Business & Tech

Business Owner Hot Over Dog Stand Controversy

Tom Frank said he is upset over health board's consideration of banning mobile food vendors.

Since Tommy's Franks owner Tom Frank opened his mobile hot dog stand on March 7, he thought things were going well. He's seen a steady stream of customers and he said he has followed all of the permitting rules of the

But now Frank feels like he's playing catchup after learning that relating to canvassers, solicitors and peddlers to no longer allow mobile food vendors in the borough. Mayor Bob Alviene said at Tuesday's Butler Borough Council meeting that the Board of Health is concerned about childrens' safety with mobile food vendors.

"This is something that I always wanted to do and I get smacked in the face," Frank said Thursday.

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Frank grew up in and is a 1990 graduate. Owning and operating a hot dog stand is something he said he has dreamed about since he was young.

"When you're a little kid and your father brings you for a hot dog, it's something cool," he said.

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Tommy's Franks is parked outside , on Main Street, where it has been since Frank opened. But Frank pointed out that his business is mobile and that he has no affiliation with Trackside. 

Trackside Owner Scott Gabriel agreed and said that having the hot dog stand outside his business is just an example of one business promoting another, but that he receives no financial gain from the business being parked in front of his restaurant. Gabriel said customers who are not patronizing Trackside make special trips to the hot dog stand.

"Little kids' faces glow when they come up here," he said.

Gabriel said he thinks Tommy's Franks has promoted foot traffic in a downtown area that he believes could use a boost.

"He's got so much foot traffic of everybody coming down here that people can actually see the businesses on Main Street," Gabriel said. "When have we ever had this much foot traffic?"

Gabriel said allowing Tommy's Franks and other, similar businesses would help promote the downtown economy, in his opinion.

"If you want to have a downtown, try to help the business owners," he said.

Despite being one of the only visible mobile food vendors in the borough, Frank said he is not considering the actions of the Board of Health to be personal, but he is planning on speaking up at the board's meeting on April 25. Frank said he is not trying to "ruffle any feathers" but that he would simply like to be able to continue doing the business that he loves.


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