Jim’s Ole Time Hotdogs
(919) 801-1893
On any given day outside the entrance to a well-known home improvement store in Cary, Jim Rivers serves hot dogs with passion and purpose. Since 1998, loyal customers come early and often, lining up in front of the nifty portable cart with the red-and-yellow umbrella.
“What are we gonna have today?” Rivers cheerfully asked one patron, who patiently waited in line. It’s a common sight at lunchtime. During a recent Friday during an exclusive photo shoot with Cary Magazine, business was booming.
“It’s not uncommon to sell more than 150 hot dogs on weekdays, and 250 on weekends,” said 61-year-old Rivers, a gregarious Warren County native who now calls Rolesville home. “I just wanted a simple business where I could make a living and serve people.”
Jim’s Hotdogs features acclaimed Nathan’s and Southern Red products, including top-selling beef along with red, jalapeño and sausage. Abundant condiments — such as mustard, ketchup, chili, onions, slaw, relish, cheese, hot sauces, mayonnaise and sauerkraut — are on hand for no extra charge. Each frankfurter is prepared to order and wrapped in aluminum foil.
The hot dogs are set apart by key ingredients like fresh, steamed buns, quality chili and creamy slaw. “We source our buns daily from Flowers Foods, and use an all-beef, no-bean chili and a mayonnaise-based sweet slaw,” he said.
Besides frankfurters, Rivers offers 14 different ice-cold canned drinks, bottled water, bagged chips and double-decker Moon Pies.
Prices range from $2 for one red hot dog and a drink
to $4.50 for two beef wieners and a drink.
Additional specials offer chips, and posted prices include tax.
Rivers pays monthly rent for the prime location that attracts a wide assortment of people, many of whom he calls by name. One such person is carpenter Mark Ellington from Raleigh, a regular who comes three times a week for a sausage dog and Mountain Dew. “I’d rather support an independent person like myself than go to a chain restaurant,” Ellington said.
Jim’s Ole Time Hotdogs accepts cash only and is open daily from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
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