This Season: Hot dog!

CEDAR RAPIDS — For many people, hot dogs and summer go together like, well, mustard and relish.

Chad Ginther has been slinging hot dogs at his downtown hot dog cart on Third Avenue and Second Street SE since July 2009 and at his restaurant at 629 12th Ave. SE since May 2013. For Ginther, hot dogs, summer and another seasonal staple — baseball — are all part of the American experience.

'It's an American pastime — hot dogs and baseball,' he said. 'And people love a street cart.'

Ginther of Cedar Rapids had experience working in restaurants before starting the hot dog cart. When the convenience store he was working at flooded in 2008, Ginther — on advice from his mother — opened the cart.

The cart runs seasonally, typically beginning in late April or early May. This year, he was able to get started in early April.

'It just kind of depends on the weather,' he said.

The cart offers more than just regular hot dogs. Ginther said the cart — which is run by his mother and nephew — features bratwursts, burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches, as well as hot dog variations such BLT dogs and the Southerner, which is a hot dog with BBQ brisket.

The hot dog business is a family one for Ginther, too. All but one of his employees is a relative of his.

With the restaurant allowing Ginther to operate without worrying about the weather, he said his hot-dog-fueled business continues to grow.

'It's growing,' he said. 'I count on word-of-mouth ...

Things are still growing for me. I'm still getting new customers that are walking in.'