It is a new type of business Humboldt has never seen before.
During the March 25 regular Humboldt City Council meeting, Council passed Bylaw 06/2013, to include provisions for mobile food vendors in the Business Licensing Bylaw.
The request for mobile food vendors to be included came from Kevin Sweeney, who has owned and operated two hotdog carts in communities in which he has lived.
"It came about sort of as a fluke a while back," explained Sweeney. "I had to leave the Yukon and go back to Ontario. My father had cancer, so I had to come back to help my mother close up the big house and stuff."
He explained since he couldn't get a regular job, as he was helping his parents at odd hours, he decided to try something different.
"I picked up a hotdog cart and thought I could put some money in my pocket and go into flea markets in spring and harvest fairs - things like that," said Sweeney. "It just kind of snowballed. One turned to two to a full-time (job) running my own business."
Although he is excited to try his hand at the business in his new community of Humboldt, he is unsure of how it will be received.
"It is an untested market," said Sweeney. "It is a nice little business but no one here has had one like it. We'll see how it goes. I'm not saying I'll reach for the stars but hopefully it will hit a few places."
He believes the hotdog cart will help fill some of the needs in the community.
"I do see a venue for it here, in the community and surrounding communities," said Sweeney.
He hopes to have his two carts - named Sweeney's Weenies and The Lunch Box - up and running this summer.
"I'd like to get one in a high traffic area to get as many customers as possible," said Sweeney, adding he will be talking to the owners of Canadian Tire, Sobeys and the Humboldt Mall about setting up in their parking lots.
Another option he has considered is putting a cart on Main Street, to cater to business people. Instead of hotdogs, Sweeney explained he may try a healthy option, such as chicken caesar wraps.
Sweeney also explained since he understands there is a lot of paper waste with a mobile food vendor, he wants to be as green as possible.
"I will use products that are biodegradable," said Sweeney. "It does generate a lot of paper waste, so I am going to stay away from using wax coated."
And to give it a local flavour, Sweeney hopes to put out a call to the local bakeries and butchers to create his own personal buns and sausage.
"I would like to buy local," said Sweeney. "If I'm ordering buns or rolls from you, I want it to be strictly for my cart."
