'Hot Dog Sammy' takes over Queen Street

Hot Dog Sammy’s World Famous Weenies wants to be one of the top dogs when it comes to serving up fast, cheap eats in downtown Sault Ste. Marie this summer.

Owner Samuel Jansen from Paris, Ont. has been relishing the opportunity to live with his father this summer, eager to get his ‘world famous weenies’ out for public consumption on Queen Street East.

“My dad bought this hot dog cart two years ago at the [Habitat For Humanity] ReStore for pretty cheap, so we thought it would be pretty cool to get one out on the streets,” Jansen said. “We wanted to do it last year, but there were just too many barriers to get through, and it’s just super expensive.”

But every dog has its day, and thanks to a grant from Ontario’s Summer Company program, the 16 year-old entrepreneur was able to use the grant money to cover the majority of his materials, supplies, permits and insurance.

Jansen’s first day peddling hot dogs on Queen Street - he’s situated himself between the Wine Barrel and the Sault Ste. Marie Museum - was on Tuesday.

“Yesterday we were really busy and today we are even busier,” said Jansen. “I think word’s getting around on Facebook.”

Jansen hopes to set up Hot Dog Sammy’s World Famous Weenies again next summer.