This winter, there was a rumor that one of my favorite Cape May New Jersey businesses, Hotdog Tommy’s, was being sold. After some investigating, I found it to be true and literally had to sit down. The thought of losing my summer lunchtime staple was overwhelming (yes, I count my blessings every day if this is indeed a problem in my life!). My wife laughed at my ridiculousness and fatalistic melancholy as I texted friends who would be equally devastated.
But wait, … as details emerged the business was just being sold, and the heavenly hotdog creations will live on! There will be no more interactions with Tom Snyder (the creator of this hotdog haven), which is still a loss, however. My obvious over-exaggerated fondness for Hotdog Tommy’s and Tom Snyder may be baffling, if you have never eaten there. But, I am not the only one who loved the place and the man in his hotdog hat with an amazing memory (wear a Penn State VB shirt there once, and he will talk to you about it every time he sees you). In May, my friend Ed Ritti (who lives in Ocean City, NJ) called me and told me “Saturday (May 21st) is Tommy’s last day, the kids and I have to go say goodbye to him, we have to go!” Yep, Ed drove 45 minutes one way to say goodbye to a guy that occasionally sold him a hotdog, that is how unique and fun Tom Snyder is and gives a hint of how much that little hotdog place meant to so many people.
On my first June shore daytrip, I cautiously stopped by my beloved spot and ordered the critical test hotdog to see if, indeed, the food was going to be as good as “the old days”. I ordered the “Slaw Dog Leaner Wiener” because it had Miss Mary’s cole slaw as a topping – the recipe of which masterminded by Tom’s wife Mary, the maker of all the toppings. Everyone knows there are two types of cole slaw in the world, the kind made with love, or the sad salad you scrape off your hotdog and push around your plate. To my delight, the food was exactly as I had remembered and the credit for that goes to the new owners Bruce and Deena Carlino.
Bruce recognizes that the customers, although missing the funny and friendly Snyder, still wanted that same great beach food. He hired back the same workers and made sure he got all the recipes from Mary Snyder. Yes, that cole slaw was made with love just like Mary used to make it. It was after that first visit I decided to write this piece and let everyone I know that all is not lost in hotdog-land with Tom Snyder retiring from the Cape May hotdog business.
I got my usual order yesterday (Slaw Dog Leaner Wiener, Dock Dog Bad Dog, large Slushy Coke) and let the new owner know how thankful I was for the nice seamless transition. He was on the phone at the time so I had to wait a few minutes to talk to him, and guess who he was talking to? Tommy Snyder! He checks in with him every week or so.
So for all those fans of Hotdog Tommy’s, remain calm, the business is in good hands and your favorite gourmet hot dog is waiting for you. And if you have yet to experience this hotdog heaven, it is located on Jackson Street and Beach Avenue in Cape May. In closing I’d like to express my gratitude to Tom Snyder for the countless laughs and great meals over the years, the best of luck to him and Mary in the future, and a sincere thank you for handing over the business to Bruce and Deena as they will continue the tradition.
Dock Dog Bad Dog on the left, Dock Dog Leaner Wiener on the right
Original Hotdog Tommy’s owner Tom Snyder
New Hotdog Tommy’s owner Bruce Carlino
Ritti boys enjoying Hotdog Tommy’s
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