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May 3, 2005

(Hot) Dog-gone quandary

Below is a Jamestown story that appeared in today's News & Record. I never assume that folks who read the blogs also read the print edition of our fine product. Though I hope I'm incorrect.

For what it's worth...the following story, about a displaced hot dog vendor and a new business owner, is what I meant by "backyard epic" in my very first posting. If it sparks any ideas from your own backyards, please lemme know.

I got it by walking around and talking to people in my community. See, I don't spend ALL my time adding gobs of threads to this electronic monster...

Read it if you like.

JAMESTOWN -- Seventy all-beef Nathan's Famous hot dogs.

That's how many Jamie Stewart sold each day, Monday through Friday from her cart near the driveway to Jamestown's historic Shubal Coffin House on Main Street.

It is the third and, by far, best location she's found in the two months Stewart's Hot Dogs Push Cart Service has been on the streets of Jamestown.

But Stewart may not be able to push her hot dogs in that spot for much longer.

A new tenant of the 150-year-old Coffin House -- most recently a crafts and consignment shop names Angels in the Eaves -- has asked Stewart to confine the business she does in front of the store to Mondays, the one weekday it's closed.

David Lombardo, owner of the new Yellow House on Main Street antiques store, is concerned Stewart's hot dog cart will attract hungry passers-by who will block the entrance to his business, which he plans to open this week.

"I toiled over that decision for 10 days," Lombardo said. "But ask yourself: If you opened a new business, would you want to chance someone keeping your customers from getting to it?"

He figured Stewart would move back to her previous perch 10 steps from his parking lot, right beside the Jamestown General Store.

But it's not that simple, Stewart said: "You'd be surprised what a difference 10 steps makes."

By the general store, she sold maybe 20 hot dogs a day, not enough to make business worthwhile.

Stewart's not sure why that site fares poorly. Maybe it's because the General Store dwarfs the cart. Or because it's underneath a large tree. Or because the Coffin House is more visible, right off Main Street, at the arc of a gentle turn.

Stewart said she understands Lombardo's concern, but believes it's unfounded.

"I think I'd bring more people into his store, rather than the other way around," Stewart said.

The site in front of Lombardo's new store was on its way to becoming Stewart's best money-maker. With friends and family, she also operates two carts in Greensboro.

It's a business Stewart began to consider two years ago, when the Greensboro resident saw someone operating a hot dog cart at a softball game in Pleasant Garden. She'd been wanting a part-time job that would allow her to spend more time with her kids.

"Then God gave me a gift," Stewart said,.

She was laid off her job. So last summer, Stewart began her push cart business. Then in December, her husband was also laid off. Since then, selling Nathan's Famous dogs for $1.50 apiece is the family's only source of income.

When asked, Lombardo said he had no idea that was the case. Stewart didn't tell him. Lombardo said he doesn't mean Stewart any harm; he routinely buys hot dogs from her.

But the retired Greensboro police officer doesn't want a blocked driveway.

He's already concerned the recent history of his shop's location could negatively affect business. Angels in the Eaves closed without notice in December.

Lombardo doesn't want to hurt another small business owner. So, he's considering making changes to the shop's driveway or finding another way to let Stewart remain in the spot that's worked so well for her.

"I think, maybe, we can work something out," Lombardo said, as he stood on the steps of his new store.

But for the forseeable future, Stewart is only in Jamestown one day a week. She said she's not overly concerned about what the reduced business will do to her and her family.

"The Lord will provide for us," she said.

Posted by at May 3, 2005 2:39 PM

Comments

The only big wiennie that I'm aware of is Terry Grier. He's not wanted anywhere around town either.

Posted by: Dick at May 3, 2005 4:27 PM

Hey Dick, do I need to tell you what hot dogs are made out of?

Now that we have cleared that up let me tell you who makes up the package of 6 Hotdogs that we can buy for our 4th of July celebration.

"Grier, Duncan, Kearns, Sykes, Cooke, and Mendenhall."

Here's the motto - "School Board Franks, they PLUMP WHEN YOU COOK'EM".

Whose got the mustard and relish???

Posted by: Buckmtn at May 3, 2005 6:34 PM

Displaced hot dog vendor???

How about the displaced kids over in North High Point and Jamestown?

Posted by: Tatersmaters at May 3, 2005 6:35 PM

I have a solution for the displaced wiener vendor. GCS can buy up all her wienies and give them to the kids that can't afford lunch. That way they won't have to bus them across town to eat at another school.

I still don't understand that? Why do they make those kids go across town just because they're on that free lunch program?

I think my weinie solution would be cheaper than busing them across town and the lady would sell lots of dogs!

I think I should be on the school board. At least I would think of the kids first. What's the deal, do they got wienies for brains?

Posted by: Dick's kid at May 3, 2005 7:53 PM

Dick's kid,

You make the most sense for someone from littledick@aol.com. This is the best idea I have heard yet. Bring the lunch to the kids instead of bussing the kids to eat there lunch. It is too simple and would save on gasoline. They will never go for it because it makes too much sense.

Tatersnmaters, those kids will be so displaced after this year's buses start rolling. You are right so what is one hot dog vendor. Better yet the hot dog vendor could go to the hubs so when the kids are hungry and waiting for their two hour bus ride home, he could sell hot dogs there.

Posted by: Sugar Bear at May 3, 2005 10:56 PM

Dick's kid: I like your solution to Ms. Stewart's problem. It reminds me of Jonathan Swift's essay, "A Modest Proposal," a link to the text of which is below (sorry, can't make it a go-directly-to-the-site link in comments mode).

(Hey! That master's in English finally came in handy for something!)

http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html

Posted by: Justin Hayes at May 4, 2005 8:47 AM

THE JAMESTOWN GENERAL STORE ROCKS, AND THEY HAVE THE BEST HOT DOGS IN TOWN!!

Posted by: bob at October 5, 2006 3:35 PM