“As you can see, everybody’s exciting, which makes it a lot of fun.”

-Shari Chrissis

Shari Chrissis is the most pleasant hot dog vendor I have ever encountered. As I waited for customer traffic to die down so I could interview her, I noticed that she made every one of her customers smile. Her cart, One Bad Daw, is located on the corner of E.13th and Kincaid, across from the Duck Store. She works almost every day; selling hot dogs to long-time, regular customers, and passers by who were enticed by the cart’s aroma.

Q: How long have you been working at the hot dog cart?

A: I have only had stewardship of the hot dog cart since 2006. It has been in operation since the early 80s…Tim Nally ran it from ’94 ’til 2006. He and his wife retired to Australia, but he was an awesome guy. I was fortuitous enough to be in the right place at the right time, and took it over when they went to Australia.

Q: What has surprised you most about working here? 

A: I’ve worked down here on campus for a while before I took over the hot dog cart. So, it’s kind of familiar with the rhythms, you know; the students coming and going and things like that. Um, I guess… I don’t know I’d have to think about that for a while.

Q: When is this food cart open? 

A: The cart’s open Friday, unless it’s not. [It’s open] 10pm to 4pm, unless it’s the summer time. When it’s open, we don’t stay open ’til 4pm; about 3pm in the summertime. But you know, 10pm to 4pm-ish depending on when I sell out. Today might be really really early. You know, just because it’s been so busy. It just depends. But those are the hours I try to maintain. You know, as kind of a general operating practice.

Q: Is it open seasonally or is it open year-round?

A: Yes, it’s open year round. We close for student holidays, so: winter break, and spring break. I do close for a couple weeks before school starts in September, but I’m open pretty much every day. In summer months sometimes I’ll take some long weekends. You know, so throw in a Friday or a Monday but otherwise we try to be here when the students are here. I’m here pretty much every day.

Q: What is your favorite part about working in a food cart?

A: The people. Just being out here, getting to see all the kids… Just being out – it’s wonderful. As you can see, everybody’s exciting, which makes it a lot of fun.

Q: Do you plan to keep doing this for a while? 

A: I hope so, yeah. As long as I can – I love it. It’s one of my favorite things.

Author: Aimee Griswold