I finally bought my hot dog cart!!!
 

It's not the cart of my dreams, but it will work. I got it for $2,300.

It's a steam cart, but it has a portable grill on it. I figure I can use this until I break even, then I can get something better. The guy took a photo with a Sabrett's umbrella, but didn't give me the umbrella. It's not a big deal. The handles are missing on some of the pans but the guy says to use the tongs. I may just buy new pans.

The latch on the left door at the bottom is missing so I can see this being a problem when driving. The burner on the left is missing a couple of bolts to hold it in place so it jiggles. I will replace the bolts. It's missing the connector that goes from the propane to the portable grill. I'll have to buy one if I can find it.

I've already got my spot secured and paid for. I'll be selling dogs directly across the street from the Social Security Building in an area that has one of the highest concentrations of retired people in America. I'm working on the business paperwork at the moment.

I've got to get my state license. Then I apply to get a plan reviewed by the health department. Then I get an inspection. Then my county and/or city occupational permit. I'm also talking to a lawyer and an accountant about business structure, dba, etc.

I just got offered an IT job for $40/hr down here. That's almost what I was making in Los Angeles, and it's a lot cheaper here in Florida. It is very tempting, especially because the job is from 5pm to 2am. I could still run the cart.

Here's the ad I got the cart from. Let me know what you think.


http://orlando.craigslist.org/bfs/1158363561.html


http://images.craigslist.org/3kd3o83...c63de71d03.jpghttp://images.craigslist.org/3n13pe3...14075512a3.jpg
http://images.craigslist.org/3n83pc3...3234e21c58.jpghttp://images.craigslist.org/3nd3p33...505da61ae9.jpg

WTF? what kind of a lay down are you?! go get your umbrella or take him on Judge Judy this instant!

The ad says the umbrella is included. C'mon Jim, I'll swing by and pick up Zip and we'll teach that shiester a lesson he won't soon forget.

Who the hell does he think he's messin' with?

The cart is awesome, Radar. I respect a man who says what he's going to do and, adversity be damned, goes out and does it. Serve hot dogs from 9:30am to 2:30pm, go home, shower up and report to the IT job at 5pm. Good man.

It's seriously not that big a deal. My uncle Manny sells Sabretts and he has extra umbrella's he can give me. It's just the point that he said it was included in the ad, and when I went to buy it, suddenly it's missing.

I should think there'd be legal restrictions on that, ie, can't sell a Sabrett's brella to anybody because they might not sell Sabrett's.

Excellent point. I'm torn between branding myself (some people are brand loyal) or not. I'm leaning toward not branding and just getting a nice red & white umbrella.

If you brand yourself, they give you free things like umbrella's, signs, menus, etc. especially if you brand with Vienna Beef. They give you everything.

Sabretts are a bit less generous, but they do have the red onion sauce a lot of people seem to love.

If I don't brand, I don't get screwed if Sabretts or Vienna decide to raise prices. I can just switch brands.

On the advice of a very intelligent man I know, I was considering using Thumann's dogs, but they only sell 8/1 dogs. They don't have footlongs, or quarter pounders. This means I'd have to sell 2 different brands or only sell regular dogs...which might turn out to be better anyway.

if you're gonna market your brand, put your Dante's Devil Dogs Logo on the Umbrella.

oh, and congrats, man.....that's freaking awesome!

Thanks. Now if I can only get a van with a tow hitch. :)

For some reason I thought you were somehow comparing yourself to Ignacious... but I see you are serious... in which case I must add...

Hebrew national have ALWAYS been my favorite and were the only dogs I went for in NYC when I lived there. Are you going to grill your dogs or will they be "Dirty water dogs?"

I would prefer to have a flat grill like I originally intended. I think the smell of grilled dogs, onions, peppers, Italian sausages, brats, etc. brings a crowd.

For now, they will be dirty water dogs.

Good for you Radar. I hope it all works out exactly as you'd like it to. :)

congratulations radar. don't get discouraged with all the little hurdles, you're living the dream.

Thank you all.

We bought a house cash and it will close on Thursday. We'll have no credit card payments, no house payments, no car payments, etc. and will be able to get by on very little, but will be able to save a lot if I make a lot. :)

That cart looks great! Good job Radar. It's really coming along now.

This is awesome, Radar. I say take the IT job, get a firm financial foundation under you and your family, and build the dog business slowly, with a plan and a goal. In three or four years, pay others to run your fleet of carts, and live like a king.

You go, dude. Oh. And get a custom Devil Dog umbrella made. Trust me on this.

Congrats Radar! I am so totally impressed :thumb::thumb:

It looks awesome!

Congratulations Radar.

Don't forget spicy beef sausages. I love the Dietz and Watson ones.

I knew you could do it. Good luck!

Just yesterday I was wondering how you were doing and meant to ask for an update (and from the other dwellars currently "at a turning point in their career").

I'm inclined to vote for no branding -you seem more the independant sort, and get your mascot on the umbrella instead.

That's awesome Radar. I'm so very happy for you. You are living the dream. You set up the plan and you're seein it through - most courageous and entrepreneurial. The American way. Congrats and great luck.

Oh, one last thing. If you don't get Dante on your umbrella I'll come down there and ...

This might be the most secure business in this economy right now. Congratulations!

Congrats radar, way to live that American dream.

Let us know how long it takes for some joker dressed as Buddha to come up to you and say "make me one with everything".

Oh! This is SO exciting!

Radar I'm chuffed to bits for you, I really am, mate. Sounds like a sensible thing to do, maybe, taking on the job as well. Just in case the business is slow to build. Though, I suspect it won't be!

This is exactly the sort of thing that (I personally think) will do well in the current economic climate. People are less happy about eating out at restaurants, but a few dollars on a hotdog is a cheap way of feeling flush and makes for a decent workday lunch.

Good luck with it. Keep posting pics! We want one with you set up at your pitch, lookin' all hotdoggy :)

Let me just add:


Hot-diggetty-dog!!!

ZenGum: "Make me one with everything"
:lol2:

Congrats, Radar! Do Dwellars get a free dog? :yum:

Pie! That was perfect! :notworthy:

Hope you are very successful Radar.

He will be. That Radar, no matter what happens, he just bounces right back.

lol
Those two belong here

I was quoting ZG there... ;)

Oh...OK ZEN that was perfect.

:)

So happy for you, Radar. We just had brats at a hotdog stand yesterday and it made me think of this thread. The guy makes his own brats. They were very good.

Thanks everyone. I am still in the midst of doing paperwork, and stuff. It will be a month or so before I actually open up.

And yes, Dwellars get a free dog if they make it to Ocala, FL.


Do you remember the response to the "Make me one with everything"?

I believe it goes like this....

A Buddhist monk, visiting New York City for the first time in twenty years, walked up to a hot dog vendor, handed him a twenty dollar bill, and said, “Make me one with everything.”

The vendor pocketed the money, and handed the Buddhist monk his hot dog. The monk, after waiting for a moment, asked for his change. The vendor looked at him and said, “Change comes from within.” With a wistful smile, the monk walked away.

I was hoPING the stand would be on its way! Way to go Radar!

Free dog: I'll take you up on that, Tom!

I get there from time to time and I have relatives living there.

paul
:blush:

put that on a plaque on your cart

Out of curiousity sake how many hotdogs would you have to sell every day to live off of?

Maybe i underestimate the general populous' ability to consume mass amounts of phallus shaped meat

EAD hot dog carts sell over 300,000 hot dogs per day in the US.

Eat A Dick hot dog carts?????


I always thought so ....:right:

Radar:
speaking as one of clearly only a few resident vegetarians, are you going to serve veggie dogs? Or is it simply not profitable?

There are people who sell veggie dogs. I'm not one of them because you don't sell enough of them to make it worth it, and also because veggie dogs is sacrilege to hot dog lovers.

*shrugs* fair 'nuff I guess.

How about a gluten free wrap?

I think poosie shaped buns would be cool. Maybe not marketable, but cool.

veggie dogs in gluten free buns ...

...maybe in San Francisco, but not in Florida!

i'd like a dog with 2% fat, beef and chicken meat only -definiely no pork, with the soy and flax-based filler.

I'll ake it on a garlic narn with organic mushroom ketchup.

thanks.

No, you're OK, keep the 14c change.... you've earned it.....

one wit mustard

No mustid! Tastes like earwax. Just ketchup, thanks.

And you know what ear wax tastes like, how? :eek:

The management reserves the right to refuse service to anybody he damn well feels like.

Oh, um, well...

:bolt:

I reckon Radar should, and probably will, put that sign on his cart. :lol:

I reckon the first one should be there too, in smaller print. Just to deal with the smart-alec whingers. :D

Blasphemy!

Kraut and mustid, please

Congrats on the purchase, Radar! I agree...go get your umbrella! If I'm ever in the area...hold a dog with ketchup and onions for me. :p

I can haz chili n cheez?

Have a box of Tums® and TicTac® on the cart too.

Me wants mustid & relish. And onions finely chopped.

One all-beef, mustard, dijon if ya got it. Do you have Orangina or something like that?

Woohoo! Good luck getting everything up and running.

(Also: please include mayo among your cart condiments.)

Not in that area of Florida, anyways.

Hope the cart came with a blender. ;)

Congrats! After you're running, we'll stop by on our next trip out to ONF and have a dog.