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Local hot dog cart owner
Ghett-oh Hot Dogs entrepreneur Sandra Ray starts work when the city's stoplights start flashing yellow and the businesses on Center Street are shuttered, except for the bars.
The hours are far from ideal, but her business fills a niche. Pocatello bar patrons have few dining options after last call but to buy from her. And Ray takes great pride in turning hot dogs into a delicacy for drunks. For four years, she's worked to make her hot dog cart a must-stop after a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night out. ''Hot dogs are my passion,'' Ray said. ''I eat them all year round.''
Ray got started in the hot dog business after placing an online order with a Florida business called All American Hot Dog Cart. She staffs the cart from about 11 p.m. until after the bars close in the parking lot of Center Street Bar and Grill on Thursdays through Saturdays with help from her boyfriend, Matt Dodson.
''He's actually really good at it, too. Somebody walked up to me about two weeks ago and said, 'You're not the hot dog man,' and they almost walked away from me,'' Ray said. Ray, who has four children still living at home and a son who is living on his own, also holds jobs as a bartender at Center Street Bar and Grill, 542 E. Center St., and First National Bar, 232 W. Center St.
Her boss at Center Street, Brian, helps with her Ghett-oh Dogs business by allowing her to piggyback on his food orders. She simmers her franks in beer and serves them with a onions, garlic and jalapenos sautéed in olive oil. She sells all-beef hot dogs, cheddarworsts, polish sausages and jalapeno dogs. Large dogs are $3. Small ones are $2.
''When they walk out of that bar and they see hot dogs, they say, 'Oh my God! There's a hot dog cart in Pocatello finally,'' Ray said. ''People will be driving down the road and they'll scream out, 'Ghetto-oh Dogs!''' The business name was born when Ray rehabilitated a vacant home in McCammon, which was later destroyed by fire, and earned the nickname Ghett-oh Woman from friends.
In the years since she started, Ray has expanded to catering celebrations and community events. Her cart has staffed concerts, the POW*MIA Awareness Rodeo and the first and last Revive@Five concerts of the year.
She'd like to start vending outside of the Bannock County Courthouse, but getting a permit has been difficult. ''I'm the only hot dog vendor here who really does this,'' Ray said. ''They're afraid if they let me (sell at the courthouse) they're going to open a Pandora's box. I said, 'There's nobody else.'''
To book Ghett-oh Dogs for a catering event, call 604-3145. Let the questions begin:
ISJ: What's your favorite food? Ray: Crab legs. ISJ: If you could have dinner with one famous person, who would it be? Ray: Stephen Stills. ISJ: Who inspires you most? Ray: My children. ISJ: Who are your top three dream dinner partners? Ray: My three sisters all together. ISJ: If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money? Ray: Get out of debt and help my family out. ISJ: What was the last good book you read? Ray: ''Lifeguard'' by James Patterson. Article RatingReader CommentsSubmit a CommentCommenting RulesWe encourage your feedback and dialog. All comments are subject to deletion by our Web staff.
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