Robert H. Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat Glen Netter, a finance freshman, stops by a Dawg Daze cart on the UA Mall to buy a hot dog from one of the companyÍs vendors last week. There are seven Dawg Daze carts on campus, which have a regular crowd and serve traditional and specialty hot dogs.

Vendors hawk five years of hot dogs and smiles to the university community

Donna Hibbitts, who has worked with Dawg Daze for one year, said her customers are the nicest in the world. She said the long work day, often in the blazing Tucson sun, seems to go by quickly because she enjoys her work.

There are regular customers, who know the vendors well and call them by their first names, and there are others who only stop in periodically, Hibbitts said.

"They don't know my name, but I think they know my face," said Brian Green, a mathematics sophomore who eats at Dawg Daze once or twice a week.

Green attributed the success of the portable vendors to their "great rapport with students." He said the reasonable prices are also a factor in Dawg Daze's success.

Hibbitts said some students tell the vendors they don't even eat at the Memorial Student Union.

Walter Badger, who has worked with Dawg Daze for five years, said there are some customers who visit the cart in front of the Old Chemistry building two or three times a day.

"Our quality is as good as it gets," said Badger, who added that each morning before arriving at the University of Arizona, he picks up fresh bakery products for his stand.

"It's been incredible, and you're on the prettiest street in Tucson," he said.

Badger said he has followed some students throughout their entire UA career. He also said he has been as far away as Costa Rica and Rome and met people he knew from working at the cart.

Though Badger said he may not return next fall because he feels it is time to move on to other things, he said he will be sad to leave because he really likes his job with Dawg Daze.

"I never get bored. They (the students) keep you young," he said.

Hibbitts said the most demanding part of the job is the set-up and take-down of the carts. The vendors are able to stay in constant contact with the manager via cellular phone in case they need supplies or a problem arises.

Manager Jerry Milcarek has worked six years for Dawg Daze and is in charge of set up and take-down, the purchase of supplies and restocking of the carts.

Milcarek said his day begins at 6:15 a.m. and ends at different times, but usually between 4 and 5 p.m.

He said he misses the direct interaction with students that he used to have when he worked the cart in front of the Chemistry and Biological Sciences building. Micarek said many students still wave him down to say hello.

"The environment is the best thing. You get to know a lot of people," said Jackie Serrano, an employee at the Dawg Daze cart in front of the Chemistry and Biological Sciences building.

Serrano estimated that 60 percent of her customers are regulars.

Nick Hossack, a political science junior, said he considers himself a regular customer and thinks "just friendly service" is the key to Dawg Daze's success.

Serrano said the reason the carts are successful stems from the vendors getting to know the students and because the carts are convenient.

Dannan Glasper, an undeclared freshman, said she thinks the carts are a good idea because the products offered are cheaper than the Student Union. She also said it is easy to grab a bite to eat on the way to class.

The cart that does the most business daily is the one in front of the Harvill Building, said Marchelle Brady, owner of Dawg Daze.

Brady, who has also been in the company for five years, said the best part about the work is the interaction with students.

"Working with all the kids, I've gotten to know some of the people pretty good," she said.

The company was started in Phoenix, and she and a partner bought it five years ago. Just recently, the other half of Dawg Daze, which was owned by Badger, was sold back to Brady.

The half has again been sold to a new partner, Steve Arnold, Brady said. She added that having a partner is beneficial if they are willing to "really get down to the nitty gritty."

Brady said she estimated that in September, its busiest month, Dawg Daze brings in about $42,000 in sales. She said she estimated her employees make an average of $1,000 a month.

After paying the bills and employees, Brady said only about $3,000 in net income was left.

"If I was not claiming all these things I could make out like a bandit," Brady said. She added that the estimated $3,000 is enough profit to keep the business going.

The carts all feature hot dogs, Italian and polish sausages, hot links, meatball sandwiches, chili, pretzels, nachos and potato chips. They also offer a wide variety of beverages, including imported root beer, Snapple and soft drinks.

The carts also offer a variety of baked goods, granola bars and candy.

"Every cart is unique in its own way," Hibbitts said. The Old Chemistry location offers fountain soda, the Chemistry and Biological Sciences location offers Tofu Dogs, and the Harvill location sells Eegees fruit drinks, she said.