floating snack stand

[coolbri70]

ok, i got an idea, maybe a pipe dream:facepalm: a couple coolers with bottled water and soda, a rack full of chips and snacks. hot dog cart. put it on a pontoon, stick it in the river anchor out of the way, put out some bumpers and a sign. where to find out about permits, license, etc. maryland on 1 side west virginia on the other, or do i need to talk to someone in forestry?

 

[nwcove]

Re: floating snack stand

have you ever watched the show "shark tank" ( dragons den up here).......im out!!! lol

 

[coolbri70]

Re: floating snack stand

i've had to leave early due to running out of drinks/snacks, wife crying hungry and i end up cutting my day short. if there were a snack stand i could have stayed on the river later

 

[southkogs]

Re: floating snack stand

Lemme' know if you want me to PICK THIS up for you

 

[coolbri70]

Re: floating snack stand

Lemme' know if you want me to PICK THIS up for you

nice, that would do, wonder who, in what state, i should inquire as to permits

 

[QC]

Re: floating snack stand

Like this:

The Big Orange Boat Lake Havasu City, Az

They have a LOT of trouble with City Council...

 

[southkogs]

Re: floating snack stand

...wonder who, in what state, i should inquire as to permits

No clue. In some senses it might be easier than you think; we've got TONS of those trailer type hot dog/burrito stands popping up in this area. On the other hand: floating, mobile, snack shack ... yikes.

If your local marina has a restaurant, you might sneak a peak at their license and see who they get that through. That'd be my first stop.

 

[roscoe]

Re: floating snack stand

I suspect that if you are selling anything other than pre packed, sealed items, that the health department(s) are going to be your most frequent visitors.


Check with your state department of commerce. They should be able to answer questions and steer you in the right direction.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: floating snack stand

Lat year their was a stern wheel snack shack for sale on the Ohio river here at Huntington.

 

[kodibass]

Re: floating snack stand

Was fishing out of Ketchican Alaska a few summers ago, They have the Pizza-Boat...!

 

[coolbri70]

Re: floating snack stand

i was thinking sealed products because of the health dept, with cooked food though i could anchor upwind i could be on the river all summer and the wife can't complain, "its my work" i'd tell her:laugh: be better than wrenching on transmissions all day hardly ever see a bikini:grumpy:

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: floating snack stand

lol all i seen here in nc is a ice cream one lol good idea though i dnt think getting permits will be to hard judt cost $$$$ ...let us know how it goes good idea though esp.. if ur marina dont have snacks /rest.. like ares !!! I even give it some thought ..

 

[angus63]

Re: floating snack stand

Locally an Ice Cream boat with pretty girls is doing swift business among the rafters in the back bays. I don't see any permits on the boat, but the girls are a bit distracting so I may have missed em.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: floating snack stand

No clue. In some senses it might be easier than you think; we've got TONS of those trailer type hot dog/burrito stands popping up in this area. On the other hand: floating, mobile, snack shack ... yikes.

If your local marina has a restaurant, you might sneak a peak at their license and see who they get that through. That'd be my first stop.

I think Southkogs is on the right track. Here in Florida, a caterer (including hotdog stands, etc) is regulated by the same department that supervises restaurants. If you serve anything other than pre-packaged items you will likely find the regs to be onerous. Good Luck

 

[akorcovelos]

Re: floating snack stand

There are hot dog boats, and ice cream boats on the Fox Chain. The hot dog boat even delivers, the restaurant is a huge pontoon, and the delivery boat is an 18' bow rider named the 'Beefsteak Express'.

 

[avenger79]

Re: floating snack stand

first thing you would have to look into is a food vendor license/permit. probably from the county unless your waterway is located in a major city. At that point they will tell you the various regulations/inspections/ etc you will fall under. if you sell prepackaged food and snacks it will be much MUCH easier then prepared food.

good luck, sounds like a good idea to me. would love to paddle over on a kayak trip. I can never seem to haul enough snacks for the day. LOL

 

[bekosh]

Re: floating snack stand

There was a guy in Oshkosh that did this on Lake Winnebago. He had to get licenses from each jurisdiction that he would travel through. As I recall though, the biggest roadblock was insurance. Boat insurance companies didn't want to touch it because it was a restaurant and the restaurant insurance companies wouldn't touch it because it was a boat. I don't remember how he sorted it out but it took almost 2 years.

Then 6 months after he was up and running, his Army unit activated and he spent a couple of years in A-stan. :facepalm: Last I saw the boat was still for sale at the marina.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: floating snack stand

Although it's a neat idea..we have snack, ice, and bait boats down here...I can't imagine the hassle involved with all the licensing and insurance. My guess it is one could invest the money in a good S&P fund and make more money. Just be careful with it and DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Knowledge is power.

 

[QC]

Re: floating snack stand

As I recall though, the biggest roadblock was insurance. Boat insurance companies didn't want to touch it because it was a restaurant and the restaurant insurance companies wouldn't touch it because it was a boat. I don't remember how he sorted it out but it took almost 2 years.

Yeah, the Orange Boat I posted above had a serious fire two seasons ago.

 

[chuckdee]

Re: floating snack stand

ok, i got an idea, maybe a pipe dream:facepalm: a couple coolers with bottled water and soda, a rack full of chips and snacks. hot dog cart. put it on a pontoon, stick it in the river anchor out of the way, put out some bumpers and a sign. where to find out about permits, license, etc. maryland on 1 side west virginia on the other, or do i need to talk to someone in forestry?

Ye ole floating vending machine!




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"I've had many problems in my life, most of which were imagined." - Mark Twain
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris