Sam’s Hot Dog stand owners Tom Hissam and wife Mary Jo Piepenbrink celebrated a grand opening Feb. 6. This is the third Sam’s to open in North Carolina and the 52nd nationally for the West Virginia based franchise.
“All of our franchises are owner operated,” said founder and Frank Lucente who was on site for the Wilmington opening.
“Sam’s is an all-American concept and is really more of a stand than a restaurant,” said Mary Jo Piepenbrink. “The idea is to keep things very simple and provide the best quality product. We see a need for that in Wilmington.”
Sam’s menu features just four items: all beef hot dogs, a barbecue sandwich, chips and drinks, which include soft drinks or old-fashioned milk shakes. Two kinds of chili, mild and spicy, are prepared daily to be served on top of the hot dogs, as well as fresh cole-slaw and diced onions.
A hot dog “straight-up” includes mustard, onions, and mild or spicy chili for $2.25. Add-ons such as cole-slaw, relish and ketchup are free. Soft drinks and chips are $.99 and milkshakes are $2.99. Several combo specials are also available including a hot dog, chips and a soft drink for $3.99.
The chili recipe is one that Mr. Lucente and his business partner Rocco Muriale spent several months perfecting after they were given the original recipe from a local woman in Huntington, West Virginia in 1983. Not long thereafter they opened the first Sam’s Hot Dog Stand in Huntington and as Frank likes to say, “ended the search for the perfect hot dog.”
Like the majority of Sam’s stores, which are located along the I-64 corridor between Richmond, Virginia and Louisville, Kentucky, the Oleander Drive location features a drive-thru.
“We want people to be able to get in and out quickly with a satisfying meal at a great price,” said Lucente. “And once people get a taste of our hot dogs they’re hooked.”
Sam’s Hot Dog Stand is open Monday-Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Arboretum Center at 5917 Oleander Drive.
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