A few months ago, I posted one of the first pictures ever taken of an elusive new species of street vendor – the Grillwalker. Now we have video!
Apparently multiple grillwalkers have been sighted in Berlin, selling wurst (sausages) to locals and tourists alike.
The first grillwalker was spotted in 1997 after Bertram Rohloff invented the contraption to get around local street vending laws. As long as nothing touched the ground, no permits were required.
The Grillwalker franchise is growing in Germany, with Mr. Rohloff hiring subcontractors to wear the devices in Berlin and other cities.
What do you think – great idea, or just a novelty? Would you strap one of these things on? Will we see grillwalkers in New York, Chicago, or L.A. anytime soon?
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Thanks Hannalisa and Tom for bringing this to my attention!
-Steve
tom
// Sep 30, 2009 at 10:29 pm
very nice great idea no permits how cool is that..
Clifford
// Sep 30, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Hi Steve,
It does not look too sanitary. Carring that around all day is surely going to cause back injuries.
Bertram Rohloff ‘s time would have been better spent getting the law changed!
Thanks for all the fine reporting.
Best regards,
Clifford
jim
// Sep 30, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I wouldn’t want to lug that around all day, but I do think it is a great idea.
cb
// Oct 1, 2009 at 1:37 am
Funny though not a chance here in CA… would never pass Health Dept.
Jeff
// Oct 1, 2009 at 1:47 am
Sorry Steve,
But my Health Board turned down my plans for this cart. I offered to install a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency, but no dice, maybe it was how I was going to mount it that he disapproved. He hated the idea of a Gatorade bottle for my restroom. What a Jerk! I thought he would go for the saliva spit hand wash station, Nope! He shot that down too. Oh well back to the drawing board.
P.S. I searched the web and for $7000 I can find something with wheels…That’s a great idea.
Rodney
// Oct 1, 2009 at 4:27 am
Hi Steve, I was in Germany about three weeks ago and saw many grill walkers in downtown Frankfurt. I did take a few pictures of them. Maybe I can upload them later. I would strap one on, but they cost around $7000. each I was told. I thought they looked pretty cool.
Rodney
Ed Florence
// Oct 1, 2009 at 5:26 am
What a neat idea but I’am to old to carry that all day LOL
Tim/Get Grilled
// Oct 1, 2009 at 5:34 am
a very novel and innovative way to get around the permit laws. again i like the idea. but I do not how effective i would be with almost 50 pounds of gear strapped to me. plus how bad do you smell at the end of the day? That thing has got to make you sweat. i do not think I would like to use one. But if it works and you can have fun doing it then it can’t be all bad. We will probably see these in America soon. If it makes money then it is going to be used
Dog Gone Dogs
// Oct 1, 2009 at 6:13 am
Not what I would want 2 do. Looks alot un-sanitary…….no gloves, sweating over the grill?Where do they keep their stock……..? From what I have seen, being in the business, There is a reason
we have health codes.
Jim/GoodDog!
// Oct 1, 2009 at 7:30 am
not the best idea i’ve ever seen but not the wurst either….
steve
// Oct 1, 2009 at 7:32 am
“not the wurst either”
LOL!
Terry
// Oct 1, 2009 at 7:37 am
think you steve ,
very ammussing the wearing of a grill lol.
dont think i’d wont to eat off one o them though
James
// Oct 1, 2009 at 9:32 am
Steve:
It is an innovative idea and no doubt they will wind up in some cities here in the states. Where I am in Norfolk, Va they won’t let you grill on your cart. I also spend twe weeks every month in
Summerille S.C. and same their DHEC won’t let you grill anything on your cart. 7 G’s is a lot of money for one of those. I could get a stand in cart for about that or better yet build something that meets all of my needs(My next Project)
I see that you have returned to advertising on
the page. May I suggest that you put a link line up where you have the bar for Front page etc.
to include a list of venders you think are worthy of your customers attention. Along that line you would also have room on that bar for spictures of special carts submitted by your subscribers.
There can never be enough tips I think in this business. I never thought of putting a tip jar
on a cart until I saw that article you published.
Keep up the good work.
Jim(kimodog)
Dennis Mark Pascual
// Oct 1, 2009 at 9:36 am
Does this idea have a patent because I plan to bring something like that up here in Toronto Canada.
Mike
// Oct 1, 2009 at 10:28 am
I don’t think my old back could take lugging that around all day….Mike (Soon to be in the Hot Dog Buisness)www.TheHappiestMusicOnEarth.com
cecil sutton
// Oct 1, 2009 at 12:10 pm
thats awesome once again necessity is the mother of invention
AJ Ramos
// Oct 1, 2009 at 7:26 pm
This would never pass inspection in the states, but if it did, one could make a killing just doing parades. It can also be a good workout to help us burn some of the extra hot dogs we eat at the end of the day!!!
Louise
// Oct 1, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Ouch, my shoulders hurt just looking at them, never mind my back! It is quite an interesting idea though, although I highly doubt that would ever pass in any of the US states or CDN provinces.
How would you like to be the guy who invented it?
On the other end, he could be looking at some law suits in the future from grill walkers w/ serious health issues.
Louise
Mark
// Oct 2, 2009 at 6:46 am
Very interesting idea – but it will take the health dept. a very short time to shut you down. Also, most cities have very specific requirements for vendors – so that would eliminate this unit in the U.S.
steve
// Oct 2, 2009 at 7:09 am
Regarding US health code compliance, there is a Grillwalker in Nebraska according to the manufacturer…
-Steve
Mike
// Oct 2, 2009 at 7:46 am
For those interested in more info, here is the Grillwalker web site….http://www.grillwalker.de/seiten/vers_engl/e_set.htm
Jason
// Jun 1, 2010 at 10:26 pm
This is a great idea people, come on..the hot dogs would be fine and there is nothing “unsanitary” about it if the dogs are sealed and I’m sure you would have hand sanitizer handy and would just stop at a public place somewhere if you need to use a restroom.