Village Hot Dog Stand cooking again

Long-standing Island tradition returns

by Robin M. Woolson
Grand Island Dispatch, June 18, 2004

A long standing tradition on the Island is once again ready to serve area residents.

The Village Hot Dog Stand, 1437 Ferry Road, has returned to operation and is now serving customers Thursday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day.

The stand reopened this year after a couple patrons who visited the Village Inn a year ago questioned on why the stand had closed. The response they received was to open it themselves.

And after a year of contemplating the idea, Barb Zafuto, Sharon Nichols and Lyn Laman decided that the Village Hot Dog Stand was to become a reality.

None of the owners thought this was something they would do "in their wildest dreams," but they are having fun with it.

"We are having fun because the people are coming and wanting to reminisce," said Zafuto.

Nichols said that as they have been getting ready to open, people have been stopping by.

Grand Island Tradition

"This is the only place on the river where people can come and sit at a picnic table," Zafuto said. "This is a Grand Island tradition."

"People come and stay," said Nichols. "We have bicyclists, walkers who stop in now that we are open."

The Village Hot Dog Stand is located in the outbuilding from the original Bedell House. The Bedell House was built in 1877 and burned down in 1935. The boathouse of the Bedell House had been turned into a saloon, and that burned down in 1988.

"Now, only the hot dog stand is there," said Zafuto.

Nichols said that the menu for Village Hot Dog Stand has some traditional items.

"We have hot dogs and pop, as well as root beer floats and homemade salad," said Nichols. "Our menu could be expanding."

One item that has been requested by patrons is the clam broth.

"And that will be coming on June 24," said Zafuto. "People have been asking for it and we are going to give it to them."