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Subscribe to RSSA Michigan teenager whose hot dog stand was shut down before it even opened has recouped his losses.
Nathan Duszynksi, 13, said he decided to open a hot dog stand in his hometown of Holland, Mich., to help out his disabled parents. His mother has epilepsy and his father has multiple sclerosis.
He saved $1,200 – mostly money he made by mowing lawns and shoveling snow – and bought a cart.
He also checked with the city to make sure he didn’t need any licenses or permits, and even went to city hall in person with his mother.
“We wanted to make sure,” Nathan’s mother Lynette Johnson told WFMY News. “We stopped in there in person about a month ago and asked, ‘Do we need a business permit license?’ and [the city] said no.”
Only 10 minutes after arriving to set up Nathan’s Hot Dog Hut on July 17, a city zoning official shut him down.
“I was like, ‘Wow, I’m getting shut down already, and I haven’t even started,” Nathan said. “I’m just trying to bring in some money for [my parents] and the household when they’re struggling.”
The official said the cart’s location, which was in a private parking lot of a sporting goods store on the edge of the city’s downtown commercial district, violated a city ordinance that bans food carts in that area in order to minimize competition for the eight tax-paying restaurants a couple of blocks away.
“We would like to see him do this,” City of Holland Assistant Manager Greg Robinson told WFMY. “This is a great opportunity for him, so it would be great to work with him, and we can in many commercial areas in the city. This just happens to be one where we can’t.”
Nathan’s parents said they like the location of his stand because it seemed safe, on private property and across the street from city hall, and it made good business-sense.
“[The store’s owner’s] whole idea was that Nate could set up his cart here and help him promote the rental of his bikes.” Nathan’s stepfather, Doug Johnson, said to WFMY. “It kind of worked hand-in-hand.”
After hearing of the teen’s troubles, staff members at a packaging company contacted Nathan and bought the cart for $2,500, more than what Nathan paid for it.
“[Nathan is] just a real go-getter, and at that age that’s unusual,” Carolyn Norman of Shoreline Container company said. “It’s unusual, I think, that they can relate to adults like he does and so he really caught our eye, so to speak.”
Now, Doug Johnson said the family’s next step is to file a petition at city hall in an effort to amend the current ordinance that banned Nathan’s stand in the first place.
In the meantime, Norman said the company plans to let Nathan use the cart for special occasions, such as a wedding Nathan’s Hot Dog Hut has already booked.
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No good deed goes unpunished.
Just goes to prove we have way to many government employees, federal, state and local. The good news is with all of our deficits in spending and funding of Gov. retirees, the tide is moving out and cuts are on the way. Personally, I think the unwind will be a lot fast that the time it took us to get here.
Does anyone remember what brought about the Arab Spring? It was this young man trying to eke out a living in Tunisia selling out of a cart on the side of a street. The cops hassled him for not having a license to the point that he just gave up, ignited himself, and burned to death. This act also ignited the people,who saw their laws as being extremely overbearing and revolted against their government. They won and the rest is history.
Have you ever tried to set up small business from scratch? Hoops, hoops, and more hoops to jump through. One of the main reasons that our economy is not getting better is because of the multitude of layers of laws, regulations, licenses, delays, etc that restrict a citizen from setting up any kind of cart, kiosk, or just standing there to sell to the public. All of these impediments (left over from booming times) are to protect the 1% at the expense of the rest of us trying to make it through life and this recession. It takes months and thousands of dollars just think about opening the doors.
gil: YES you have good points but then you don't. when you don't have these regulations and red tape, you will turn america into a third world country like china and india where anyone can setup shop as they like and sell what they want. there has to be zoning licensing etc. i don't want america to turn into a pis spot.
scir91, I think you have a point. But beyond that, teo and gil, it has nothing to do with government. The article clearly says that the kid was in violation of a"city ordinance that bans food carts in that area in order to minimize competition for the eight tax-paying restaurants a couple of blocks away." It seems clear to me that these restaurants (aka "small businesses") are at the source of the ordinance. City councils are not "big government", they are heavily influenced by small businesses (either legally or illegally). I wouldn't be too surprised if the owner of one of these restaurants had called the cops on the kid. Sad but that's what businesses do if they see some unwanted competition.
Bad beginning, good ending. Reminds of the movie Kid Co, we'll hear from this young man in the future.
@scir91onYouTube
WTF are you talking about?? Who the hell has EVER said anything about not having regulations? Who has said anything about doing away with zoning and licensing altogether (although you'll have to explain to me why someone needs a license to cut hair). NO ONE! It's not that we don't need some regulation it's that we don't need so much of it.
This story is the PERFECT example! Competition squashed because government (Yes truth seeker-2078284, city councils ARE government) bows down to or is bought off by special interest groups. scir91onYouTube, what people like you need to understand is that many, if not most, regulation is not intended to protect YOU, it's intended to protect some group of people that lobbied their Federal, state or local representatives into passing a law that benifits them often at the cost of someone else, as we see here. Stop buying into the BS that A- anyone wants to do away with all regulation, and B- that getting rid of a lot of this red tape wouldn't benifit everyone.
Now that it's become national news, the next chapter will be Nathan's Famous in N.Y. filing a cease and decist order for name infringement. I wouldn't put it past them, or their lawyers. Good job and good luck, kid. I really hope it all works out for you!!!
Liberal, big government regulations and policies at work. Ruining the industriousness of a young entrepreneur. Rotting away at the core of our country.
Oh, but they're soooo "progresssssive"!!!!!
@captn curtass
I was thinking the same thing!
Arthur, the article stated that conservative, money-grabbing local business owners had already paid off local politicians to have an ordinance passed to prevent this industrious young entrepreneur from being able to compete against them. Didn't you read it? The 8 nearby "tax-paying" (only "conservative" businesses pay taxes, right?) business are the ones that are rotting away this nation's core. The kid now knows what "trickle down" feels like, as it runs down his back. A good lesson for him.
How much you want to bet that one or more of those restaurants owners called city hall and complained? The kid only made two mistakes. 1. He didn't set up super PAC and buy the Mayor and city council like Koch Brothers and Adelson have been doing. 2. He should have incorporated first then he would actually have rights!
@Arthur66, Mr. Thanatos, et al
Anyone who thinks this sort of issue is limited to either conservatives or liberals is a friggin moron. BOTH sides regularly pass these sorts of regulations to protect some special interest group.
If more people would take their heads out of their asses and stop being conned into believing it is only the "other side" that causes the problem maybe we could get some things fixed in this country.
I'm sorry, but all the liberal bashing "big gubment" idiots on this board, please re-read the article. As Mr. Thanatos and Truth Seeker already stating, this kid was shut down because of small business owners, the restaurants that he was competing with. It wasn't like there was some made up government position (Assistant Manager of Dream Crushing) that did this.
The government isn't the damn boogieman you can blame for all of your problems, crazy righties.
Back country... no Sh!t both sides pass legislation like this on a city level. We're just stating the obvious, that this is not the federal government on your back... it's business owners on your back, which the conservative crowd always seem over-eager to pass out free handies to.
Travis, it is the local government doing this not the businesses. If a business or industry goes to the government and asks for special protection from competition they should be told to pound sand.
Protectionism is just another form of subsidy that eventually weakens businesses and industries.
Just point any direction around you and you are pointing at something that the government is regulating.
BIG GOVERNMENT IS REAL, AND IT IS REALLY BAD.
Arthur66 We're talking about Holland MI. If you can find even 1 liberal, or one democrat in the whole town I'll be amazed. This town is as conservative as there is. But typical conservative: never let the facts get in the way of a good rant.
@Travis-1944
Is that a fact Travis? So businesses can pass ordinaces and regulation now? I suppose you think the city government was just begging those nasty businesses to not pass such restrictive regulation. Oh wait, that's right...Only GOVERNMENT can pass these sorts of ordinaces. Gee, don't you feel silly now?
You are right about one thing, "this is not the federal government on your back" but surely you aren't naive enough to believe that government at EVERY LEVEL is not on our backs all of the time.
Area restaurants abhor hot dog carts and will pull all they have to get them out. They have been giving free meals and pouring liquor into coffee cups for local cops for years and, if they tell the cops that the carts are not welcome, all forms of harassment begins. Loitering, littering, "to close to", etc.,etc .... I have seen them throw a man in jail for what, at best, was a $50.00 ticket -- assuming he had "crossed the line" which was far from clear.
Truthseeker stated: "The article clearly says that the kid was in violation of a"city ordinance that bans food carts in that area in order to minimize competition for the eight tax-paying restaurants a couple of blocks away." It seems clear to me that these restaurants (aka "small businesses") are at the source of the ordinance."
As though one young boy with a hot dog cart, who would only be there for a day or so is going to force them out of business? Yeah truth, he'll take soooo much of their profits away, right? Lets just continue to crush any kids incentive to do something that may help someone else out. Guess kids need to start paying taxes to get anywhere today, right truth? Maybe if he was going to pocket the profits, then that would make their reasoning even better, right truth?
Truth Seeker, what part of "city ordinance" do you think has nothing to do with the government? And how many f*cking hot dogs do you think this kid is going to sell? No reasonably intelligent person (therfore no one in the city government of this town) would think that a kid selling hot dogs several blocks away is going to appreciably cut into the sales of the restaurants. Government cronyism at its best.
If you would follow your own advice, you would realize that liberals don't have anything to do with suppression of competition. There IS no other side. There's people who want everyone to have a fair shake - that's liberals, and there's people who think that any attempt to organize in any way that is not a cutthroat money-making venture is immoral - that's conservatives.
People like you are as much to blame. You don't bother to understand what the issues really are and just decide that because other people care deeply, they must be wrong.
I'm dead certain the city officials follow the laws and don't take advantage of their tax based jobs..FN losers
The only thing unusual here is the age of the kid. Businesses routinely throw up road blocks to stop ANY unusual business model. In Charleston, WV, about 30 years ago "the bagle lady" was forced to close her sidewalk cart, because it was competition for well established businesses (with political clout). Said one councilman, "We don't want this place looking like New York City" (Fat Chance of that in Charleston, WV!!) In St. Augustine, Fl, the city councel closed some "sidewalk performers". Same reason. You can likely remember a similar situation in your area. Closing a food stand for health reasons, is legit (in my book) but because its competition? What the 4377 is capitalism (which small businesses are always wrapping themselves in on political questions) all about, if not competition? Truth is, business is no more about competition, than most football is about "building character". They are both about winning-- at any cost.
Found the local article...
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x736425942/13-year-old-entrepreneur-told-no-hot-dog-sales?zc_p=0
We have the highest percentage of people in prison than any other country on earth. We don't have the worst people, just too many laws.
Another one of Obama's Jump start your business act that failed to provide. Too bad for the kid..
I want to go to that wedding that's going to have a hot dog stand at it. They sound like fun people.
We had an outdoor wedding during the day, had a corner of the yard fenced off and covered from the sun, and hired a clown to entertain the children after the ceremony. All the kids had fun watching the clown, all the adults mingled, and pretty much by the end of the show half the adults were watching the clown anyhow. Everyone had a blast.
I remember back when they closed all the hotdog carts in Tampa. $4 bucks for a beer & a hotdog served by scantily clad young women. They ran them out of Hillsborough co. They just moved to Pinellas co. next door.
Its' really obvious the businesses they spoke about around the corner from his stand, had the city come shut this kid down because they didn't want to lose a dollar to him peddling hotdogs on their lunch hour. I'm only glad that when I was a kid, selling cold lemoande on the side of the street for a dime, that I didn't have some government jerk shut me down. Or some lawnscaping business didn't have my lawnmower confiscated for cutting grass for a buck twenty five.
Warmachine2012
Another one of Obama's Jump start your business act that failed to provide. Too bad for the kid..
Do you know ANYTHING about Michigan and do you KNOW anything about Holland?
NO YOU DO NOT!!! This has NOTHING to do with the POTUS and everything to do with some buttheads that instead of seeing that this young person is trying to help his family, see his as a threat to their "profits"! Really? What he might sell some hotdogs and then what .. get suddenly RICH and run them out of business? These are the kind of young people we need to see and hear more about. He is compassionate and is willing to work. You know those qualities that a certain political party keeps talking about until someone without money does it and then it is a problem.
I HATE people that want to stomp out the drive to succeed in anyone that is not RICH.
Yep healthy competition helps keep prices under control. W/out it u are at the mercy of the vendor.
LOL Conservative compared to the rest of the state, maybe. The truth be told, it was probably the culinary workers union that filed a complaint, to their buddies at the municipal employees union who in turn sent the thugs out. Those are all conservatives don't you know. Kid should have joined the Union 1st, they wanted a piece of the action.
QUOTING <GIL 2076580> - "All of these impediments (left over from booming times) are to protect the 1% at the expense of the rest of us trying to make it through life and this recession. It takes months and thousands of dollars just think about opening the doors."
WELL stated, Gil. These onerous statutes are frequently NOT set up and requested by concerned citizens and neighbours, but rather by large corporate conglomerates who see somebody trying to work for themselves as an unproductive ("unproductive" because they aren't selling their labour for pennies on the dollar to one of the corporate conglomerates) threat!
So they brib.....errrr....I meant "contribute" to various state houses and senates and later, some "group" (usually a coalition of three or four major corporate conglomerates representing large regional-and-national chains of day care centres) adopts some stupid-ass name (like "Caring Responsibly For Our Children" or some rubbish like that) request that a ordinance be enacted that....oooooh....that says you must carry $40,000,000 in liability insurance for your small babysitting business!
Its michigan. They have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to businesses.
Maybe he could ask the government for a bailout.
I live in Michigan. This don't just happen in Michigan. I remember about 30 years ago, when downtown Pontiac, Blacks would set up smokers and do Pork. Man it was so good. But they were stopped. Seems like win a working man tries to get ahead, the rich shoot him down. Any time a small business starts to grow, the people that buy off the government get then stopped. Capitalism I think they called it.
Peanut,
if you actually read the article he was shut down because other businesses would have been in competition with him for food sales. He was a small start up killed by other bigger businesses who fear the competition and so got laws passed to create zoning restrictions.
I am an auditor and I preach following policies and procedures all day long. I went to a seminar that talked about making a decision/choice between two rights. I believe this is a perfect situation - on one side you have to follow rules, policies and procedures. While on the other side, you have a teenager trying very hard to provide for his family. I would have personally just obtain approval from the "competitor" restaurants within the same block and explain his situation. Once they have that, I don't see any reason why he cannot sell. At the end of the day, we need to look at things as they are - we are all human beings and we need to look after each other.
@Geowil
This is often the case, as for this story however, if you actually read the article "in order to minimize competition for the eight tax-paying restaurants a couple of blocks away". Tax-paying being the key phrase, If he had opened a business that paid various city taxes he'd have been fine. This isn't about competing, it's about taxes so it was likely an ordinance passed by the city to protect their revenue source. Sorry, but it's not always "big business" to blame.
Back,
true. He would not likely be taxed on that income. But as others so willingly point out he would pay taxes, by extension, for buying the items used to run the stand and some of that money would also be used to pay for rent, utilities, and other taxes on the home.
Another thing to think about would be his total earned income. If it is below a certain threshold it is not taxable due to deductions and other stipulations put into the tax code to help low income individuals. As a business he is essentially employing and paying himself, not sure how that works under the tax code or if he would be treated as any other small business.
This is one reason we need to simplify the tax code, there are too many "but if" clauses that have been shuffled in throughout the years.
@Geowil
I agree with you on this however, as it relate to this story, I think the city is more concerned about property and sales taxes not to mention the money they make on licenses and inspections and God only knows what other sorts of fees these restaurants have to pay.
The taxes and fees that the city gets from these businesses goes for various public works i.e schools, streets, parks, law enforcement, etc. If they make an exception for this boy then they would have to allow everyone equal access. Thus taking even more revenue from public works.
That's what I was thinking Rhonda, they have to protect the taxpaying businesses or they would be cutting their own revenue for city services.
Seems to me that the more we continue to think that the "other" side has the wrong opinion...whether it be conservative or liberal...the more we caught in the hamster wheel cycle of spinning our wheels. When can we get past opinions and surface differences and really give a rat's a** what happens to other human beings?? We are, after all, in this boat of life together. Want to be on a raft that throws you overboard or throws you a life preserver? Yeesh!
Maybe Nathan could get the eight restaurants to sign a letter asking that the city grant a special one time waiver on his behalf. Since the store owner where he was to park the cart had to give permission, it's not like a horde of carts could suddenly take up residence, and not everyone wants a hot dog for lunch, so the restaurants would not necessarily have competition from him.
That whole ordinance sounds bogus in the first place. They should overturn it.
Something else is going on. How could a kid with a hot dog cart compete with a restaurant or even cause a minor dent in their profits. The restaurants are being used as smoke to cover up something else.
once again stupidity trumps common sense.
Typical government bureaucrats.
What they don't understand being gov. employees is that competition is good for business
they understand competition very well, they were bought off to keep competition out. did you see the move Tucker.
typical GOP policy..protect the corporations, screw the little guy
David saint,
You should probably check facts before you accuse liberal city officials of being GOP.
We're talking Holland,MI., their all GOP
Eight local bullies gang up on little kid. This is good stuff. I hope he remembers this when he turns 18 and can vote.
@Mr. Thanatos
So did you pull that out of thin air or your ass?
Backwoods - Are you a douche all the time or are you just full of vinegar tonight?
@Mr. Thanatos
You think I'm the douche? Do you have a mirror?
Yes, I have a mirror and yes, I think you are a douche.
@Mr. Thanatos
Well you certainly are an expert on the subject, I'll give you that.
Holland Michigan is one of the most conservative places in the whole state. If there was a liberal in that town, he would be cowering under his bed, because they would be coming after him with pitchforks and torches. So please walk that idiot belief back that there are ANY people other than conservatives on that council and in that town.
I hope this young man makes it big and then when the city wants their tax money from him, that is when he should move. Godd Luck to you.
I know if I owned a restaurant I'd be worried about all that competition from 13 year olds and their food stands.
Right, those must be some pretty crappy restaurants if a kid and a cart are considered unfair competition.
Honestly, it's not the competition from the 13 year old. It's the precedent the city set by allowing a violation of the zoning laws. Once they let this 13 year old do it, they are setting themselves up for a lawsuit if they don't let everyone do it.
I ran a local Little League in my city for a number of years. I wanted to put in a real snack bar instead of the little back yard shed we had, and was told we would have to pave the road to our field and put in sewer and curb improvements to the tune of $150,000. I inquired about a waiver and was told I could apply but it wouldn't be approved because the minute the large builders in the area heard about it the lawsuits would start flying. It's disgusting, and it has nothing to do with "big" government.
He was trying to put his business in the downtown area which, if you've ever been to Holland, has huge retail sales and events going on all the time. The city has all these ordinances in place to keep the look and feel of their downtown the same. Like others have said, if they allow one cart, then many more will follow.
sildenafil, he did not violate zoning laws: It was a separate ordinance designed to protect a class.
If the kid was set up in a commercial zone, which he was, and he had the proper permits, which he had, he should have been allowed to continue. They should strike down that protective ordinance, which was the bad precedent that the city already set.
Booked a hotdog cart for the wedding, eh? Top. Notch.
If it's an outdoor wedding with a bunch of kids coming, why not. It would be fun. Besides, compared to a lot of "top notch" weddings I've been too, at least the hot dogs are probably edible (I usually eat before going to weddings anyway - even if the food is good, which is a 50/50 proposition, it is usually served very late).
Sounds to me like a good-hearted bride and groom wanted to share the love and help out a kid with sick parents. Seems like a great start to a marriage, does it not?
Indeed, S. I used to go to a memorial benefit for a deceased friend. They served steak, salad, baked potatoes...but if you are a kid, that isn't going to interest you. And some elderly can't eat steak (his parents couldn't). The outcome for the following year dropped and one of the reasons was families weren't going to spend a lot of money (the price included the dinner) in this economy if they weren't going to eat the food. It took a year or two before they started to serve burgers and hot dogs as well as the steak.
This is why the government gets less respect everyday... not only are they corrupt and greedy.. they are also dumb and useless
maybe if he out-sourses to a chinesse company it would be legal???
This is why the government gets less respect everyday... not only are they corrupt and greedy.. they are also dumb and useless
Since the anti-competition ordinance that was violated only benefits the local restaurants wouldn't this more accurately be an example of why business gets less respect everyday because of corruption and greed?
@ckneeley
TAX-PAYING businesses, did you miss that in the article? And regardless, businesses don't and can't pass ordinances and regulations. Only government can do that so no... businesses get less respect every day because people like you have been brainwashed into believing government only does things that help and protect us.
Remember the lifeguard? Remember how public opinion mattered for once? What is the name of these resturants, anyway?
I think we should all call and order a hot dog.
Didn't join the City Chamber so he don't get to do business, I bet.
Nothing to do with taxes.
That's what you get trying to make a buck in America without Corporate overlords pulling the strings...
Actually it shows how much influence private business has over government regulations; this ordinance seems written to protect eight specific restaurants.
read the story:
Nathan’s parents said they like the location of his stand because it seemed safe, on private property and across the street from city hall, and it made good business-sense.
“[The store’s owner’s] whole idea was that Nate could set up his cart here and help him promote the rental of his bikes.” Nathan’s stepfather, Doug Johnson, said to WFMY. “It kind of worked hand-in-hand.”
After hearing of the teen’s troubles, staff members at a packaging company contacted Nathan and bought the cart for $2,500, more than what Nathan paid for it.
A kid named Nathan with a hot dog stand.
Ironically humorous
Could have been worse... could have been Oscar.
Ever been to Holland, Michigan? It's so right-wing it doesn't allow left turns. :o)
Nice to know the city runs a restaurant cartel. I bet the cops are involved in a city-run protection racket.
The city told him he could park his cart in other places throughout the city. Why didn't he do that? They didn't tell him to sell the cart. Brick and mortar restaurants have overhead expenses that this individual doesn't have. What if the existing restaurants were "mom and pops" that also need the money to raise their families? Don't automatically blame the city for just trying to keep things fair for everyone. You people are quick to jump on the government without reading the whole article. Pitiful.
He's 13. His parents are disabled. Perhaps that particular area is the only one he's allowed to drive his Porsche to, pulling his hot dog cart, ya think?
@Carol1956
And that makes them more deserving of an opportunity how exactly? You actually want government to pick who wins and who loses?
I thought someone told me competition was good for the economy? Walmart comes in and closes 5 businesses and everyone claps and releases balloons in the air. One kid with a hot dog cart tries to open up shop and look what happens. Should have offered the mayor a photo-op when he and his Mom went downtown.
This kid should do things the right way. Apply for and receive government handouts and villify those who are trying to work and succeed and demand money from them in the spirit of fairness. He must be too young to realize that is now the American way.
Carol, if restaurants can't survive to have a child with a hot dog stand a few blocks away they can't be all that good to beginning with. To fear a hot dog stand? really? What kind of money is he going to be making? let's be serious here!
This is a clear case of how some regulations impact small businesses. Next time some pol spouts off how regulations can hurt business they should provide an example such as this. I think more people would be receptive to that when you have an actual case to look at rather than some generalized comment that is overly broad. But it is funny, this regulation is in place to help big business at the expense of small businesses. I would be interested to see if other big businesses have pushed these types of regulations on the books to eliminate competition from small business owners. Is it the government or big business pulling the strings?
I think it is time we did something about the bullies in this country. But on the positive side since he will make under 250 grand he should get a tax break.
All you folks whining about the regulations would be the very first to cry when the hog lot sets up across from your house. Regulations are there for a reason. Usually because of some situation like I mentioned. I read a great interview of the guy that started Subway. He told of setting up ina crappy building serving sandwiches on a board sitting on sawhorses. No running water, etc. Asked if someone could create an empire like he did (in late 70's) today, he replied,No, too many regulations.
I wonder why....
If you own a restaurant and are afraid of a kid with a hot dog cart, your restaurant must really suck.
thankfully the city was there to stop this kid from making a profit, the other resturants have a nice monoply.
if supported this young man could have one day become an owner of a buisness ,
This is a good story...I'll bet it has a happy ending.
GOVERNMENT officials doing what they do best... ?
Getting in the WAY of real progress.
These are the same types of morons "some people" want in charge of our Healthcare?
The voters in that town are to BLAME!
These are products of the Administrations they've elected.
Under the new heath care law he could run his business and heath insurance too. With the old system he would spend all his profits on medical insurance if he bought coverage. So I think it helps the small guy in this case.