They’re a familiar sight in New York: hot dog carts selling the city’s popular staple — hot dogs with all the trimmings — but not so much in Hope Gardens where Thursday Food spotted 27-year-old Triceia Clarke and her Grill on Wheels added a novel twist to a private birthday party. Hot dogs were served along with French fries, and children were able to add ketchup, mustard and relish.

Clarke is thrilled that we’ve noticed her and is willing to share her story: “After obtaining my MSc from Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2006) and returning home, I was unable to find a suitable job in Logistics/Supply Chain — my field of study. I became discouraged and, shortly after, migrated to Toronto, Canada but returned once again, this time with the resolve to start my own business. I had a few ideas playing with — especially a visit I had made to a small, rural town in Ontario known as Bowmanville, where I had observed a woman selling French fries (only) from a mobile food truck called a Chip Truck, in a parking lot. What impressed me the most was her strong clientele of mostly children lined up waiting on their serving of French fries.”

Clarke, who admits to a fondness for cooking and baking, initially considered setting up a mobile food truck but rethought the idea since the costs associated with the food truck would be higher than her budget. It was, therefore, back to the Chip Truck which gave way to a mobile Hot Dog Cart, serving not only hot dogs, but also French fries, potato wedges and green plantains. “I saw a void in the local market for a fine Hot Dog Cart and decided to put all of my efforts into my business because, at the end of everything, I wanted to be able to say that at least I tried my best and that I had found my niche in the business world,” she says.

Clarke remains upbeat even as she grapples with trying to find a permanent location for the cart on weekdays. “I’ve had so many doors shut. But I just keep trying and moving to the next best option, because I can’t give up!”

There have been positives, too, like when Clarke received her first booking.

We’re applauding from the sidelines and wish her all the best with this venture. “Most new businesses,” explains Clarke, “just need one small door to be opened and then lots of possibilities would pop up, so I am grateful for all the support that is afforded to me, especially as a young person, trying to make an indent in the already large and highly competitive food industry.”

Here’s how Triceia achieved her goal:

Her start-up cost was approximately $100,000. This included incorporating the business as a limited liability company, registering the trademark, company uniforms, website set-up, cart signage and graphic designer fees.

The cost of the cart was approximately US$4,000.