NORWAY — Munchies Concession opened up for business on Main Street on Monday, only a week after Selectmen granted its owners a vendor’s license to operate the hot dog stand in town, but denied them access to use public property.

“We’re open for business,” said Robert Carey of West Paris as he stood at his hot dog stand on a vacant lot next to the Norway Memorial Library on Main Street.

Selectmen issued a vendor’s license June 20 to Carey and co-owner Rachel Webber of West Paris, but denied use of town property on Main Street. Several board members had expressed concern that allowing access to public areas such as the town kiosk, Lake Pennesseewassee or the municipal parking lot behind the L.F. Pike & Sons store would “open up a can of owners.”

Despite Carey’s protests that the concession stand would be good for other businesses in downtown Norway, the board issued a one-year license, but gave them no place to go.

Last week, with the assistance of Kevin Wiles, owner of Wiles Garage and Body Shop on Main Street, Carey said he was able to work out an agreement with property owner Vira P. Micklon to lease space in the vacant lot at 256 Main St., at the corner of Greenleaf Avenue.

The property was the site of a large rooming house that burned down about six years ago.

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The road to the Main Street spot was not easy, Carey said. The couple had gone to Philadelphia to buy a concession stand that turned out to be underwater after Hurricane Sandy.

Carey and Webber have paid $100 for a town permit, an undisclosed amount for the land rental and just secured $1 million worth of insurance for $600. The cart sells hot dogs — red and brown — chips and sodas and will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The red hot dogs far outsell the brown ones, he noted.

Carey said he got a boost from Oxford Plains Speedway when he started the business and has since set up at other sites, such as Mechanic Falls Old Home Days. They are set to be at Bethel Inn’s centennial celebration this weekend and at the Norway Arts Festival in July, along with a host of other venues.

“We don’t want to be a short-term deal,” Carey said. The business contributes to a number of organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project.

“We give back to the community,” he said.

ldixon@sunjournal.com


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