The #1 Hot Dog Cart "How To" Guide
Hey,
This is called “live blogging”. I’m at my annual block party and had to come home to take my little girl to the bathroom so I thought I’d check in here at HDCN.
Guess who’s serving the hot dogs at this year’s party. That’s right – me and my E-Z Built.
I’ll post some pics soon.
Got to get back to the festivities.
-Steve
It didn’t take me long to get to Columbus’ first and only vegetarian hot dog cart–I missed the grand opening by a few days. Rad Dog lists its location on the Web site, so you too can easily run into the mostly organic street vendor.
I love the idea of quality street cart food in a high foot traffic area. I associate vegetarian street eats with Continue reading “Rad Dog Review by Jared R, Columbus OH”
The E-Z Built plans are designed to be adaptable.
Case in point: Darren found a used utility trailer cheap and although it wasn’t exactly the size specified in the plans, it worked out just fine.
I’ll let Darren tell you about his E-Z Built hot dog cart in his own words… Continue reading “Darren And His E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart Are Open For Business – Part 1”
Just got a desperate email from a California car dealership that needs someone to serve hot dogs for a four day gig.
It’s THIS WEEKEND, so don’t lollygag or you’ll miss it. Here’s the email I got… Continue reading “Gig Post: “Help…I can’t find a hot dog cart to hire in Buena Park(near Knots Berry Farm) if my life depended on it….””
All right everybody, we got a TON of really great questions for our food cart leasing expert. I’m going to interview him this week and use his answers to put together the definitive report on leasing hot dog carts – the pros and cons, what you need to know in order to make this work for you. Sign up now in the form above to receive advance notification. By entering your name and email, you will be the first to know when I release this groundbreaking report. You will also be guaranteed to get the report for FREE, even if I decide to charge for it, which I may… If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read my article from last week, “Leasing A Hot Dog Cart”. It’s not too late to ask more questions in the comments section at the bottom. As usual this is a private list and your email stays with me exclusively. I’m not giving it to anyone. I hate spam as much as you do so that’s just how I do things. Here’s that sign up form again…
Thanks for your participation!
– Steve
Most boaters pack cold beverages when they head to the water, but food often is an afterthought. Chris and Jeremy Gocha and their wives have a solution.
Their Lake Dogs floating concession stand is accommodating hungry boaters this summer on Lobdell Lake. The couples serve hot dogs, nachos, chips, candy, pop, bottled water and ice cream from Uncle Ray’s Dairyland in Fenton.
They outfitted a 16-foot pontoon boat with a propane-fired warmer for Koegel Viennas and Flint-style coney sauce and cold storage for the frosty treats and beverages.
The 50-horse engine moves the food craft smartly around 545-acre Lobdell Lake’s many inlets and lagoons.
Chris Gocha, 29, and brother Jeremy, 31, say the idea may have been planted 
when both worked at Hungry Howie’s near the lake during their high school days.
“People used to say they wished there was some way to get a pizza delivered out on the lake,” Jeremy Gocha said.
With the official blessing of the Genesee County Health Department, the Gochas launched their marine enterprise the third weekend in June.
Occasional showers the first two weekends curtailed the hot dog express’ time on the lake, but the balmy July Fourth weekend was a bonanza for the young entrepreneurs.
“We sold more than 600 hot dogs over the three days,” Jeremy Gocha said. “The boats stacked up around us waiting to order. It was great.”
On busy days, it is best to phone in orders, he added. The number is prominently displayed on the boat.
The brothers and their wives each work a shift on a typical day. Chris Gocha’s wife, Danyle, 26, and Jeremy’s wife, Alisha, 28, both hairstylists, work together.
During good weather, the wives will take the boat out about noon Friday, yielding to their husbands when they get home from their jobs. They are back out for most of Saturday and Sunday.
“We learned it was more harmonious all around if Danyle and Alisha worked together instead of individually with us,” Chris said. “They think we boss them too much.”
With its tiki bar look, the USS Lake Dogs gets requests for adult beverages such as margaritas and beer. “We tell people they have to provide those things. We just do food,” said Chris.
The couples have been so encouraged by the response to their unusual concession concept that they plan to expand next summer. They say they will outfit a second boat to serve busy Lake Fenton and may even build another to take to water-based events around the state.
“People get a kick out of seeing us, and we have a lot of fun doing it,” Chris said. “This is our summer to learn. Next year, Lake Dogs should really take off.”
With their day jobs and the new business occupying all their time, the couples have called on backup from family members. Danyle Gocha’s mother, Carol Cooper, recently spent an entire day cleaning Danyle and Chris’ home and doing their laundry.
“I told them I wasn’t doing this every week,” Cooper said. “But I’m glad for them. What they are doing is awesome.”
original story at mlive.com
Life handed him a lemon, so he made hot dogs. After being downsized, the former sales manager started his own street-vending business.
If you are a first-time customer, Rick Eberth rings a hand bell in your honor as you order your very first Plumpfurter, whether it be the one-quarter pound Plumpie or the one-eighth pound Plumpie Junior, from his hot dog cart set up on the sidewalk along Lincoln Avenue in Youngstown just across from Williamson Hall at Youngstown State University.
You can get as much chili and/or sauerkraut as you want as well as the traditional mustard, ketchup and onions on your dog.
“I don’t do your laundry, so you tell me when it’s done,” Eberth said to a woman customer as he loaded chili on a Plumpie.
“It’s done,” she replied.
Eberth, of Canfield, is a victim of economic downsizing.
He was national sales manager for a small electrical safety-devices company of which he is part owner, which means he essentially downsized himself.
He said he decided to buy his stainless steel hot dog cart (distinguished by a large red umbrella sticking up out of the center) after a friend bought one and raved about it.
The idea sounded so good that Eberth said he and his wife, Karen, decided to buy one of their own, making the purchase online from a small manufacturer.
The former YSU student (he attended classes here in the mid-1980s before tiring of his economics major) determined there was no better place to set up shop than at the university.
At first, he wanted to actually be on campus, but the university has a “no competition” clause with its food vendor, so he had to settle for just being next to campus.
Eberth said he secured the necessary city permits to be a street vendor and hauled his cart to Lincoln Avenue. He came up with the name Plumpfurter one evening as he thought about hot dogs and frankfurters while trying to come up with a name for his business.
He generally has a line of customers over the lunch hour, and, if the sun is shining, a number of them use the low sandstone wall behind him as a combination seat and lunch table as they devour his wares.
Eberth said he serves only Nathan’s all-beef hot dogs, a product with a very good flavor of its own.
“I had the big hot dog,” said a YSU senior from Niles who declined to give his name. He said he visits the Plumpfurter vendor “two or three times a week.”
“This is my first time,” said Jacob Thomas, a YSU senior business major from Cortland.
He said he tried the “combo” meal — a Plumpie, chips and can of pop for $3.25 — and said he planned to come back.
Maureen Wilson, an employee in YSU’s media and academic computing department, also was there for the first time on a recent sunny day. A co-worker recommended it, she said, adding that she was impressed.
“I’m not a real big hot dog fan, but she raved about it so much so I decided to try it,” Wilson said, adding that she wasn’t disappointed. “Everything was very clean. He seems like a very personable man.”
A lot of customers say it’s the best hot dog they’ve ever had, Eberth said.
He hands out a “Hot Dog Lover’s Loyalty Card,” and, for every six hot dogs you buy, you get a seventh free.
“Friday is double-punch day,” he reminds those who carry the cards.
He opened his stand last October and can generally be found on Lincoln Avenue between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“I’ve been here in the snow,” he said, adding that the only thing that keeps him away is a forecast of 90 percent chance of rain.
The business seems to be working. “I could foresee putting two or three of these around campus,” he said, noting that he has a couple of additional spots in mind but declining to identify them.
“The market is there,” he said.
When 3 p.m. rolls around, Eberth hooks his cart to the back of his car and hauls it home to Canfield.
“This is a blast,” he said during a rare lull between customers, adding that there is nothing he would rather be doing.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with people, and this is as close as it gets,” he said, turning away to wait on the next Plumpfurter customer.
original story at vindy
Today I’m going to scratch the surface about leasing, but first I want to say a great big “Thank You!” to everyone who reads this newsletter. Because of your continued readership and interaction in the comments section, we’re really starting to build a great community.
As a matter of fact, we’re starting to make a name for ourselves.
I’m beginning to get inquiries from folks in related businesses such as cart builders, small business coaches, etc. They see us as potential partners. This is great for you because it allows me to get to know them a lot better and then I’ll be able to recommend only the best to you when you come here for advice.
On that subject I want to make one thing clear. You, dear readers, are my first priority. My goal here is to make you all successful. If you’re successful first, my success will naturally follow. Therefore I will not recommend any product or service to you unless I think it’s in your best interest.
In fact, I just turned down a deal last week (not leasing related) that had the potential to be quite good for me, but I just wasn’t comfortable with the level of experience of the other party (or their attitude). I couldn’t recommend them to you in good conscience, so I walked. I lost a lot of time and a small amount of money because of it.
They couldn’t believe it. Actually they were pretty pissed, but I’m not losing any sleep over it. It definitely wasn’t right for you, therefore it wasn’t right for me either.
The right fit always comes along sooner or later.
Speaking of the right fit, I was contacted by the top agent for one of the top food cart leasing companies in the world. He wanted to let me know that he is available to work with us and he can provide financing for new hot dog carts at the best rates available, and hot dog carts are his specialty. If you’ve ever tried to get food cart financing from a bank, you’ll know how difficult it can be because they just don’t know the business.
This guy lives it.
Now here is where it gets good. This is your chance to have all of your financing questions answered by the pro. In the comments section at the bottom of this article, I want you to ask any questions you may have about leasing and financing. I’ll write them all down.
Then I’m going to set up an interview with this person and put him on the hot seat. I’ll ask him every one your questions and a few of my own. And I’m going to record it. When I’m finished I’ll compile the questions and answers into “The Complete Guide to Hot Dog Cart Financing”. I could make this into a book and easily charge $37 for it, but I’m not going to do that.
I’m going to make it available to you… for free.
It will probably be in ebook format with the full audio recording in MP3 so you can listen in on the entire call.
Go ahead and ask your questions now in the comment section below. Don’t email them to me directly, I want everyone to see them here. Questions always spark further questions.
And thanks in advance to our leasing expert for helping us out. Unlike some others, he’s willing to prove up front how hard he’ll work to provide the best service. That’s how he got to be #1 in his field.
And that’s a lesson for us all…
I can’t say how long it will take to get the interview done, compile the report, and get it out to you, but I’ll put it on the front burner.
Thanks again for contributing!
-Steve
I just got a really nice note from Hot Dog Cart News subscriber Michael Evegens. Michael is a retired professional race car driver who is building a hot dog cart to use at car shows. You see Michael has a REALLY nice hot rod that he shows almost every weekend and can never find anything to eat at the shows. Continue reading “Hot Rods and Hot Dogs”
