Hot dog stand stands out in Sedalia

SEDALIA, Mo. -- Viktor Gotishan stands at his stainless steel cart under a large green umbrella misting a rack of dogs.

"It prevents them from drying out," he said, "and makes the dogs swell and gives a smell out. They need to be juicy and plump."

Gotishan sells hot dogs, bratwurst, polish sausages, chips and drinks from a cart that's decked out to suit his needs. Propane tanks fuel the grill. A rechargeable battery runs the cash register and radio. Two coolers keep drinks and meat iced. The cart is also equipped with a bun warmer.

"It's pretty comfortable," Gotishan said.

Gotishan moved to Sedalia from Sacramento, Calif., and noticed the town lacked roadside hot dog stands.

"You see these things everywhere" in California, he said

Gotishan worked at Schrieber Foods in Clinton before he started selling hot dogs full time. He started Vic's Catering, and has two hot dog stands -- the other run by his mother -- open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gotishan typically works auctions on the weekend. His stand keeps people from leaving the auction to get food and drinks, he said.

"I'm there," he said. "They come, get a soda, and they're back bidding in a minute."

Ideal location

The Lowe's Home Improvement store where he often works is the ideal place to catch people in need of a quick lunch, he said, adding that he serves a lot of construction workers.

"They are really busy people," he said.

Michelle O'Donnell, of Smithton, recently bought lunch from Gotishan while shopping at Lowe's on her lunch break.

"I don't like drive through," she said, "so this was absolutely perfect."

The first day Gotishan opened his dog stand he sold one Johnsonville bratwurst. He sold a couple more to the same man the next day.

"By the third day, he brought the whole company of 20 people," Gotishan said. "I'm not looking for a one-time customer. One happy customer will tell another, and another, and another."

Gotishan sells about 40 hot dogs, brats or sausages on a typical day, and calls his business a "hobby job."

"I might as well do something I'll love forever," he said.