By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When Aaron Evanoff was deployed overseas, he came up with a business plan.
His dream was to start a hotdog stand. As a member of the U.S. Air Force National Guard, he came up with the business name, “High-Flying Hot Dogs.” Evanoff, a Bowling Green State University student, is the chief pilot and owner of the business.
Evanoff enthusiastically presented an abridged version of his business plan to Bowling Green City Council on Monday evening. He originally set up shop in Michigan, but now that he’s living in Bowling Green, he wants to sell dogs right here.
“My goal is to provide a meaningful service,” Evanoff said.
He has no desire to take business from existing food service providers.
“I’m not looking for anyone else’s market. I’m looking for my own,” he said.
Evanoff pictures his High-Flying Hot Dogs feeding college students enroute to campus. He would like people to call him to arrange food for birthday parties, family gatherings, manufacturers, and weddings.
Food trucks have proven to be very popular in area communities like Toledo and Perrysburg.
But first, before Evanoff can set up shop, he’s going to have to convince city officials to change the rules for “itinerant vendors.”
Last year, another prospective food truck operator came before Bowling Green City Council to say the city’s mobile food vending ordinance is too restrictive.
Mac Henry said the ordinance limits hours of operation to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and restricts food trucks to 150 feet from the throughway. The rules are “not very conducive to opening a food truck in this town,” he said.
Henry said food trucks are currently “a big part of the culinary innovation” going on in the nation.
Last year, City Council president Mike Aspacher said council is the body that would have to make any changes to the ordinance. He added that modifications would only be made after the ramifications are studied.
Council member John Zanfardino agreed with Henry that changes were in order.
“Right now our ordinance is totally prohibitive, if you get right down to it,” he said last year, mentioning the growing trend of food trucks. “I think it’s a coming thing.”
And council member Sandy Rowland noted the success of food trucks in Perrysburg, where the businesses set up one evening a week.
“It might be an opportunity to provide people with something to do,” she said last year.
