The accidental hot dog cart king

Yes, he's the kosher deli guy. But he also gets hot dog vendors rolling.

By CHRISTINA REXRODE
Published December 17, 2006

Ever since he moved to St. Petersburg 26 years ago, Joel Goetz has run Jo-El's, a kosher grocery and deli on 23rd Avenue N.

That's where the Bronx native slices up pastrami and corned beef, and dishes out Israeli salad and hummus to loyal customers, many of whom he's watched grow up or grow old.

Then, 12 or so years ago - he's not sure when, exactly - he took on a side business selling hot dog carts.

Maybe some people think it's an odd juxtaposition, but Goetz doesn't.

After all, he loves kosher hot dogs. He loves hot dog carts even more, ever since an employee mentioned how he'd sold those puppies in a previous job.

"Like a duck takes to water," Goetz says, "I took to the hot dog cart."

The hot dog carts reminded him of RVs, which he used to sell.

"I know it's a stretch," he says, "but that's how it affected me." He liked how the carts could be customized - not with stereos or fancy seats, but shelves or friers.

On his Web site, www.american dreamhotdogcarts.com, he sells several models, ranging from an economy cart for $999 - "a great inexpensive option to test the waters," the site says - to a deluxe cart for $8,999, which is big enough for two people to stand inside; it comes with a grill and steamer.

Some buyers want to embark on new careers selling hot dogs. Others just want something to keep in the back yard for the grandkids to enjoy.

While Jo-El's where the employees include Goetz's wife and daughter keeps him keenly in touch with the neighborhood, the weiners introduce him to people all over the world. "I get calls in the middle of the night," Goetz says, "from Norway, Russia."

Goetz likes his hot dogs "conventional, with sauerkraut and mustard, maybe a little relish." He's skeptical of any other preference, but glad that he's helping people the world over enjoy the dogs, whether they have chili or cheese, kosher or not.

He doesn't judge people for what they eat, he said. "We have enough strife in the world."

Christina Rexrode can be reached at (727)893-8318 or crexrode@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 17, 2006, 10:15:50]