Like Father, Like Daughter, Like Hot Dog Vendor

Shalepia Piper recalled dusting off her father’s hot dog cart in his garage a couple months ago as she decided to start a business of her own — as a second-generation New Haven food cart vendor.

Piper’s version of the family hot dog business, called Gee’s Spot, is located at 73 Sachem St. among other food vendors near the Yale hockey stadium. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Piper opened her food cart business in May. She said she was inspired by her father, Gary, whose nickname is Gee — thus the cart’s name — and who used to sell hot dogs out of this same cart on the Boulevard.

“He had this cart sitting in his garage for 15 years,” she said during an interview on Thursday.

Piper said her favorite and the most popular items she sells are the Georgia Hots, a spicy kind of hot dog, and chicken sandwiches. She also has eight different toppings, including chili cheese, New York-style onions, sauerkraut, and various condiments. ​“Everybody loves the New York-style onions,” she said.

Customers can get her $6 lunch special, which comes with two hot dogs, chips, and a drink, or one Georgia Hot with the same sides. Piper prepares the hot dogs by first boiling them, then grilling them until they’re ​“burnt a little”, then finishing them off with the customer’s choice of toppings. 

Her dad, Gary, now works at Yale doing ground maintenance. He stopped by during his lunch break Thursday to support his daughter. He said he sold similar food to what Shalepia now sells, and that, in addition to selling on the Boulevard, he also took his truck to community events. 

Shalepia said she too takes the hot dog cart to events, with the most recent being the Caribbean festival on the New Haven Green and Greater Bridgeport Pride.

Before starting her hot dog cart, Shalepia said she had other businesses and hustles.

“I was selling soul food dinners out my house,” she said. She then ran a hair business called Beasty Braider. 

A new grandchild on the way also inspired Shalepia to start the cart, to support her family. 

Mark Wogahn, a first-time customer who works at Yale’s computer science department, said Thursday he was excited to try the cart’s food, as he has already tried the other food vendors in the area.

Georgia Hots, he said, are some of his favorites. 

Gee’s Spot can be contacted via phone at 475 – 731-4455, or by emailing [email protected]