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Item: Ironman didn’t relish hot dog seller/Tom Hasslinger, CDA Press
More Info: Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene, the annual triathlon which brings thousands of people into Lake City every summer, was one of the complainers against the hot dog stand owner whose contract was terminated by the city this year, the Coeur d’Alene Parks Department said. Gordon Andrea operated his concession stand at Independence Point for more than 20 years, but a number of complaints from members of the community — and Ironman — were instrumental in the termination of his contract with the city, the department said.
Question: Do you miss the vendors that used to sell hot dogs, candy corn, snow cones and a number of other treats in City Park during the summers years ago?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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KeithErickson on February 05 at 8:47 a.m.
Unrelated to your question but regarding this vendor and the Press story. My gawd, have any of you HOBers ever dealt with this guy before? He is an absolute jerk. I’ve had run-ins with him in the past, both as a former reporter and personally. His confrontational attitude and intimidation tactics are beyond belief … and I’ve heard from many who share my opinion. Good riddance.
Kage_Mann on February 05 at 8:55 a.m.
Let me get this straight Keith,for 20 years he intimidated and confronted people and was a jerk.For 20 years.It’s hard to believe.How was he able to do this for that long?Sounds more like the behavior of the CDA city council;maybe we ought to fire them.
Joker on February 05 at 9:02 a.m.
how can one hot guy cause so much heartburn?
KeithErickson on February 05 at 9:06 a.m.
KM, who said anything about 20 years? I’m merely speaking from personal experience and experiences I’ve heard from others. What behavior of the CC? Didn’t he (allegedly) violate his contract? What’s so hard to believe about a guy having a piss-poor attitude? Gordie a friend of yours?
OrangeTV on February 05 at 9:14 a.m.
Shame. It’s folks like the cranky hot dog guy that give a town it’s texture and personality,but those in charge apparently would rather create a bland, squeaky-clean image for the Ironman folks and other money shifters.
Anyway, since when does the city approve or disapprove business licenses based on the temperament of the owner? Is that legal? I don’t really care if he’s a jerk as long as he serves a good dog. Imagine if a place like Chicago decided to not renew the contracts of all it’s famous hot dog carts because the owners were a little grouchy. There wouldn’t be any left.
Kage_Mann on February 05 at 9:17 a.m.
KE,the article says;he operated his concession stand at Independence Point for more than 20 years.I’m asking, how was this possible if his behavior was that bad for 20 years? No,
I’m not a friend of his,but I hate to see these little Mom and Pop
outfits go out of business and bigger businesses take over.
toadman on February 05 at 9:19 a.m.
I miss hot dog vendors, even if there was one who could have been called the “hot dog nazi.”
NO BRAT FOR YOU!!! GO TO END OF LINE!
Frankly, I’d like to see more vendors of the New York Hot Dog variety, and others such as Candy Corn, Funnel Cake, etc.. etc.. on the city beach there. It’d sure satisfy the munchies, man.
Lynne on February 05 at 9:30 a.m.
On a similar note, I stopped at Teriyaki Tiki yesterday for my semi-weekly teriyaki chicken and rice fix and she’s all boarded up and some sort of permit violation was plastered on the building. Didn’t have my glasses on, so I couldn’t read it. But I know that little gal jumped through every hoop they told her too to get that place open and the kitchen is always so clean you could eat off the floors.
Your tax dollars at work. Shut down the little guy trying to eke out a living.
keithincda on February 05 at 9:43 a.m.
OTV, read the article. According to it there was a 3rd party involved in the lease contract which was violation of the agreement. Probably a technicality, but a violation nonetheless that allowed them to void the contract.
OrangeTV on February 05 at 9:44 a.m.
Ugh! bad news, indeed. Aggy poured her heart and soul into that little Tiki Teriyaki hut and it was probably something lame-o like the wrong size sink knob that caused them to issue a “violation.” Had to be something petty, because like Lynne said above, I know Aggy really worked hard to make sure everything was up to code and clean as possible. Isn’t the violation a matter of public info? Who do I call to find out the story? I’ll probably have to ask Aggy herself. I really hope she’s able to overcome whatever it is because that place is the bomb diggity and I’m fully hooked.
Lynne on February 05 at 9:55 a.m.
OTV her number is 676-0123 if you need it. I’d like to get to the bottom of this and get her opened back up ASAP too. She doesn’t know me from Adam, but I’ve passed out hundreds of her menus and posted raves on every board/blog I go to in an effort to keep her busy and open.
idawa on February 05 at 11:25 a.m.
when I first read this question my gut reaction was to say heck yeah…it was part of summer and part of the beach vibe. Then, upon further reflection, I can’t say that I ever used one of the vendors (except, perhaps, for 1 or 2 snow cones). I hardly ever went to the city beach, we would go to Sanders or NIC or later, after the freeway moved, to Higgens Point or those little beaches off old I-90, or we would simply use a boat. So, the city beach is for tourists and so are the vendors, so who cares - I’m sure the city will figure out something, they know where their bread is buttered.
Escapee on February 05 at 9:31 p.m.
Many years ago…back in the ‘80s, I’d have lunch at “the vendors” as much as I could. The best lunch location in town, in the City Park…my favorite vendor was a guy named Cecil, who, along with his wife, operated a shiny-steel-lined hotdog/German sausage stand…he sold the World’s Best German Sausage, heaping with Sauerkraut. MMMmmmm….