Hot Dog Cart Location - Home Depot ?

Hello All,

I am very serious about starting a hot dog cart operation in Central NJ. I think the Home Depot would be a great spot. Does anyone have any information about how to setup outside a Home Deot ? Also, does anyone know approx how many sales I could expect? I know it varies, but was wondering if anyone had a "ballpark" number.
Thank you all for your time.

John

John did you get my reply ??

Guess not, Heres the Info In Phillipsburg NJ Home Depot has a PA co.Selling hotdogs in a Glass enclosed leanto in the front entrance area, Bettween the exit & entrance doors. Nice Business In the same parking lot thers also Mcdonalds but its approx 500 feet away so people who are shopping in home depot or shoprite who are next door stop in for a couple of dogs , and ther ok grilled on rollers.I suggest you stop there and ask the questions they have no problem giving out the owners name and address. I think its each store Manager that has a say in Getting involved with a food co.Ans also local laws Good luck the rent is probably High

Jules,

Thanks alot for the info. I tried to call the store manager, and got the phone number for the district office, and haven't gotten a call back. Thanks again.

John

There were a few HD's and Lowe's around ATL with carts and hot dog stands, but seem to have vanished. It must be a regional or local thing. A friend who is in the hot dog cart business says that some local regs. prevented him from locating in some areas.

I have noticed that Home Depot tends to have hot dog stands. For some reason, I had never thought the service being preformed by a independant retailer but that makes sense. I do not see them in the winter and I seldom go during the week but when I am there on weekends, they are there and appear to be doing a brisk business selling them dogs, chips and drinks.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

The LOwe's here in Jackson, TN. has a hot dog vendor selling his product most of the year. He started off selling a quality type dog but had to convert to the mushy ones when the southerner's would not buy anything but the cheap variety. He now seems to do a brisk business.

No dogs at the Hd's here in Texas. I wish there were, I'd go more often! Especially if they were not the mussy ones.
Joe

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10190&SearchTerms=hot,dog,home,depot

I ran a search, and there is a thread started, with many posts that can possibly help you.....there is many more also..just use the search feature..
Tara
Good Luck...

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

I have noticed that Home Depot tends to have hot dog stands. For some reason, I had never thought the service being preformed by a independant retailer but that makes sense. I do not see them in the winter and I seldom go during the week but when I am there on weekends, they are there and appear to be doing a brisk business selling them dogs, chips and drinks.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

The hot dog guy at the Home Depot in my neck of the woods (3 miles away), used to be a nice S.S. stand in cart. Today, the guy that runs the place has a wooden shack built out of plywood thats been whitewashed.. Then for his 'indoor dining' area, it's in like a small greenhouse.. Personally I like it! Atleast he used materials from HD to build his.. Even if it is a little shabby looking..

Here's some feedback that might be helpful, from a guy who sometimes buys hot dogs from a stand at Home Depot.

(This will download a .wmv file; it's NOT a virus.)

http://home.austin.rr.com/bushie/LarryatHomeDepot.wmv

Bushie, I get nothing but errors trying to click on that link...


Never mind, I just downloaded from the link vs. launching it... LOL...

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Here's some feedback that might be helpful, from a guy who sometimes buys hot dogs from a stand at Home Depot.

(This will download a .wmv file; it's NOT a virus.)

http://home.austin.rr.com/bushie/LarryatHomeDepot.wmv

TOOOOOOOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Here's some feedback that might be helpful, from a guy who sometimes buys hot dogs from a stand at Home Depot.

(This will download a .wmv file; it's NOT a virus.)

http://home.austin.rr.com/bushie/LarryatHomeDepot.wmv

DON'T CLICK IT!! IT IS!!A VIRUS. I JUST SPENT THE LAST HALF HOUR FIXING MY COMPUTER!!

fastfood, I didn't have a problem you got to get new software. Chow Jim

I had absolutly no trouble with the WMV file either.

quote:

Originally posted by fastfood

DON'T CLICK IT!! IT IS!!A VIRUS. I JUST SPENT THE LAST HALF HOUR FIXING MY COMPUTER!!

Bull$&*t.

That Clip was funny. FYI (and way off topic) - If there is ever any question about a file, I save the file, then I virus scan that particular file. That file had no virus.

Thanks all for your comments.

There seems to be a Home depot and Lowes every couple miles around here. They all have hotdog vendors usually in enclosed trailer type stands. One HD has a McD's inside the store with a walkup window outfront AND a hotdog trailer!

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Here's some feedback that might be helpful, from a guy who sometimes buys hot dogs from a stand at Home Depot.

(This will download a .wmv file; it's NOT a virus.)

http://home.austin.rr.com/bushie/LarryatHomeDepot.wmv

Hilarious!

quote:

Originally posted by fastfood

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Here's some feedback that might be helpful, from a guy who sometimes buys hot dogs from a stand at Home Depot.

(This will download a .wmv file; it's NOT a virus.)

http://home.austin.rr.com/bushie/LarryatHomeDepot.wmv

DON'T CLICK IT!! IT IS!!A VIRUS. I JUST SPENT THE LAST HALF HOUR FIXING MY COMPUTER!!

R U nuts?

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Here's some feedback that might be helpful, from a guy who sometimes buys hot dogs from a stand at Home Depot.

(This will download a .wmv file; it's NOT a virus.)

http://home.austin.rr.com/bushie/LarryatHomeDepot.wmv

That guy is funny. I can't remember his name, but I've seen him several times.

Larry the Cable Guy

quote:

Originally posted by fastfood

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Here's some feedback that might be helpful, from a guy who sometimes buys hot dogs from a stand at Home Depot.

(This will download a .wmv file; it's NOT a virus.)

http://home.austin.rr.com/bushie/LarryatHomeDepot.wmv

DON'T CLICK IT!! IT IS!!A VIRUS. I JUST SPENT THE LAST HALF HOUR FIXING MY COMPUTER!!

THat is no virus.. I have a state of the art pc, with many safeguards here..
That is a funny video....

quote:

Originally posted by PapaJoe8

No dogs at the Hd's here in Texas. I wish there were, I'd go more often! Especially if they were not the mussy ones.
Joe

Both Home Depot and Lowe's in Southlake, Texas had Hot Dog Stands by the exits when I left last September.

I stand corrected Tommy. I guess there are just none at the ones I have been to around and east of Dallas. Anyone know of any dog stands in my area. I'd drive aways for a good dog! :~)
Joe

Home Depot stores here in Long Island NY originally ALL had Nathan's franchise counters IN their stores. These counters had walk up service in the store, and a walk up window outside the store. Home Depot ended the relationship about two years ago, citing the need for all available space for retailing their own products. Since then, several Home Depots, and the two Lowes stores here have added those outside glass enclosed hot dog/sausage stands, while several others have allowed hot dog trucks to set up in their parking lots. The store in Medford NY has had the same truck in the parking lot since they opened several years ago.
When I was still living with my family, we often stopped at the Nathan's in HD while we were at that shopping center. As a "guy", I do occasionally hit the dog trucks on my way out of the stores. In my opinion, they're decent locations that draw a lot of tradesmen and guys who aren't afraid to grab a dog or three for lunch.

Thanks Paul, I feel the same way. I know where I use to live, every time I stopped at the home depot, I always grabbed a dog. I think it is a great location. Now, I just need to get permision from Home Depot....Wish me luck.

John

quote:

Originally posted by john_in_jersey

.....Now, I just need to get permision from Home Depot....Wish me luck.

John

This is the part of your plan that I've wondered about all along. I mean, why in the world would Home Depot give you permission? It seems they would have nothing to gain (unless you plan to kickback some cash) and a lot to lose. I do wish you good luck, but won't be surprised if it's a no-go. pb

I have seen hot dog vendors outside Home Depot, and they seem to do great business. As some have said in previous posts, they have even built "little hot dog buildings" outside.

Home Depot might collect a little rent, but where else can a hot dog cart go, that will get the foot traffic generated like a home depot?

As for insurance, isn't it a good idea to have it anyway?

You can't run a business like you did when you were a kid running a lemonade stand.

Its definatly a win-win for home depot. They collect a little rent, and possibly get a couple of more customers.