We don't typically review hot dogs sold at temporary locations, but this little hot dog stand on wheels has been all over the news lately so I thought we should check it out. Some background from the Channel 13 WOWK-TV website:
For the past year and a half, Veteran Lisa Groves has been manning her hot dog stand from the corner of the Fas Check parking lot. She originally set up shop there temporarily, but Fas Check granted her permission to stay for good. The problem is she's breaking a city ordinance, which states trailers are not allowed to be parked in front yards. And according to police, several people have come forward complaining about the stand and its noisy generator. "It makes me sad that some people don’t want me here. This little connection may not be the greatest looking, but I used my own personal money to renovate this," explained Groves.
You can see the Channel 13 news story video here.
On Monday the Dunbar City Council told Groves that they weren't going to change their zoning ordinance for her and she responded by say that the City could expect a lawsuit.
While WVHotDogs.com is a non-partisan and somewhat apolitical organization, we do believe in truth, justice and the American way of free enterprise. More importantly, we believe in the rights of the citizenry to have a good hot dog and so I made the trip to Dunbar to judge this case on its most important merits - not the legality of Ms. Groves' business, but the quality of her hot dogs.
At only $1.00 each these hot dogs certainly appear on paper to be a good value, and it was easy to decide while I waited to get two hot dogs just in case they were tasty. When the infamous Ms. Groves appeared at the window I nearly had to order my two hot dogs by pantomime since the din of the nearby generator (see complaints from neighbors) made it almost impossible to communicate. I was able at least to hear her tell me that everything included ketchup, which I immediately declined. She took my order and said something else to me, but the noise level made it difficult to know if she was complaining about the City government's oppression or the weather (which had turned a little damp and dreary). I nodded my head in agreement, which seemed to satisfy her.
When my hot dogs were delivered into my hand, they were wrapped in aluminum foil with a handwritten "thank you" note on the outside. I had to carry my order a distance away so I could hear myself think. The weight and haphazard wrapping job made me feel certain that these were going to be good Utilitarian Dogs. Upon unveiling them, however, I found that the term "utilitarian" wasn't so terribly appropriate since these dogs were extremely sloppy and difficult to eat: Not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but "Utilitarian Dogs" are made to be eaten efficiently, and these weren't at all.Even without the ketchup, the chili on the Veteran's Connection hot dogs was red and tomatoey. The slaw was the main reason for the aforementioned sloppiness as it was extremely mayoey. The taste together wasn't bad, but wasn't very good either. I'm going to be generous and give it a 2.5 Weenie score. I am certain that by giving these hot dogs such a poor review that I will be labeled a veteran hater.
A final comment on the legal battle that could soon ensue: A few years ago the City of Morgantown shut down The Hot Dog Barn for essentially the same reason that Dunbar is likely to shut down The Veteran's Connection. The major difference - the only difference that matters as far as WVHotDogs.com is concerned - is that The Hot Dog Barn was a bonafide 5 Weenie HDJ. Five Weenie hot dogs are worth fighting for. The ones they sell at Veteran's Connection are not. Zoning, schmoning, serving a mediocre hot dog with ketchup as a standard option is reason enough for a "cease and desist" order.
The generator is what is causing the irritation, so change it for a diesel or gasoline one that has a Db of 76. That is so quiet, no one will know you have it on.
ReplyDeleteGeo_taylor@comcast.net
I have ate my times there and I have never had a hard time hearing her or her hearing me and the hot dogs are great at least a 4 out of 5
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad that everyone wants to criticizes her ,but no one tries to assist her. I am praying that God will send someone to help her with a generator that is quieter, so everyone will stop this madness. I was told by a employee of Fas Chek and CVS that witness her buying a Veterans 's baby pampers ,and baby supplies. The baby had on a paper towel and a plastic bag on) She also brought them some groceries and filled his almost empty gas tank up, and assisted them in finding affordable housing. She is up in at trailer four days a week and on the rest of the days she is assisting Veterans and putting her self last. God bless Lisa Groves all that you do and all Veterans and Troops. Thanks for letting me tell you all of this. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you called a 2009 Jefferson Awards Winner and Disable Veteran and an great Advocate for Veteran who goes to no ends to assist Veteran "infamous". Last year in frigid weather she jumped into the Kanawha River and saved a suicidal Veteran and he almost drowned her. So she is a very brave person to put his life before hers. The reason the generator is up front due to the business behind her claims that they can hear the generator through the walls of their business. A Dunbar policeman went into the business and walked through the business all the way and even put his ear to the walls he said that he couldn't hear it all. To make that business happy she moved the trailer and generator of over 6 times. Did you know that the manager of that business cussed her and out and used may racial slurs towards her and then went into Fas Chek and continue to doing so? The Health Inspector has been out there 9 tines in year and has never found any violations. Guess who called him? The answer is The City officials and the business behind her. That didn't shut her down and now they are trying to push an Ordinance. She has a mobile health permit and wheels on the trailer so she will never be out of business, but on the road. She even showed me where she went to Honda to ask them to assist her with purchased a quieter generator one and they wouldn't work with her. She wrote CAT,
ReplyDeleteEllen , Oprah, and other famous people trying to get them to assist her too. Also she went all through the winter with a much smaller (5.550 watts) and louder generator and nobody complained, but when she gets a bigger generator (10,000 watts) which she found online at Max Tools which they claimed that it was quieter running generator. Guess what Max Tools lied. Does it sound s quiet too you? Feel free to check them out.
It makes me sad that everyone wants to criticizes her ,but no one tries to assist her. I am praying that God will send someone to help her with a generator that is quieter, so everyone will stop this madness. I was told by a employee of Fas Chek and CVS that witness her buying a Veterans 's baby pampers ,and baby supplies. The baby had on a paper towel and a plastic bag on) She also brought them some groceries and filled his almost empty gas tank up, and assisted them in finding affordable housing. She is up in at trailer four days a week and on the rest of the days she is assisting Veterans and putting her self last. God bless Lisa Groves all that you do and all Veterans and Troops. Thanks for letting me tell you all of this. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteWhen I used the word "infamous" I was using it in a satirical sense: That those who are trying to shut her down would seem to think that she is deserving of the title. I apologize only for the original mispeling, which has now been repaired.
ReplyDeleteI almost died reading your last sentence. That being said I think its crumby that she's been targeted. I can't imagine CVS LOSING business due to a generator and not their prices. Just sayin'
ReplyDelete