It's a typical weekday inside the U.S. Bank Center, 777 N. Wisconsin Ave. As the noon hour approaches, workers from the U.S. Bank, Foley & Lardner, Robert W. Baird & Co. and other companies consider the many lunch options within easy walking distance of the tallest building in the state.
One of them is just outside the front door.
Amanda Emrath is working the grill for George's Big Dogs, one of a handful of mobile hot dog carts operating Downtown. Emrath, who has worked the cart for "a couple weeks," sells hot dogs for $2.50, brats and polish sausage for $3.50, chips for 75 cents and soda and bottled water for $1.
Despite the gray skies and cool, blustery weather, business is brisk. Businessmen in suits, parents with kids in strollers and construction workers keep Emrath working the grill almost non-stop for burst that can last 25 minutes.
"It's been pretty busy," Emrath says. "If it was warmer out, I bet it would be even better."
Although she greets the occasional visitor from the Milwaukee Art Museum or Discovery World, Emrath guesses that most of her customers are coming in or out of the U.S. Bank Center.
"I think a lot of them are actually heading to Cousins for a sub or something and they see me down here and they just stop."
In addition to convenience, street vendors like Emrath add character and flavor to a city. Since many Downtown workers rely on cars for transportation, it seems as though Milwaukee has fewer vendors than many similarly sized cities.
"I don't know why that is," Emrath says. "I don't know if people don't have the time to set these up. I'm not really sure. But, if I had the money to start one of these on my own, I would. It's really worth it."
Emrath's boss, George, operates a handful of carts at different locations throughout the city and said that permits and bureaucratic red tape are not problems.
"I've been doing this a few years and I've never had any problem at all with the city," he said. "Most of the customers are really good, too. We get a wide range of people and they're very respectful.
"We have a stand outside the Bradley Center and we've had a few NBA players stop for a hot dog and leave money and say, ‘Buy something for everybody who comes by. Take care of them.' That's happened a few times. A lot of times, if people are down on their luck and I'm in a position to help, I'll give them a hot dog. If I'm in a position to help, it's something I like to do."
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, she moves to a location near Farwell and North Avenues.
"I sit out there from about 9:30 at night until about 2:30 in the morning," she says.
Obviously, the clientele at that time of the evening is a bit different than the lunch rush.
"I love the business crowd," says Emrath, who has worked as a bartender at Ouzo, Sauce, Terrace Bar and other establishments. "That's the reason I got out of the bartending business -- I don't like to deal with drunks."
Emrath, however, likes working the cart. "I like to be outside," she says. "I like talking to people. I'll take this over being stuck inside any time."
Just as she's finishing her answer, Emrath is interrupted. A construction worker wants a hot dog and he needs it quickly.
"I have to hurry," he says. "I'm parked illegally over there."
With that, Emrath smiles and swings into action.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
