Tuesday, Jun. 15, 2010

Hot Dog

Street vender sets up outside city hall

Miranda Wycoff, Journal Staff

Jerry Collins needed a project. That’s what he said as he set up his hot dog stand outside Blue Springs City Hall Monday just before lunch time.

So his daughter and son-in-law decided to help him by starting Tasty Dogs, a roaming hot dog stand.

Monday was Collins’ first day as a hot dog vender and he seemed to thrive with the interaction.

“They tell me there’s not much to eat real close to city hall,” Collins said. “So I thought I would set up right here.”

And it seemed to be a good spot, as Collins had to unfortunately tell some customers that his dogs weren’t quite ready.

According to Collins, hot dogs take 25 minutes to cook in his cart. But he’s only been a hot dog vender for 15 minutes, and he’s already got a solution for that.

“Tomorrow I’m going to boil some water at home, and that way it will start out nice and hot before I put the hot dogs in,” he said. “In three days I’ll be an expert at this,” he joked.

He and his son-in-law built the cart for Tasty Treats. Collins built the frame, and his son-in-law, a sheet metal worker covered it. As far as he knows, Tasty Treats is the only street-side hot dog vender in Blue Springs.

“We’re going to try to set up outside grand opening sales and special promotions,” Collins said.

But for now, Collins said he’ll try his luck outside city hall, where he plans to set up five days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To reach Journal reporter Miranda Wycoff, call 816-282-7017 or e-mail mwycoff@bluespringsjournal.com