PRINTOn The Job: Hot Dog Vendor
Q&A with Beth Mallory
JARRAD HENDERSON
July 22, 2009 | 12:00 p.m. CST
Beth Mallory has a front-row seat to all the drunken debauchery that spills out of Columbia’s downtown bars. Perched on a stool by the hot dog stand that she runs with her husband, Tim, Mallory hands out hot dogs like a nurse offering a soothing cure for the midnight munchies.
FAST STATS
NAME: Beth Mallory
AGE: 45
AT JOB SINCE:
September, 2008
COMO RESIDENT:
August, 2008
How did you get into the hot dog business?
We used to run a hot dog stand in Florida, but then we sold our cart on eBay, moved back here to be near family and decided to open up another hot dog stand.
Describe a typical night for you.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays we set up out in front of Fieldhouse, but Thursdays to Saturdays we’re in front of Quinton’s. My husband, Tim, and I start setting up around 9 p.m. We sell a few hot dogs, but mostly our busiest time is when the bars start closing.
Why this particular time and spot?
Well, it’s central, and we catch most of the bar crowd. The magic hour is 12:30 a.m. when things just get crazy.
How much do you charge?
Well, the regulars are $3, the jumbos and bratwursts are $4, and we charge $4 for nachos, too. We don’t charge for extras.
What’s the strangest condiment someone’s asked for?
Cream cheese! And more than one person’s asked for it. I think it’s a Northern thing, maybe from Minnesota or Wisconsin. We looked into it, but they don’t sell them in squeeze tubes, and we’d have to keep it constantly chilled, so it didn’t work out.
What’s the largest number of hot dogs you’ve seen one person eat?
Well, there was this one guy who came out of Quinton’s and just gobbled up seven hot dogs, one after another. He even licked his shirt after (laughs)! He’s a regular now.
Have things ever gotten too rowdy?
Well, nothing too bad. One time this guy got angry at Tim and shouted that we were charging too much, and the hot dog was too hot. We were so busy dealing with other customers, too. Luckily, some other guys took him away. The kids help a lot because they like us.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen a drunk person do?
Oh my, I’ve seen so many girls fall, and their dresses go up, and they don’t have any underwear on! And in the winter it’s quite funny to see girls in little fancy dresses but no coat. I always think “What would your mother say?” There was also this one drunk guy who ate a dollar out of our tip jar.
Do you do anything else besides running a hot dog stand?
Well, during the school year I am a lunch lady at Rock Bridge High School. Lunch lady by day, hot dog lady by night (laughs)!
How do you like your hot dog?
I like my hot dog with cheese and ketchup.
Finish this sentence: Drunk people always …
Fall down that last step at Quinton’s, always!
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