Politicians No Longer the Only Weenies in Town

The "Waterfront Weenies" hot dog cart on Alexandria's waterfront Photo Courtesy of Waterfront Weenies

In 1870, on Coney Island in New York, a German immigrant named Charles Feltman started selling wieners wrapped in rolls.  
 
Others started doing the same at food stalls at such events as the World's Fair, and by 1900 the phrase “hot dog” was coined in public parlance.  A hundred years and millions of dogs later, the hot dog has established itself as a quintessentially American food.  
 
It is only fitting, then, that Alexandria’s Waterfront recently became home to Waterfront Weenies, the brainchild of Alexandria resident Hunter McIntosh.  
 
On a languid September day, McIntosh explained his inspiration to Local Kicks.
 
“I read read an article in the Wall Street Journal about six months ago about how people were returning to vending carts for their lunches as a cheap alternative in a down economy.  Even in a recession hot dogs are popular.  They are a recession-proof food.  Everybody has strong associations with eating hot dogs, whether it be a Chicago style dog or a New York City dirty water dog.  Having lived in Alexandria for 10 years and walking on the waterfront with my dog,  I always thought a food cart would be a good idea.  It took almost five months to get all the permits.  Since I have a full time job, I could afford to wait.”
 
McIntosh peddles his dogs on Saturdays on the waterfront and has an agreement with the Potomac Riverboat Company to sell them aboard the Nationals Park water taxi which sails on game days.  
 
"This business is unique in that the start up costs are relatively minor and you see an almost instant profit," McIntosh said.  
 
The cart itself cost nearly $5,000, plus another $1,000 in permits from the City of Alexandria.  "And I sell out every weekend within about three or four hours,”  he added  
McIntosh, who is the vice president of a conservation oriented eco-cruise line based in Alaska explained why he opened Waterfront Weenies.
 
“We have a newborn at home and wanted extra income.  I can do this and keep my full time job, and still be home to play with the baby and tuck her in at bedtime.”
 
His dogs are 100 percent beef Subrett dogs, the same that used in New York City dog carts, continued McIntosh.  “But I am a lot cleaner.”  
 
On the menu at Waterfront Weenies is the Chicago Dog, the Hawaiian, the Texas Chili dog, the German Shepard dog and the Mutt, which is the customer’s choice of toppings.  Each dog is custom dressed for each customer.  $2.50 gets you a dog, and $4 includes a drink.  McIntosh uses fresh ingredients and the buns are delivered weekly by Pepperidge Farm.
 
McIntosh began to sell dogs in the first weekend of July.  He will continue on the waterfront until mother nature decides it’s too cold.  McIntosh has been asked to vend his dogs during First Night Aleandria, during the Dec. 5th Parade of Lights on the river and during the Scottish Walk.  The Torpedo Factory is looking into having an indoor cart in the art center’s lobby.
 
A marketing executive, McIntosh has a way with slogans.  
 
“I am planing to sell a t-shirt that says ‘Politicians aren’t the only weenies in town.’”  
 
No word yet on whether or not any politicians will partake of a Waterfront Weenie during campaign season.