Ode To Hot Dog Dave

OK, this isn't an ode...

..but those of you who are friends of mine on Facebook have seen me post a couple of comments about Hot Dog Dave, and those of you who have worked in Downtown Rochester at any point in the past 25 years probably know of the legend that is Hot Dog Dave. When I first started working downtown back in the spring of 2008, I learned that one of the true signs of Spring’s arrival, after the long winters we have up here, is the first day Hot Dog Dave hoists his bright, multi-colored umbrella and starts slinging hot dogs, sausages, and burgers. I too now look forward to that moment, and also equate that moment to the arrival of Spring.

Legend has it that in fact, Hot Dog Dave and his wife have operated their hot dog cart for at least 20 years on the same corner. They run a full catering business, grilling for parties on weekends as well as handling the downtown lunchtime crowd. For a couple of summers, his son ran a second cart on a different corner not too far away, so this is a family business, and that is one of the reasons why I routinely go back year after year (not to mention that the food is good as well). There are several other reasons as well why I enjoy spending many spring, summer, and fall lunches waiting in line.

First, as a Philly native, with our reputation of being tough but fair, of being sarcastic with attitude (or “atty-tood” is it is pronounced), Dave absolutely reminds me of a true blue collar Philly native. The fact that he actually is NOT from Philly makes this pretty impressive. He fits the mold perfectly. As with your romanticized bartenders, barbers, and lunch chefs, the commentary that is heard on a daily basis is wide ranging and usually good for a good laugh. On the other side is his wife, who handles the money and also makes sure everything Dave needs is in reach. She is the sweetest opposite to Dave’s “atty-tood.” She is very pleasant, quiet, smiling and thankful to each person. The way they interact is also a fun scene to watch, and one can tell fairly quickly that this is a devoted couple. For me personally, it’s nice to get a taste of home up here in my new home. 

Secondly, the fact that this is a family run business, and one that is widely respected, I think is very important to note. I truly believe there is something to be said for supporting small, local businesses. In my opinion, it’s very nice to know that the money I spend weekly is staying relatively local, and specifically, going to the people that I can see working hard, trying to do the right thing, and along the way, gaining some nice familiarity. On average, I grab my lunch there once or twice a week, and I typically order the same thing:  two cheeseburgers, plain. Towards the end of my first year downtown, he had seen me enough ordering the same thing, to remember my order on sight. The following spring (2009), to my surprise, he hadn’t forgotten, and to this day, when I’m in line, it’s just a simple nod from him to me, and it’s all good. That experience, that customer service level, is something that is VERY lacking and getting worse in so many places. And there are definitely quite a few regular customers, and somehow, he knows their regular orders also.  

These are the small businesses, the hard workers, which we need to support and keep around. And as we approach Independence Day, I don’t feel like I’m exaggerating when I say that this is the key concept to the American Way of Life…or what I learned that to be:  if you worked hard and treated people with respect, your life would be successful. 

Somewhere along the way, the message has been lost in all of the rhetoric and politics and greed and politically correctness and other big words, but good ol’ America still exists if you look for it, and when you find it – it needs to be preserved. I’m doing my part - two burgers at a time...