NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — How do some New York City food vendors get the prime locations? One hot dog cart owner tells us, sometimes you have to sleep on it.
Dan Rossi, 71, is known as the "Hot Dog King of NYC" and has had his hot dog cart outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street for years – serving hundreds of locals and tourists every day.
The spot is coveted among food vendors – who get their locations on city sidewalks on a first-come, first-served basis – but Rossi always seemed to get his cart set up before anyone else.
So, what’s his secret?
“I sleep here every night,” he told WCBS 880. “And I’ve been doing it for the last eight years.”
Rossi tells WCBS 880 that he used to sleep in his hot dog cart for seven years, until police told him he couldn’t.
Then two years ago, he moved to sleeping in his truck, parked directly next to the food cart – which is okay by NYPD standards.
“The only rule is that [the hot dog cart] can’t be left unattended. And me being here, there’s nothing unattended.”
And Rossi seems to know the ins and outs of food cart service in New York City better than anyone.
“40 years ago, I started… and about 10 years later, I was the largest vendor in the history of New York City,” he said. “I had 499 carts everywhere.”
He said during his time working in the food service industry, he also exposed how disabled veterans, like himself, were being cheated by some politicians – and claims they changed the rules on him so that no one could have more than one food cart permit.
“I lost everything I owned,” he said. “They took my permits.”
Now, his family technically only owns two food carts. One is operated by Rossi and the other is operated by his daughter, Elizabeth – who is also a disabled veteran.
The two have their carts set up directly next to one another thanks to Rossi’s dedication. But, Elizabeth told WCBS 880 the stress of keeping their vending location has taken a toll on everyone.
“I hate it. I really do. It’s a big strain for the family,” she said. “It’s stressful that we just can’t have the location, and then we wouldn’t have to be worried about him staying out here overnight.”
But those aren’t the rules. So, Rossi said he has to stay.
He said on the best days he can make $2,000 at the location – but noted that there are plenty of bad days, especially in the winter months.
“If I was to walk away right now and have these clowns take this location – then what did I do? What did I do this for? So, I got to tough it out,” Rossi said.