I love hot dogs—eating them, selling them, and talking about 15
them. And working in the hot dog trade for over a third of a
century has developed and enhanced strong emotions for the
business and has helped build character and integrity along the
way. I’ve nurtured a love for the product, the people, and their
individual stories and a sense of gratification for a career in the
food industry. It is not instant gratification (like I tell folks on my
voice message) that people are not getting when I’m unavailable
to take their call, but that of awareness and accomplishment
that has aged and settled in over time. For me, this gratification
has come from time spent building business and personal relationships
with many of the people that make hot dogs happen.
I have come to appreciate the hard work that these hot dog
stand operators have endured in creating and perpetuating
their businesses and the bond that has been developed with
their own customers. I am also in awe of how they have made
the past so vivid and colorful for so many of their patrons over
time. Many people remember their personal favorite hot dog
stand with great sentimentality. The memory is so strong
that just the thought of those places can conjure up many
sensations of good times, fun food, and an overall comforting
feeling. Most often, when I am introduced to someone at a party
or gathering, and I indicate that I work for Vienna Beef, a smile
comes across that person’s face from ear to ear. It is also
usually accompanied by an enthusiastic response like “I’ve
always wanted to run my own hot dog stand…,” or more often,
“my favorite hot dog stand growing up was…”
Snippet from Bob's introduction.