Imagine being able to order a Carter's Nearly World Famous Hot Dog in the middle of the day without the worry of freezing. Thanks to the recent acquisition of a space in the Muncie Mall, that is now a reality.
Mark Carter, owner and operator of the local hot dog business, is expanding his travelling hotdog cart to a stationary location in the mall after 17 years of operation in Delaware County.
"Well, they had an opening here and my wife was excited about it. So she talked to the people at the mall, and the next thing you know, I'm signing a lease to be here," Carter said.
The space will follow standard Muncie Mall hours and operate within about 1,800 square feet, including a restroom and kitchen. Despite the change in venue, Carter said he seems optimistic about the business's potential.
"So far, everyone's been really receptive," Carter said. "A lot of the kids who work here are regular customers in the Village, so they all know my product. Everything should be good. Knock on wood."
Carter is well aware of his status within the Muncie and Ball State communities and is confident that will translate into sales at the new location.
"There aren't too many places in Delaware County that I haven't sold a hot dog," Carter said. "I'm kind of a familiar sight, pulling that cart around Muncie."
Students such as Amber Hardwick, junior geography major, are enthusiastic about the transition.
"I'm happy that he expanded out from a stand," Hardwick said. "Instead of just Ball State students, he'll hopefully be known more throughout the Muncie community."
For fans of Carter's dogs in the early morning hours of the weekend, the hot dog purveyor has no plans to abandon his cart-based business in the Village.
"I still plan on doing the two things," Carter said. "I'll do the Village no matter what. That's where all my constituents are. They're my buddies, and they're good hot dog eaters. The kids have been great to me the past 17 years."
This is not the first time Carter has sold hot dogs from an indoor location. Beginning in 1998, he ran a daily Carter's Nearly World Famous Hot Dogs in the Village, but abandoned the operation after four years.
"Well when my lease was up, I just went back to doing my regular thing on the cart, just to be closer to my peeps," he said.
Despite the closing of his initial store, Carter is confident about the success of his hot dogs and the new store in the mall.
"We're hoping it will last forever and I can retire someday," Carter said. "We've got an option for a longer lease and we're excited about it."
In his typical comedic styling, he also expressed some of his loftier ambitions.
"I want to be kind of like Bill Gates and start my own foundation and run around and spend lots of money," Carter said. "I want to have the kinds of problems like my buddies Trump and Buffett. That's my goal."
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