The #1 Hot Dog Cart "How To" Guide
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!
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
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
Hot dog vending at night outside bars and night clubs is an often overlooked way to make big money. If you love the nightlife, you might want to consider it.
It’s a known fact that party people crave food like hot dogs. And they’re willing to pay more for it.
But sometimes you have to be persistent…
Mark Balch owns a hot dog cart business in Keene, New Hampshire. During the day he sells hot dogs on Main Street, but his ultimate plan is to set up in the bar district at night. However, Keene city ordinances didn’t allow street vendors to stay open past 9 pm. So Mark gathered support from his customers and petitioned city hall to amend the ordinance.
It looks like Mark got his wish. The planning, licenses and development committee voted 5-0 to recommend the City Council allow hot dog vendors to sell their tubular treats downtown at selected spots between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
After hearing the decision, Mark was overjoyed. He says the bar scene is very profitable. “In three nights, it will be twice what I do in six days on Main Street.”
The City Council’s decision came just in time, as his wife was eight months pregnant with their fourth child at the time!
Congratulations Mark!
The moral of the story. When someone tells you “no”, it doesn’t always mean that you can’t. With the right support and polite persistence, it’s possible to set up a hot dog cart in places you never thought possible. Go for it!!!
-Steve
Ever heard of “peacocking”? That’s a term borrowed from the dating advice world which refers to the practice of wearing something outrageous to attract attention – and it works in business as well. The first step to making a sale is getting the customer to notice you.
How could you miss this guy? My wife used to wear the full hot dog suit and stand by the roadside waving at cars. And guess what? It worked. The only problem is Continue reading “Hey, Nice Hot Dog Hat!”
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He sold very good hot dogs. He put up signs along the highway and advertised in the newspaper telling how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, mister?” And people bought. He increased his meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out.
But then something happened. Continue reading “The Parable of the Hot Dog Cart”
