Weenies on wheels

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life Editor

The folks from Weight Watchers may want to steer clear of the Spenard Builders Supply parking lot, but if you're a regular Joe who wants one of the best hot dogs you'll ever eat - deep fried, of course - piled high with sauerkraut, or onions and relish, and slathered in mustard, you have to stop in and see Arnie Gasparetti, who has set up the Valley's first hot dog stand that's open daily.

While the hot dogs are tasty, the conversation is just as delicious, as Gasparetti dishes out a lot more than tubular meat from Arnie's Hot Dogs, a trailer where the beef franks are dipped in peanut oil before condiments ever come out.

"By the end of the week, I sell a lot of hot dogs and have a blast doing it, you know?" Gasparetti said Wednesday afternoon, as a reporter had mustard smeared from ear to ear. "I had a really good job before I started this, but I wasn't having any fun. You gotta have fun, or it's not worth it.

"I worked for Fred Meyer for 10 years running their seafood counter. That was a hard job to leave, but I bagged it in to sell my hot dogs. I like going to bed at night because I know I'm coming here to sell my dogs in the morning. It's a blast," Gasparetti said.

Spend a minute at the stand, mention sports and you are in for a conversation that is a treat. Gasparetti is a former season-ticket holder of the Philadelphia Eagles, and the team is still one of his passions, along with hot dogs.

"I can crack a conversation with anyone while I'm selling my dogs," Gasparetti said. "That's what makes this so fun."

So how does one "bag" their job of a decade to open a hot dog stand? Going home is the first step. Gasparetti is originally from northern New Jersey, on the Pennsylvania border, and he simply can't go home without having a dog from Jimmy's, a famous hot dog stand. Eventually, those Jimmy dogs sparked an idea.

"I've waited 40 minutes in line for a Jimmy dog before," he said. "I once saw Howard Cosell jamming a Jimmy dog. Everyone back there knows what a Jimmy dog is."

Jimmy's deep fries their hot dogs in peanut oil, and Gasparetti said it's the best hot dog you'll ever eat.

"Every time I go home, I have one, and finally I told my wife that I needed to become the Jimmy's of Alaska and open a hot dog stand," Gasparetti said. "Thank God my wife is supportive of it."

Gasparetti found a trailer suitable for setting up shop, and a few modifications later, Arnie's Hot Dogs was ready to roll, including a sign on the side that proclaims, "Don't be a meanie, have a weenie."

He said the management at Spenard Builders Supply has been very supportive, and has allowed him to set up the stand in the parking lot. He's only been open for three weeks, but already, word is getting around town as to where the best dogs are.

"I've already got some regulars, and I know what they want before they even ask," Gasparetti said. "The builders really appreciate me being here, too. I'm closed on Sundays and Tuesdays, and today (Wednesday), I had a guy come tell me he was craving an Arnie dog yesterday but I wasn't here. I gotta take a day off, though. Sundays, I'm closed because I have to watch

football."

Ahh, football and hot dogs. Maybe Gasparetti has found the perfect job in life. While the Eagles are his team, Gasparetti is quick to talk about anything NFL-related, even with a Broncos fan.

"I loved watching John Elway. You guys got your rings for him. You guys sent him out with two rings. That's special," Gasparetti said. "I hope we can win a ring this year," he continued, clearly taking some ownership in his Eagles.

When asked about Terrell Owens and the controversy that surrounds the disgruntled wide receiver, Gasparetti said all could be forgotten.

"You know, he should just shut up and play. He signed his contract and he should honor it. But I'll tell you what. You catch 29 touchdowns for us this year, and we'll forget about all that," he said. "Philly fans will forget everything if you get that big ring at the the end of the year."

When it comes to hot dogs, Gasparetti is just as passionate - particularly when talking about his own dogs.

"The Arnie's Jumbo dog is 100-percent beef, a quarter-pound dog," he said. "That's a big, good dog. Deep-frying them gives them a great taste."

He gets all of his dogs from Mike's Meats in Eagle River, and he hopes to add brautwurst and Italian sausage to his menu in the near future. He's even thinking about adding another staple from his home state.

"A real Philly cheesesteak would be good. I've eaten a lot of cheesesteaks up here, but nobody makes a real Philly cheesesteak, you know?" he said.

Gasparetti plans to stay open through the winter, and said he's not going anywhere soon - he's having too much fun living out a dream. He's already been asked to do private parties, including a wedding.

"A guy said he's doing a blue jeans wedding, and he wants it to be beer and hot dogs and asked if I'd be interested," Gasparetti said. "That sounds like a good wedding day to me."

For more information, people can call Arnie at, naturally, 355-DOGY.

You can reach Casey Ressler at 352-2276 or e-mail him at valleylife@

frontiersman.com.