It’s the kind of thing you’d see along New York City streets — hot dog stands with colorful umbrellas blowing gently in the wind and customers lined up to grab a tasty hot dog or a sausage dog.
But this isn’t New York City, this is Emporia and the stand is located during lunch hours at 12th Avenue and Merchant Street. The hot dog stand, “Dog Gone Brothers,” is run by Terry Anderson of Emporia and Chris Boylen of Olpe. The stand itself came from New York City.
The stand offers a metropolitan menu of hot dogs and sausages from Fanestil Meats, chips, root beer from Chicago, chili from Kansas City and, starting this week, nachos. There are also all the fixings from pickle relish to cheese and jalapenos. It takes about 15 minutes to set up and get everything out and another five minutes to get the dogs ready.
“It doesn’t take long,” Anderson said. “It’s all steamed.”
“It’s just something you can’t get around here,” Anderson said of the chili and the root beer.
Anderson said a lot of their stuff is local too.
“Fanestil offers one of the best dogs there are, and it’s good business for Emporia,” he said. “We use a lot of stuff from Evco too.”
Anderson said the best part of having the hot dog stand is the people.
“I’m a people person,” Anderson said. “I like just being out here and talking to people as they pass by.”
Anderson said he gets a lot of business as evidenced by the steady stream of people that surrounded the stand on Monday afternoon. Joanice McNeal, who is from Louisiana and is staying in Emporia, was at the hot dog stand Monday.
“This is good,” she said as she gripped her hot dog.
Deloris Johnson, of Emporia, said she loves the food.
“I love it,” Johnson said. Johnson added that she fell in love with hot dog stands in Pittsburgh.
“I’ve been an addict ever since. When we first saw them (Dog Gone Brothers) I thought ‘We gotta go.’”
Lorene Booth, a student at Emporia State University, enjoyed her hot dog.
“One of my friends stopped by and said it was scrumpdelicious,” Booth said, with a smile as she held her dog.
The stand is open on the weekends from about 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. to catch the bar crowds.
“You know when people get out of the bar they’re pretty hungry,” Anderson said, with a grin. “It also helps out and people don’t drink and drive so much.”
Anderson and Boylen plan to open more stands in Manhattan and one in Olathe in March.
For now, they are open in Emporia. They do cater for special events. To contact either Anderson or Boylen, call 344-1211 or 344-1169.
djdiablo (anonymous) says...
I've tried the dawgs, very good! Glad to see this as another eating option in Emporia...the problem that we have is knowing where the stand will be on any given day...
November 14, 2006 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kst8wct (anonymous) says...
Way to go! I'm coming over for my Chicago style dog soon. Too bad you don't use Vienna beef!
November 14, 2006 at 9:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MerleCrimbatt (anonymous) says...
Hort dog, HOT DOOG, Heat Dish?! Nevermind that stuff man, there’s a new sheriff in town.
Hello again everyone – this is Merle (“The Marlin”) Crimbatt. I have opened up a foodstand which offers a (competitive) alternative to hot dogs. It’s called “Snoots-4-less,” or “The Marlin’s Great Owl-n-Keep” and unlike the other guy’s, mine has musical syrup and bubbles. You’ve got to see it and taste it/them, but you guys (all of you) won’t be disappointed. Look for the barrels and flags on 12th, and you’ll find The Marlin.
November 15, 2006 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )