Customer seating by the cart

I was thinking of a way to be closer and maybe even more interactive with my customers. Has anyone thought of using an outdoor bar type set up that consisted of a 24' to 36" high, narrow table much like a bar with 4-5 stools for seating? I'm think about trying this on one side of the cart and working it like a bartender - make it modular so it sets up and takes down quickly adds onversation - another hot dog or soda - what are your thoughts?

If you had high tables, I don't think you would need chairs. Unless of course, you're planing to serve beer.

As a customer at a local hot dog cart, I don't think I would like to be seated right next to your cart. A few feet away is fine, but constant banter and crowding from customers coming by after I am seated is not what I want on my lunch hour. I'd like to be able to talk to a companion or just have a little quiet time by myself away from my desk with a chance to be out in the fresh air and have a change of scene.

Just my opinion...

good idea. folks like a place to sit and eat. But like tc says, I'm not sure that being seated right at the cart is the way to go. I've thought about one of those round plastic tables and 4 chairs, but it was a fleeting thought. I have enough to carry now. In the summer the city provides tables and chairs. For now, they can eat on the bus.

tcrouzer


As a customer at a local hot dog cart, I don't think I would like to be seated right next to your cart. A few feet away is fine, but constant banter and crowding from customers coming by after I am seated is not what I want on my lunch hour. I'd like to be able to talk to a companion or just have a little quiet time by myself away from my desk with a chance to be out in the fresh air and have a change of scene.

Just my opinion...

 

I can see your point - maybe a longer wider stand up counter is more workable. Folks could stand and there would still be room for condiments, napkins, etc. Maybe a foot rail at the bottom. I'll play with different configurations and see what works. I did find some modular picnic tables that set up in about 3 minutes and break down into 8' 2x6s with bracing hardware.

Check with your health department before you do too much.  From what I have read, in Florida, if you supply seating, the HD puts you in a different category and makes things much more complicated.

waydeg


I was thinking of a way to be closer and maybe even more interactive with my customers. Has anyone thought of using an outdoor bar type set up that consisted of a 24' to 36" high, narrow table much like a bar with 4-5 stools for seating? I'm think about trying this on one side of the cart and working it like a bartender - make it modular so it sets up and takes down quickly adds onversation - another hot dog or soda - what are your thoughts?

I think its a great idea, I was thinking the same thing weeks ago but have not found a setup I like that would not be a hassle to load and unload. I'm thinking just the taller round table that one or two people could stand or sit at on a stool of some kind. I could load two or so and stools pretty easily in the pick up. I think it would look pretty cool. Still looking into it for now..

thundercove is right about FL.  if you have seating they want more money!  it's an excellent idea, but i wouldn't dream of doing it.  i've heard that people with a short supply of time like to have a place to sit and eat under the trees and watch the traffic drive by.  someone from another state even told me that when people see their co-workers sitting there they tend to stop by at some point.  that person even said they picked up some decent folding chairs at the thrift store for about $3 each.

any one who wants to make a break down bar or table go to a carnival and look at the game stands ask if you can see how they are put together, they use 2x4s,.  common screen door hinges with the middle pin removed and replaced by an R key. this will take 2 sheets of ply wood 2, 8 foot 2x4s and about 6 or 8 hinges w /R keys.  you can haul this in the trunk of your car and set it up in less then 10 minutes.  If I were better at my computer I would do a drawing for you.

tcrouzer


As a customer at a local hot dog cart, I don't think I would like to be seated right next to your cart. A few feet away is fine, but constant banter and crowding from customers coming by after I am seated is not what I want on my lunch hour. I'd like to be able to talk to a companion or just have a little quiet time by myself away from my desk with a chance to be out in the fresh air and have a change of scene.

Just my opinion...

 
As a past vendor would get these people hanging at the counter. Clogged every thing up. When they stood to the side OK.
There is a place in Nashville, weather permiting, throws blankets on the ground for customers, grass, trees and get away from the office for a few.
Me,would think about fold-up picnic tables. If having shade works. Heat of summer, Umbrellas might have to come into the equation.

If I had a cart instead of a store I would buy at least 10 folding chairs the cheaper the better, (some customers might borrow them). If you get 2 or 3 and they're full the customer will be pissed because there isn't enough. If you get 10 and they're full the customer will stand or wait for a chair.
My Ice Cream store is window service but I have outdoor seating for 25 and still have many people standing with no complaints.

I have outside and inside seating for my customers....but none of it is next to the cart.  I like having the customers away from the cart, but close enough that I can find out how they liked the food.  I just have two 2-top tables setup outside and each is about 4 feet from the cart.  No rules about it since I am considered a "Deli", but it seems to work better than having them standing by the cart.

My inside seating is setup further away so that customers can have conversations and no one can really hear them, including me.  Had a lawyer come in on Friday with her clients and said that she liked the place and said that she would bring people there for lunch meetings.  She commented on how the music drowns out the other conversations, but is just low enough that they can speak at the table without yelling. 

So in my opinion, I wouldn't put people right next to the cart unless you want someone constantly talking to you while you sling dogs.

While in NC we had 2 folding chairs set in the shade.  NC rules would not allow "customer seating" (would put us in a different classification and different rules would apply along with higher fees).  So the chairs were for David's "personal use" aas they were set along the side of the cart and not out toward the front.  Stacey & I would stop by most days for lunch and sit there.  Health inspector never said anything about it. 

We didn't set the chairs out in NM... would have been blown away by the wind.

Don't know about here in TX.  Haven't met with any of the health inspectors.  Still dealing with the towns.

It specifically states...No seating..fl

waydeg


I was thinking of a way to be closer and maybe even more interactive with my customers. Has anyone thought of using an outdoor bar type set up that consisted of a 24' to 36" high, narrow table much like a bar with 4-5 stools for seating? I'm think about trying this on one side of the cart and working it like a bartender - make it modular so it sets up and takes down quickly adds onversation - another hot dog or soda - what are your thoughts?

I like the idea it is different. I say go for it if it is allowed in your area. If people do not like siting that close then they will not sit. They will get their food on go. The only problem I can think of is people lingering around too long or you might get a real talkative person distracting you.  If you go the route of putting the table away from the cart you can walk over to the table and ask if things are ok and if they would like anything else. Either way I would give both ideas a shot. Maybe even 2 tables. One by the cart and one away. That's the beauty of this business you can try new ideas without having it set in stone.

No seating does not discourage the "talkative" customer.  We had a guy in NM that told us he was an archangel and had converted the devil to christianity (they always find us), rants would last over an hour sometimes up to 3 hours.  Guy got so bad David had to tell him to leave.  We have Corian tops on our wheel wells  and he would eat at our cart and make a mess all over the place.  On the other hand, we had a nice guy who would eat at our wheel wells and sit on our stepladder (we use one to get in/out of the cart).  Nice guy was there 3 or more times a week.  Folks hanging around too close does tend to put other folks off.  So far, most folks don't hang around.  I wouldn't do tables, but a couple of chairs would probably be okay.