Vendor sells Naperville on his hot dogs

Visitors to downtown Naperville will likely be able to grab a quick bite to eat from a hot dog concession cart in the near future.

But it didn't come without some debate.

The city council gave preliminary approval Wednesday to allowing resident Joe Hornbaker a one-year trial run with a single cart in the downtown.

"I truly feel a hot dog stand would separate Naperville from all surrounding towns," Hornbaker said. "I'll be creating a service for residents and visitors and providing yet another attraction to the downtown area."

The city first heard the proposal a month ago, but some councilmen and the Downtown Naperville Alliance have expressed concerns about safety, garbage collection, tax issues and the effect the cart would have on other downtown restaurants. Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, said Hornbaker wouldn't be subject to some of the same fees brick-and-mortar businesses have to pay, putting them on unequal footing.

"Number one, we want it to be fair and equitable," she said. "This is an outside business coming in and I do think it would take right out of the pockets from a lot of our existing businesses, our on-the-go carryout businesses."

Wood and Councilman James Boyajian also expressed concern about the precedent it would set because other restaurants or vendors may request mobile carts.

Hornbaker said he has worked to address these concerns and has spoken with downtown restaurateurs, who expressed their support.

The cart would likely operate from noon to 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and would only sell hot dogs, chips and soda.

To avoid blocking sidewalks or causing traffic jams, he would keep the cart stationary and is looking at three possible alleys to park it - behind Barnes and Noble, near Front Street Cantina and near the intersection of Van Buren and Washington. There would be a garbage can near his cart.

He said he would pay the required city and state taxes. To make up for some of the fees he would be exempt from as a mobile vendor, he offered to pay into the Downtown Naperville Alliance or visitor's bureau.

Councilmen voted 5-3 in favor of allowing one hot dogcart on a one-year trial basis. Councilmen Joe Dunn, Doug Krause, John Rosanova, Richard Furstenau and Robert Fieseler approved. Kenn Miller, Grant Wehrli and James Boyajian voted no. Mayor George Pradel was absent.

Rosanova said he doesn't feel the cart will have a significant impact on other businesses, and Dunn also expressed support.

"I think we all like the idea of having a hot dog stand downtown," Dunn said. "We all perhaps do have issues that cause us to hesitate, but his persistence, he's addressed them, he's talked to many people and I think it's time we grant him a trial opportunity."

Cart: Man offers to contribute to alliance