Andy’s an admiral now

For the past 20 years, the hot dog cart at Sixth and Main streets has been a fixture in downtown Fremont.

Its owner, Andy Manes, on Monday became the latest admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska — an honor bestowed upon him by Gov. Dave Heineman.

“I’m truly touched,” Manes said after receiving the honor during a Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce board meeting. “I never expected 20 years ago to still be on the corner.”

But he has been.

Born and raised in Chicago, Manes long has been a fan of hot dogs. Then he saw the hot dog cart advertised in the newspaper. He asked Fremont National Bank officials if he could set up on property they owned across the street from the main bank.

The rest, as they say, is history.

“I always felt it’s a business,” said Manes, who also owns Andy’s on 1st. “I have to be there. I truly enjoy it.”

The all-beef hot dogs he sells are made exclusively for him by Wimmer’s. The West Point company also makes the jalapeño hot dogs and the Polish sausage he sells. Hy-Vee Food Store makes the buns he uses, adding poppy seeds — “Just like Chicago,” Manes said.

Manes is open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, as long as the weather is accommodating. He usually opens for the season by April and tries to stay open until Dec. 1. But he has been open all 12 months of the year, he said.

During those 20 years, Manes has been featured on the cover of Nebraska Life, in paintings and TV commercials.

“It’s been special to have Andy downtown for 20 years,” said Kellee Rasmussen, president of the MainStreet of Fremont board.

One other thing has been a constant during Manes’ 20 years in downtown Fremont — no other competition.

There’s a lot of work to being a street vendor, he said. It’s not easy as it looks and it takes dedication, which could explain why he hasn’t had competition, he said.

So, like those street vendors he grew up with, Manes and his hot dog cart will be doing business for some time to come.