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Americans love hot dogs.
Heck, Hoosiers like hot dogs. It’s hard to find any other food that represents the good old U.S.A. like a hot dog. And doing her best job to be a “good American” is Brenda Markin of the State Café and Catering on Michigan Street.
Every Monday, as they have for the past 3 years, folks line up for what has become a Downtown worker’s tradition, Hot Dog Monday.
For $2 you can indulge in a hot dog (regular, Coney dogs, Cheese annd Chili Cheese dogs) topped with a a selection of toppings— ketchup, mustard, home-made hot relish, onions, sauerkraut — with your choice of chips and a drink. The dogs, done as New York-style as possible in the midwest, were pretty standard: Boiled not fried, juicy not crunchy. It's more the fact that you're eating a hot dog from a storefront cafe in the middle of a workday than the actual meal itself that makes the lunchtime experience so good.
“You see the same people every Monday,” says Markin, “it’s great… you really get to know everyone. They are a very loyal group of customers. People want good prices, value and quality… and we focus on providing that along with quick service.” From the success that can be seen (as in the line of customers eagerly waiting,) it must be working.
How many hot dogs will she serve on a Monday? Well, business increases from 35-50% over an average weekday with 90% of her business on Mondays being the sale of hot dogs.
Markin started Hot Dog Mondays 4 years back while still in her previous and extremely small location down the street. “I was serving 100 people a day out of a location that only seated 14 customers,” recalls the Downtown hot dog queen. Folks who visit the area are sure to make a stop in to the larger State Café (which now seats 60.) For some it maybe the primary reason to venture out of a meeting or their Downtown convention.
So look for the line and forget your office woes for just an hour. Grab a hot dog and enjoy a Downtown tradition. The State Café offers daily specials.
Hours: Around 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Sometimes open Saturdays. Catering is available (with a full menu to pick from just in case you’re in for more than hot dogs.)
The State Cafe and Catering is located at 132 South Michigan, Downtown South Bend Indiana. Their phone is (574) 234-5855.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
Look At The Line-It Must Be Hot Dog Monday at The State Café
As featured on the www.DowntownSouthBend.com website
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