Our story
Joe, the tongs, and 28 years on Front Street.
There's no franchise and no secret investor. Just a guy from Bayport who thought his town deserved a proper hot dog, and never found a reason to stop making them.
It started with a cart and a cooler.
In the summer of 1998, Joe was between jobs and had a little money saved. He bought a second-hand cart, a box of franks and a gallon of mustard, and parked by the ferry dock. By August the line was longer than the ferry queue.
When the bait shop on Front Street closed, he signed the lease the same week. He painted the sign himself (you can tell), put in a flat-top grill and a dozen stools, and opened the window to the street.
Not much has changed since. The menu got a bit longer, the chili got famous, and the crew grew to six. But Joe is still the guy you'll see grinning at the grill, tongs in hand, asking if you want onions.
“Good bun, good snap, don't drown it. That's the whole secret.”Joe
The short version
1998
Joe rents a push cart and parks it by the Bayport ferry. Classic dogs only, cash only, sold out by 2pm most days.
2003
He takes over the old bait shop at 212 Front Street. The hand-painted sign goes up and it's still there.
2009
A regular dares Joe to put two dogs in one bun with chili and cheese. The Chili-Cheese Heartstopper is born.
2016
The original cart is restored and starts doing parties and weddings on weekends.
Today
Same window, same chili recipe, a crew of six, and Joe still at the grill most days.
What hasn't changed since day one
Grilled to order
Nothing sits in a steam tray. Your dog hits the grill when you order it.
Chili twice a week
Made from scratch every Tuesday and Friday morning. Same recipe since 2009.
Fresh, local, simple
Buns from Harbor Bakery down the road. Potatoes cut by hand every morning.
Come say hi to Joe.
He's at the grill Tuesday to Sunday. Order at the window, or call ahead and it'll be ready when you get there.
212 Front Street, Bayport, NY 11705