Another good idea, another chance for you to STEAL IT

Ok, seriously folks, I'm getting ready to lay another great idea up in this piece and it's going to explode with awesomeness like a stick of dynamite, so please be prepared. I know we all sort of let our guards down on Fridays so this is just a warning.

Yesterday I talked about my idea for ghost tours, which won't work because I'm lazy and not in a place where people would fall for that take advantage of such an opportunity. But I do live in a college town. That means we have lots of hungry, poor and sometimes drunk college students. When we moved here from WV, we noticed a real lack of hot dog eatery establishments. WV is like, hot dog capital of the world. These poor students just have to forgo the taste of mystery meat, covered in sauce, wrapped in a deliciously steamed bun? It's just wrong.

Thus a dream was dreamed. A dream of our very own hot dog cart.

Hot dogs are, like, the cheapest thing to fix. That's why there are twice as many hot dogs as hamburgers at cookouts -- look next time, it's a fact.

Hot Dog Cart

 First we'd have to buy a hot dog cart. This is by far the biggest expense, but also will pay for itself. There's some term in economics for that, I think, but guess who doesn't know much about economics? Anyway. I browsed Ebay and found this lovely cart for only $400. And it's nostalgic. You know what students love even more than cheap stuff? Kitsch.

Even the seller knows what a gem he's got on his hands:
"Theres [sic] nothing like this full-service pushcart to deliver nostalgic charm and modern convenience," he proudly proclaims. That's correct sir, NOTHING like it.




The cart comes with  a hot dog roller, a two lidded steaming/warming trays, a beverage cooler, a service shelf and three inserts "for condiments such as chili and sauerkraut."

Then we go on to the basics of any good hot dog business. I just spent an hour researching how to buy wholesale hot dogs and finally found them (Bee Tee Double You, if you want to find wholesale hot dogs on Google, you have to use the keyword "bulk foods, hot dogs"). I can get some Oscar Mayer's, a case of 330, for $110. Now that I'm thinking it through, maybe bulk hot dogs aren't a good idea, as I have no space to keep them. Other than my fridge. Can you imagine if somebody came over and looked in my fridge and they were all, oh, so you like hot dogs? Awkward. So if worst comes to worst, I'll just buy some at Walmart for 99 cents for 12. Buns are 89 cents for 8. *high  quality* is what we'll be known for.

Then there are a whole bunch more variables, like how much mustard costs, if I'll be serving relish or sauerkraut, and how many hot dogs we'll really need. And I dont' have time for all that right now, so I'll get to the really brillant part: Location, location, location.

During regular school days through the semester, from 11 till 2, we'll push that little bad boy around trolling from customers. What more perfect lunch can you think of for rushed, poor students? So that's 3 hours out of the day. Then when the sun sets, our hot dog cart will become a beacon for drunk bar flies. Picture if you will: 3 a.m. You've been dancing and drinking and it's time to go home. Nobody is sober enough to drive to Taco Bell and nothing else is open. Suddenly, like an angel made out of streel, plastic and animal byproducts, the hot dog cart appears, waiting to satisfy the cravings of wasted 20 year olds. I mean it's like a money pit waiting to open up. So 2 till 3:30 we'll work the night shift.

We'll name is something  University of Florida-y, like Swamp Dogs or something vaguely sexual like Hot Buns & Wieners, Inc. Then we'll become millionaires.

On my last blog, Ally left the following comment:

My big idea was... to serve frozen/umbrella drinks from the ice cream truck. I mean, no ice cream...just alcoholic beverages. How stellar is that?? I love to drive and I love to watch drunk people so if I could make a profit off of them, all the better! All I need is a driver's license (check) and a liquor license (if drinking made it so, I would totally have that one, too). I think we could be on to something. But if I see a drink truck driving around, you'll be the first person I'll be looking at. 

Now I'm thinking, perfect. This is the best duo ever. We'll park the hot dog cart right next to the ice cream truck that sells liquor and make money off the kids who just aren't ready to stop partying quite yet, but also need a snack break.

Speaking of breaks, if you steal our ideas, we'll break your toes.

What's your best 'brilliant' idea?