to be rejected – twice! Their reasoning was “we don’t want that”. However, about weeks after my second and final presentation to the council, the sister of one of the councilmen was given a license for a horse and carriage. Go figure!
Events could be lucrative, but can you do events everyday?