Serving Midcoast Maine for Over 31 Years

WASSES HOT DOGS

Keith Wass (Owner) has been in the Hot Dog business since 1972, when he bought the wagon that still stands in the parking lot next to Rockland's Rankin block. At the time he was a psychology major at University of Maine in Orono. A relative was selling the stand, and Wass bought it so he would have a job that summer. Still in the business after 31 years, Wass realizes that he was always an entrepreneur, he says he was preparing for this kind of work and didn't even know it.

Try The Traditional Special: a All-Natural Casing Hot Dog, Grilled with Peanut Oil and Fried Onions, placed in a Steamed Roll and Topped with Mustard and Relish. The Hot Dogs are made with pork and beef in a plant here in Maine, in Augusta. It's called Kirschner's. The onions are fried in the same peanut oil as the Hot Dogs, which helps to intensify the taste. And we use a New England-style frankfurter roll. New England-style rolls, to those who are used to the split-on-the-sides rolls common in Mid-Atlantic States.

Wasses Hot Dogs has served over 2 million hot dogs to the Mid-Coast customers in over 31 years of business. What started as a one person business has expanded to 4 locations in 3 communities. There logo states that they have "ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TASTING HOT DOGS ANYWHERE". Some former Rockland residents have confided that, when visiting home they often head to Wasses for a Hot Dog before visiting the relatives.

For 15 years Wass ran the business by himself, but with expansion he had to hire more people. He now has seven employees, with more in the peak summer months. These days he only works in the stands when he's needed as a fill-in person, but he still keeps the books and sees to many other details, so he's really always at work in the business which has become a Maine institution.

Locations includes branches in: Rockland, Belfast, Thomaston and the portable, ever-traveling party-going caravan. You can fine them all over the Mid-Coast Region of Maine.

Have you ever eaten Wasses Hot Dogs?

Which Location?

What did you think?

Please comment below.

The Hot Dog Kids

Address 2 North Main Street Rockland, ME 04841

Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts