Hot Dog University hit the front and back pages of the Kenosha News this morning. We're enrolling students as I write this.
http://olive.kenoshanews.net/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=S0VOLzIwMDYvMDYvMDYjUGMwMDExNA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom Here's the entire story called "Education in a Bun."
Hot diggity dog! Retired teacher opens university for weiner fans, job hopefuls. By Deneen Smith
Mark Reitman believes every Chicago guy shares a dream, one he hopes jumps the boundaries of the Windy City. Reitman, a Chicago guy who came north to work in the Kenosha Unified School District many years ago, believes that "every Chicago boy's dream is to own his own hot dog stand."The west side native pursued that dream on his own several years ago and now hopes to share his knowledge with others: The secrets of becoming a successful Hot Dog Guy.
To that end, he is opening Hot Dog University. Hot Dog U-opening this weekend for two-day classes at the Radisson Hotel in Pleasant Prairie-will combine the art of serving up a Chicago style dog with the science of creating a successful business.
Reitman believes the school will meld his teaching skills with his business savvy operating a profitable mobile food service business, better known as a hot dog cart.
"This can be a real lucrative business if you know what you're doing, Reitman said." Since I've been an educator my whole life, this seemed like the natural thing to do."
Reitman said he had long dreamed of opening his own hot dog stand, but it took some time to convince his wife, Nina Jaras, a fellow Unified school counselor. Three years ago, the couple took the plunge, opening The Grateful Dog.
They worked large events like the Tall Ships Festival in Kenosha and Harley Fest at Uke's. For three years, they worked on weekends at the Prime Outlets Mall in Pleasant Prairie, selling dogs and sodas to shoppers.
Soon, Reitman said, he was making more money on the weekends selling dogs than he was during the week as a school counselor "with a master's plus 30."
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Jaras and now-retired Reitman were working their stand outside Lowe's on Green Bay Road in Kenosha.
They sold hot dogs and Polish from a casket sized, custom-made, stainless steel cart, and pop from industrial looking coolers under the shade of two Vienna Beef umbrellas, where condiments laid out on a table next to the cart. As they dished out dogs, Reitman kept up a steady stream of chat with the customers, including bantering in Spainsh with a few.
When a kid ordered a hot dog and then realized he didn't have any money, the couple handed over the food anyway, and threw in a can of pop. "You're welcome, but don't send your friends, unless they have cash" Reitman told him. "Half of this is schmoozing with people and I'm a schmoozer," Reitman said between making sales. "But the other half is serious."
Reitman and Jaras said they have met plenty of people who have gone into the hot dog business, and plenty of them have quickly gone under because they haven't done their homework. "It's really, really easy to fail at this, Reitman said." "It's the little things that people don't think of," Jaras added.
Some of the keys to success, they say, are researching local rules and regulations for mobile food operations before ordering equipment, setting up deals with suppliers and locations, cart management and food preparation. And of course, location, location, location. "This isn't luck," Reitman said outside Lowe's, gesturing to his steady stream of customers. "There's a science behind this."
At Hot Dog University-or HDU, as Reitman like to call it-students will spend one day working on hot dog theory, or the business behind running a mobile vending business. The second day will focus on "behind-the-cart" culinary training.
Reitman and his wife think it will take time for Hot Dog University to build a reputation, but have already signed up several students for their first class Friday and Saturday. They plan to run the program twice a month, and perhaps later expand to other cities.
The cost of the two day class is $300. To find students, Reitman and Jaras are reaching out to hot dog aficionados on Web sites like Roadfood.com, which has it's own "hot dog, bratwurst, and sausage forum." One forum contributor was skeptical. "Is this serious or in JEST?" Others were thrilled with the idea of a school devoted to their favorite foodstuff. "HDU! What a great idea!! After dreaming of owning a hot dog stand/hot dog cart for several years, I'm finally taking my first steps to making my dreams come true. I would LOVE to attend HDU!" gushed another poster.
Jaras admitted the name of the school was a bit goofy, but she's confident it will catch on. "It's something new and we're going to give it a shot," she said.
"It's a business school," Reitman said. "It's not about teaching people how to cook hot dogs. It's all about business. The bottom line is people need to understand the concept to be successful."
CSD
Born in Chicago
Escaped to Wisconsin
Selling Vienna Beef hot dogs & Polish
Business Instructor
www.hotdogu.com
