This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Culinary no-no #126
Millions of patrons have visited
I use the past tense, “were” because earlier this month, the city shut down Sherpa’s frankfurter franchise. Sherpa had failed to pay his rent on the two stands. One could certainly understand why.
Sherpa’s yearly contract for the south side hot dog stand: $362,201
Sherpa’s yearly contract for the north side hot dog stand: $280,500
Total yearly rent for two hot dog stands: $642,701
Smelling salts, anyone?
How do you think Sherpa felt???
His monthly rent that he neglected to pay forcing his eviction from outside the Met amounted to $53,588 and some change.
Here’s another shocker. Initially, Sherpa actually wanted to pay that exorbitant rent. And he’s not alone. Hot dog vendors, by law in
Location, location, location. Take a look...
Hard to believe but when aristocratic art patrons exit the museum, many head to those hot dog stands for a pedestrian snack. They have little choice. There isn't another store or restaurant in any direction for several blocks. So the coveted stands go to very high bidders, in this case, too high for Sherpa.
I can’t help but think at this point of a storied hot dog aficionado.
Andy Griffith as the Atlanta-based lawyer, Ben Matlock.
The series also starred former Miss Florida Nancy Stafford....
But I digress.
Matlock ate hot dogs in darn near every episode. One program had Matlock traveling to New York to defend a client. He is overjoyed at seeing a street vendor and gleefully orders.
"That'll be $1.75, " Matlock is told.
The lhigh-priced attorney with a Jack Benny reputation is stunned.
"A buck-75?"
Matlock proceeds to lecture the New Yorker that "back home" he can get a hot dog with chili, cheese, onions, ketchup, mustard, relish, and a pickle on the side for $1.75.
The vendor replies that'll cost him $2.25.
To add insult to injury, Matlock can't pay for his lunch because he suddenly realizes he's been pick-pocketed.
Back to the issue at hand.
Sherpa’s monthly rent: $53,558.
That means that if he worked everyday for 8 hours during the month of August, he would have to make $1,727.67 per day.
Let’s say that Sherpa sells $3 hot dogs. He would have to sell 576 hot dogs per day, or 72 hot dogs per hour, or just over one hot dog per minute just to make enough to pay his rent. We’re not even talking supplies and labor.
That’s crazy.
And the hot dogs actually sell for $2 so Sherpa would have to work his buns off (sorry) even more.
One of Sherpa’s workers reportedly said the carts were taking in between $1,000 and $1,500 per day, not nearly enough to cover the $1,727.67 needed to pay the rent. The 51-year old Sherpa is over $310,000 behind in his rent and, quite frankly, has no idea what to do.
The city has seized performance bonds and plans to get the rest out of Sherpa in court. That would be the same city government that sits by and does nothing while vendors bid for the sky at auction for the best spots in town. You can probably figure out what transpires. Some companies scarf up numerous permits, then sell them for even higher prices black market style to operations that are essentially illegal.
There’s got to be a better way.
Sherpa made a bad investment, for sure. But $642,701 annual rent to operate two hot dog stands?
Not even George Steinbrenner would fork out that kind of cash.
CULINARY NO-NO BONUS
Would you believe, bottled water?
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