Louie Di Raimondo and John C. Havens
Louie Di Raimondo was a hot dog vendor in Miami when he forgot to take a “for sale” sign off his cart. After enough customers asked him where they could buy their own cart, Louie had the idea that would forever transform his life and turn him into: -America’s Hot Dog King.
By refurbishing carts and selling them for a higher price Louie created the All American Hot Dog Company, a thriving, multimillion dollar business that dominates the world’s hot dog market through high quality merchandise, savvy Internet marketing, and of course—the King.
I’m On A Roll examines the life of King Louie and his growing celebrity as the don of dogs and father of franks. Featured on WSVN TV and the Rick Sanchez shows in Miami, The Food Channel, Discovery Channel’s Monster Garage, The Miami Herald, The Sun Sentinel, the South Florida Business Journal, and Big 106FM in Miami, Louie is rapidly conquering the world and ‘relishing’ the attention. His carts have also been featured at Radio City Music Hall, in movies like “Shallow Hal,” in the Macy’s Day Parade, and numerous television shows and commercials.
Through his entrepreneurial expertise and inherent knack for combining entertainment with customer service, Louie has helped thousands of people start their own business and attain the American dream.
Louie Di Raimondo is America’s Hot Dog King. As founder and President of the All American Hot Dog Company (www.allamericanhotdog.com), his celebrity is growing as fast as his South Florida business.
Co-author JOHN C. HAVENS has written three non-fiction titles, a novel, numerous articles, press releases, scripts, and is co-founder of Sanestorm Marketing (www.sanestorm.com)
Who doesn’t remember the famous scene from Rocky where Sylvester Stallone runs up the steps at the Philadelphia Art Museum, using every last ounce of energy to make it to the top? People tend to remember the second time this scene appears in the film, when a crowd of local fans cheers the popular pugilist from below—by this time, Rocky has become a neighborhood legend and is on his way to the big time. Rocky made it up those steps by himself, through tenacity, hard work and sweat. His character personifies the American dream, and inspires viewers to believe that their background, economic situation, and fears can be overcome to achieve lasting success and happiness.
There’s a real life Rocky alive and well today on the streets of Miami. He may not wear gloves, but he’s a fighter who has taken his share of hits but never been down for the count. Literally beginning his business on the street, this mastermind maverick has grown his company into a million dollar enterprise with no end in sight. Competitors have tried to copy his formula for success, but customers don’t want second best. They don’t want cheap imitations, peasants scrambling for the throne of Miami’s most cherished monarch.
They want the one and only Louie Di Raimondo, America’s Hot Dog King.
Di Raimondo’s story is a testament to the reality of the American Dream. After working at a series of jobs and leaving the restaurant business, Di Raimondo saved to buy a hot dog cart to make money vending on the streets of Miami. Accidentally leaving the “for sale” sign on his cart, Di Raimondo was intrigued to find dozens of people asking him where they could buy their own carts. Lo and behold, Di Raimondo’s business idea was born. Beginning his company by selling hot dog carts out of his driveway (a practice none too popular with his neighbors at the time), Di Raimondo would repair old carts and resell them at a higher price. Eventually he had enough carts that he had to buy a warehouse, then two warehouses, then three.
Along the way, he realized that hot dog cart vendors like himself had nowhere to see hot dog carts on display. When visiting a cart manufacturer who had the audacity to only show Di Raimondo a catalogue after he’d traveled hundreds of miles to see merchandise, the savvy sovereign created the world’s first (and to date, only) Hot Dog Cart Showroom. Now potential customers and numerous tourists visit the showroom to gape at the colorful banners, pictures, and hot dog paraphernalia festooning the walls.
But why are people so attracted to Louie and All American? What distinguishes him from the hordes of entrepreneurs out there filling the pages of business magazines? Two reasons. We’ll start with the obvious:
Hot Dogs. What’s more American than sitting at a baseball game with a ballpark frank doused in relish and mustard? Picture yourself in the bleachers, your family or your buddies at your side, on a mild summer’s night as a kid. There’s a mild breeze blowing as the sun begins to set and the enormous halogen lights start to pop on and illuminate the field. As the players start to warm up, you hail a barking hot dog vendor wearing the silver box of his trade strapped around his neck.
