Closing??

I have been doing my research and saving up to one day open my own Hot dog joint, but I'm getting concerned after seeing so many places closing. In the past 6 months I have seen many of the big name places close (Callahans, Demon Dog, Swanky Franks, The Dirty O). I know many restaurants fail but these have been around for decades. I have also noticed on the other side that many places I have traveled and said "one day I'll open a hot dog place here," now have people with carts in those areas. Its seems there has been a lot of new growth in the business yet the hard core places are closing down. Should I be concerned or do most of you think its the nature of the beast?

You're right to extent imho. I have seen a couple of places open, and close. I sometimes feel the day of the"True" hot dog stands may be past, much to my dismay. It seems the hot dog joints that are doing well are selling something besides a great, or cheap hot dog. They are selling atmosphere. Ft. Wayne's" Original coney island", does well here. They are selling coneys, but they are selling atmosphere and nostalgia as well. They are the very first resturant in Ft. Wayne Indiana. They capitolize and bank on that. I would not get discouraged. For an opening stand you may have to diversify the menu. Or you can get your feet wet and learn a little by getting a hot dog cart and trying it out. That way you are in essence open for business. It will also afford you the opportunity to experiment with different dogs, and recipes to get 1 on 1 customer feedback to see what works, and more importantly what does not. Once you narrow it down to a successful formula then you go for it. Just a thought.

Oh by the way, some of the places that close did not have a good dog anyway. People are getting a little bit pickier nowadays. Here all the resturants, and stands are selling the same brand of hot dog. About the cheapest brand they can get. MOst owners have a real cavalier attitude about it. One owner told me they did not care about the quality of the hot dog, as long as they made money at it. Wrong attitude huh? I like money as much as the next guy, but there is an ethic involved here.

As I recall, Swanky Franks is not closing because of any lack of business. I believe the reason given was that the owner of the property wants them out so one of his relatives can open a restaurant on that site.

Some of the well known hot dog restaurants that I know of in Jersey close because the owners are offered a ton of money, so they wind up selling. Callahans is one such place. Guida's in Connecticut closed last Tuesday. They, on the other hand, were having a tough time paying the bills.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-enfguidos1228.artdec28,0,4127785.story?&track=rss

My mistake; the place that closed is Guidos, not Guida's

Capital Lunch in New Britain's product is going downhill in my opinion,smaller dogs,sauce ain't what it used to be.

Blackies in Chesire still is good.

White Hut in W. Springfield is still right there.

It is my understanding that Demon Dogs closed because the space it occupied was under the El tracks and owned by the CTA who decided they wanted the space and wouldn't renew the lease.

I think Myway has some great points. The great stand of the past for me were places we often went as large groups after school events. Now when you get to many kids together you have a riot. In Ct we went to Jimmies, and hung out all night. In Bridgeport it was The Greeks. Many of these places were open very late. Try to find a open hot dog stand after 9pm.

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Originally posted by markolenski

I think Myway has some great points. The great stand of the past for me were places we often went as large groups after school events. Now when you get to many kids together you have a riot. In Ct we went to Jimmies, and hung out all night. In Bridgeport it was The Greeks. Many of these places were open very late. Try to find a open hot dog stand after 9pm.

We must be lucky around here... Yesterdog stays open until 3 or 4am on the weekends (It's surrounded by a cluster of bars, so they really get slammed late night). But then they get slammed all day...