What do hot dogs and free enterprise have in common? America, where you can have both.
And there’s nothing that screams America more than a hot dog stand, which is what Guillermo Chavez and his two brothers, Mauricio and Emidio, have started as a small business.
April 25 was the first day of business for Santa Maria Hot Dogs, which found itself in Atkinson Park slinging delicious cooked sausages into sliced buns.
In America you either start a business or work for someone else, and Chavez could be an example of how to be your own boss.
When starting a food stand, the Chavez brothers were looking to serve something other than Mexican food. They serve two kinds of hot dogs: traditional steamed and wrapped in bacon.
“I feel like there’s a lot of competition when it comes to tacos and Mexican food trucks,” Chavez said. “I know people love hot dogs.”
Also on the menu: nachos with cheese and jalapeños, potato chips, and cold soft drinks.
Like a food truck, Santa Maria Hot Dogs will be a “mobile thing,” Chavez said. He plans on being present for the downtown farmers’ market at the corner of Broadway and Main streets every Friday. He might even make Atkinson Park a regular stop.
It took Chavez about a month before he was able to sell hot dogs. With a timeline like that, Chavez makes the process look easy. But that’s not always the case.
At 32-years-old, it’s Chavez’s third shingle. Before this, he ran a marketing startup—which he had for two years—and he previously worked with this two brothers on a strawberry-growing venture.
Because Chavez was going to be serving food to the general public, his trailer and cart required inspections and approval from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.
According to Chavez, knowledge is power, patience is a virtue, and, if you don’t succeed at first, try and try again.
“It’s hard but at the same time it’s important to know the steps you need to take to get licenses and permits,” Chavez said. “When you know what you’re doing, it’s a little bit easier.”
There’s also the matter of having enough money to start. Although Chavez said starting a food cart is not as expensive as opening a restaurant, he recommends being prepared to spend more for a startup cost.
And don’t expect the cash to start rolling in immediately. Expect to hustle like never before.
“You need to be prepared for the first few months,” Chavez said, adding that you shouldn’t expect to receive a return on your investment until the following year, or the year after that. “The first few months are tough for everybody. That’s because people are barely starting to get to know you.”
To help with recognition, Chavez recommends using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Starting a business may seem like a daunting endeavor, but Chavez took a chance.
“If you don’t try, you’ll never know,” Chavez said.
Highlights
• Next month, Santa Maria Women’s Network is featuring guest speaker and organizational consultant Jennifer Hooten. She’s held leadership positions at Yale University and Claremont Colleges, and served on a multi-year institutional planning team that resulted in the start-up of Claremont Lincoln University. Hooten is the founder of (Re) Engage Consulting and brings 15 years of experience helping organizations become more effective and more enjoyable places to work. Hooten will speak from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 4 at the Santa Maria Country Club, located at 505 W. Waller Lane. There is a $20 fee for members of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and a $25 fee for non-members. Send an RSVP to April Sargeant at smwnreservation@gmail.com or call 925-2403.
• The city of Lompoc is holding the Health and Resource Senior Expo on Friday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center located at 1120 W. Ocean Ave. At the expo, featured activities include health screenings, fitness testing, exhibits on health and wellness, and the return of the Car Fit Program. For more information, contact the city of Lompoc Recreation Division at 875-8100.
• The 2016 Economic Summit North Santa Barbara County will be held on Friday, May 20, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria located at 3455 Skyway Drive. Guest speakers at the summit include Pacific Coast Business Times Chairman and Editor Henry Dubroff, Sacramento Bee journalist Dan Walters, Santa Maria City Manager Rick Haydon, and Allan Hancock President Kevin Walthers. Tickets are $50 at the door. Call 893-5148 for more information.
Staff Writer David Minsky can be reached at dminsky@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 5, 2016.
