11/01/2020
All good things must come to an end, and so, as of today, I announce that I have sold the hot dog business. It has been a great run, it has changed my life, and I have many, many fond memories.
When I started Rapid Ricks Jersey Dogs in 2005, I was in the midst of some very hard times. I was broke and had little idea where my life would take me. After spending the better part of a day looking for a good hot dog, a friend at work floated the idea that I should buy a hot dog cart and launch a hot dog business. I had to pick up every extra shift I could and work extra hours at multiple jobs to scrape up the money to launch.
I spent the better part of a year learning everything I could about hot dogs, about the business, about health department regulations, and about the local market. I really needed $4,000 to launch the business, but never could come up with that much, so i did it with $3,000. After ordered and paid for the hot dog cart, it appeared for several weeks that the manufacturer I ordered it from was going to keep my money and not deliver the cart. He did this to a bunch of people, but after an empassioned plea from me, I got mine, right before he went bankrupt.
The business was always supposed to be an extra money thing I did on the side, but within a few months things exploded. I had gigs and jobs everywhere, and thanks to a lot of generous coverage from WBKO Television and The Bowling Green Daily News, I immediately got in on some major events. I am eternally thankful for their generous reporting about my business. It may be a long time ago, but I don't forget.
My first job ever, and the last time I set up, were both at the same place, Lost River Cave. I am super thankful that the director, Rho Lansden, let me do business there for so long. Thank you.
I am also thankful and appreciative of a person who I will not name, because he would not want me to, who let me be associated with his bar on the square for so many years. My best, most fun, most lucrative times ever were all at that place. It was awesome, and also fun as hell.
I have so many other people, groups, organizations and business owners to thank that I would not want to start, for fear that I would leave someone out.
Most of all, thank you to my customers. People stood in CRAZY LONG LINES to do business with me. Lines 20 and 30 people deep every weekend at the bars. At special events I would have lines 50 deep or more. Most of the time, people would not only be OK with it, they would thank me for being for being there! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.
I always did my best to serve the absolute best food I could source, at the absolute best prices I could sell it at. It served me well, and I hope I served you well.
THANK YOU
Rick Malek
Rapid Rick the Hot Dog Pimp
