DENVER ( KDVR ) — Hot dog top dog Steve Ballas has been selling his famous snappin’ dogs for 20 years.
“Did you hear that snap?” asked Ballas as he took a big bite out of one of his creations.
So, how does one get into the hot dog business?
“I went to a doctor’s appointment, and I saw some guy selling hot dogs outside the doctor’s appointment and I called my wife, and I said I think we need to do hotdogs. So, I thought let’s bring in some East Coast-style hotdogs,“ said Ballas.
Colorado’s tightest competition: Pumpkin growing
After two decades in the business, Ballas decided to close shop for good.
“I just turned 70 years old. I got a bad back; I am a cancer survivor. Linda‘s cancer came back. She just turned 77 and it’s time,“ said Ballas.
Sometimes taking a stroll down memory lane can be a rocky road.
“It’s bittersweet. Am I going to miss it? Yeah, I am going to miss it, but I’ve done everything. I’ve done everything I wanted to do in my life,” said Ballas.
Before building his hot dog dynasty, Ballas was a firefighter, a police officer and an EMT. But most of all Ballas said he fed people.