Hot Dog Cart News

Last call for entries. We’re ending the contest tonight, picking the winner over the weekend, and announcing the winner on Monday.

I originally said we’d announce the winner on Thursday but I thought it was Tuesday when I said that. Does anyone else have this much brain fog after a week off? Holy smokes… I hope I fully recover.

Anyhoo – get your final entries in today by clicking here. We’re shutting it down sometime tonight.

-Steve

P.S. You can see what we’re playing for by clicking here.

I just got back from a nice vacation and I’m totally unprepared for today’s HDCN article. What to do?

CONTEST!!!!

My lack of planning could be your gain. Here’s what we’re playing for: A copy of my best selling Hot Dog Biz 101 course including free shipping (‘cuz having to pay shipping on something you won would suck).

Now here is where you find out how truly behind I am. I don’t even have a contest made up so I want YOU to suggest something.

Leave your contest idea in the comments below. I’ll pick what I think is the best one, and that person will receive a Hot Dog Biz 101 Platinum Package.

This is a true win-win. You get my course for free and I get a contest idea that I can use the next time I get stuck like this.

Sometimes I scare myself with the way my brain works…

Good luck, and you can embarrass me by sharing my beach photo on your Facebook. Just click the blue “f Share” button at the left.

– Steve

P.S. My wife says the tongs make me look fat…

 

This is an update to the story we ran on Sam’s hot dog cart last week. Sam sent us the following email:

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Here are some additional pics from our first day at the Johnson City (TN.) Farmers Market and in particular a pic of the speed rail that we modified to hold squeeze bottles.  My years of bar tending paid off
with this little mod of a stainless steel speed rail.  Two screws and a cut off tool were all we needed to mount this on the side of the cart for easy access to squeeze bottles.  Inexpensive and good looking in stainless or painted to match cart.  Here is a link.

 

Hope this is helpful,

Sam Oerly
Street Eats

P.S. I included some updated pics of our E-Z Built cart with the logo and graphics.  Really brought everything together the way we envisioned it.

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Brilliant, Sam – I’m going to put one of these on my own E-Z Built asap, except I might go with this Stainless Steel 32″ Double Speed Rail.

Keep the tips coming folks. If we publish yours we’ll put your name on a sticky note just like the one at the top of this article. It’s a fun new thing we’re doing to recognize our awesome contributors.

-Steve

 

 

Imagine this… You build your own hot dog cart. You take it out, fire it up and make $800 on your first day. Plus, you get to spend the afternoon with your loved ones. That’s what Dennis did over the weekend.

Have I ever told you how much I LOVE THIS BUSINESS!!!

Dennis writes…

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Steve:

Attached is a picture of the early morning set up for our first outing in Bisbee, Arizona, July 4, 2011.  Underestimated product need.  Grossed over $800.  The E-Z Built cart was flawless.  Used a lot of ice……..ideas for best insulated coolers? Pictured is my son-in-law and grandson.

Thank you,
Dennis  Corderman

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Way to go Dennis! I’m proud of you. Looks like you have a real nice family too.

Let’s hear it for Dennis in the comments!

-Steve

Dear Steve,

 

My partner, Tess Lilly, and I bought your products and built our own hot dog cart.

It is nearly complete but I couldn’t wait any longer to share our cart with you and everyone who has helped us so much along the way! I will send final cart pics and our first day pics but for now I am enclosing these pics of our cart.

Extra special thanks to my brother Matt Oerly who did the rocking paint job.

Thank you so much for your help now and in the future.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Sam Oerly

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Nice job Sam, Matt and Tess! Welcome to the fraternal order of encased meats.

If you aren’t rolling in dough right now, don’t give up on living the dream. You can build your own hot dog cart like Sam did and save $3000 in the process.

Now get out there and sling, baby!

-Steve

 

Click the pictures for a larger version.

Want to get into the hot dog vending business in California? Here is a rare opportunity to purchase a turn key, operating business. Just step in and take it over.

Family needs are prompting sale of lucrative mobile food vending  business. Cart can be used for sandwiches, tacos, hot dogs, Gyros, or  many other foods. There is potential to expand into catering as well.  Existing restaurants can grab event markets previously unavailable to  them AND take advantage of extra media & advertising exposure  through the events.

Included equipment:
* 1 Mobile Vending Cart – 10×5 FULLY CONTAINED Cal Code Compliant –  Stainless Steel, 2 burners w/ space for 4 1/3 size steam pans (can use 8  1/4 size pans), 2 Pan Separators, 30 Gallon Waste Tank, 20 Gallon  Potable Tank, 4 Sinks w/Splash Guard (per Cal Code Req.), Refrigerator  (Per Cal Code Req.), Pressurized Water System (per Cal Code Req.) w/  Dual Pumps, Hot Water Heater/Tank (per Cal Code Req.), Propane Tank,  Custom 7 Function Light System, DOT Approved Tires, LED Tail Lights,  Pivoting Dual Tire Hydraulic Jack

* All Food Supplies on hand
* Serving Utensils – Various Tongs, Knives, Meat Thermometer, 2  Condiment Trays, Storage Containers, 4 1/3 Steam Pans w/Lids, 2 1/4  Steam Pans w/ Lids, Chip Racks
* All Cleaning Supplies on hand
* 2 Umbrella’s
* Folding Stool
* 2 Batteries w/ Charger
* Clipboard w/ Calculator

Also Included:
* Contracts for Scheduled Exclusive Vending Opportunities (Concerts,  Fair, etc.), also registered to be in Eureka 4th of July festival in old  town.
* New Owner Training, Business Forms, 2 Spare Tires, and Cart Maint. Tools

$15,000 OBO – All serious offers will be considered. If you want just the cart itself, please make an offer.

SOLD. If you are interested, fill out the form below and I’ll put you in touch with the seller. Don’t dilly-dally on this one. California hot dog carts are rare on the used market. Finding an operating hot dog vending business that you can walk right into (without going through the whole start up process!) is practically unheard of.
Click on the pictures below for a larger image.

Happy Independence Day, Slingers!

To all of you who are slingin’ today – “SELL ‘EM ALL!!!”

To all who are taking the day off – share the love. Buy a hot dog from your competitor! Continue reading “Fourth of July Sale!”

Slick little hot dog cart condiment bottle fix from Hot Dog Cart News reader Dick Charron. Dick writes…

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I discovered a solution to a problem I was dealing with. How to cap the tips of the mustard and ketchup bottles. Home depot sells packages of Continue reading “Hot Dog Cart Condiment Bottle Tip”

So many folks think that all they need to do is get a hot dog cart, set it up at the first place they find, and wait for the money to come rolling in. What could be easy (with the right knowledge) turns into a real grind.

The thing they don’t understand is that a hot dog business, like every other business on the planet, is a Continue reading “You Won’t Sell a Single Hot Dog if You Blow Step #1”