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Pudgee’s world famous
Crowds converge in support of local eatery facing fire-code issues
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FLORAL CITY — Parking was tense and lines were extensive. Mouths watered in anticipation of the local flavor customers had fallen in love with. Memories were told as customers waited patiently in line for what could have been their last opportunity for the world-famous hot dog.
“Every time my daughter comes into town we have to take a trip to Pudgee’s,” said customer and Floral City resident Pamela Oesch.
“Last time my son-in-law flew in, he was getting ready to leave for Afghanistan and he wanted to make sure to get Pudgee’s.”
Upon asking for an interview with owner John Sterling, who was busy cooking, the crowd simultaneously screamed “no.”
“You were in serious trouble then, darling,” said Joan Stainthorpe, who visits from England. “You can’t take him away from his food.
“You can eat the same thing in 50 different restaurants around here, but there aren’t enough mom-and-pop restaurants. We look for that all the time when we are visiting from England. These places are too far and few between. I just hope he gets to stay here. This is a good thing.”
Pudgee’s All American Hot Dogs, a roadside dining attraction on the edge of Floral City, has been given more time to comply with fire code requirements that threatened to shut down the more than a decade old business.
The mom-and-pop eatery received immense attention last week, after Sterling announced he was closing Dec. 29. His announcement was in response to a citation that gave him just over a week to comply.
On Friday, Deputy Chief of Fire Rescue Jim Goodworth met with Sterling about the citation and gave him an extension to conform to. Goodworth is scheduled to return on Jan. 15, to see if Sterling has resolved the minor issues and is able to provide a timeframe for the installation for a fire suppression system.
However, the extension did not stop the crowds from coming.
“I think it’s the quality of food and the character that he has that makes this place,” Oesch said. “He knows and remembers each customer. You can walk up six months after your last visit and he will remember what you want and like. He is even famous in New Jersey and San Diego. Our kids made us a calendar that has our grandson’s picture of him eating here at Pudgee’s.”
What many of the customers kept commenting about was the family connection built into Pudgee’s.
“One of the things that we want to prevent is one of these mom-and-pop operations from failing,” said customer Bryan Melhado. “That’s really the nucleus that America was built on. If you look at today — it is all families here. Anytime I have ever been here, Pudgee’s business is just about families. Not only that, but Pudgee’s and his family are really wonderful people.”
Chronicle reporter Eryn Worthington can be contacted at 352-563-5660, ext. 1334, or eworthington@chronicleonline.com.
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Pudgees is a Landmark and YES we travel 1100 miles just to eat
Pudgee's is a Landmark in Citrus County, They have been in Business for as long as I have been coming to Florida. Our first stop was more then 10 years ago and the food was amazing! After speaking with the owner (John) I was amazed at how Well this place was taken care of. I talked to him for almost 2 hours and was interested in starting a place like this here in Ohio. He welcomed me in to look around and I must say, The place was Very clean and well taken care of. I noticed on the walls all of his inspections from the State or county and they were all better reports then I have seen in larger Franchises. As a matter of fact his records showed that he not only met the requirements but far surpassed them! Now Every year We take several trips to Florida and our FIRST stop is always Citrus County just to stop at Pudgee's. I drive 1107 miles one way just for the Italian Roast beef Sandwich and an order of his fresh cut fries.My wife insists that we visit at least 4-5 times while we are there, The staff is always Friendly and the food is always Wonderful. To all the haters: If this place isn't your cup of tea, maybe you should keep your pathetic self in the house. As a matter of fact if you can't get along with the staff here you really don't belong out in public anyway! We will continue to travel to Pudgee's and I hope that all the locals cherish what they have and pull together as a community and fight for Pudgee's No matter what it takes! A small donation from all who visit would keep this Wonderful place alive. I also hope that the community stands up and fights for its right to have such an establishment. Losing this place would be awful! Think about it, where would you go then? McDonalds? GROSS!
Keep it Alive!
Mike & Christine (Akron, Ohio)
Pudgiees is an original
Having eaten at Pudgees from time to time I must say I have never had a problem with anything there. He has to have a three compartment sink and grease trap all these years to comply with regulations. Two items you won't find in front of Loews or Home Depot hot dog stands. The owner has always been pleasant to deal with. The site is what it is. Basically a parking lot with a few chairs. Only real problem is that goverment has gotten involved where it is not needed.
So World Famous I Still Won't Eat There!
Since ya got so much business maybe you could invest in a real restaurant instead of serving roadside slop! Did you take care of those Health regulations yet? Are you finally washing your hands? Do you have a port-a-potty for customers? How are you dealing with the flies? Well, I guess people around here will eat anything anywhere as long as it's cheap as hell!
Never ever heard of this place until it was going to be shut down and I won't be patronizing this roadside dump anytime! I guess since Floral City doesn't have many restaurants, outside of Shamrocks, this would be ideal cuisine for the average person out that way! Did they hire anybody? How many jobs did they create? What makes Pudgee's world famous, the dirt in the hotdog? Or, is it the grease soaked buns?
Brealistic
Sad
It is sad that you are such a pathetic, angry, loser that you have to insert your foul comments for no other reason than to let the world know what a sad excuse for a person you are.
Sad
As usual, you can't express yourself very well so you have to degrade and demean someone else because you're the real loser! Now that's Pathetic!
Brealistic
argreed ^
argreed ^
Agreed!
CCpatron, just because you love it doesn't make it world famous for sure! Its a roadside dump! Now go woof down a couple hundred hotdogs! I wouldn't want you to choke on em! The county doesn't have the money to send paramedics out there to save your fat a#@%s! Would ya like ketchup on that?
Brealistic
Calling the kettle black....
Firt to clarify to everyone, I am not agreeing with Brealistic, that was for the previous comment. BUT, Brealistic has to have a comeback for anything and everything......
"Submitted by Brealistic on Wed, 01/02/2013 - 9:51pm.
As usual, you can't express yourself very well so you have to degrade and demean someone else because you're the real loser! Now that's Pathetic!
Brealistic"
This is your come back but you bash me?????? You are who is what is pathetic and mean. You are name calling over the internet. My fat a$$ is in wonderful shape, I run, and ride a bike with my child, eat healthy, and enjoy an occasional hotdog, who doesn’t. Just because I am a supporter of a family business does not mean anything. I wish you church or a darn miracle. You need help. You’re angry and bitter about other people’s opinions. Get a life. You are a poor excuse for our community. Its people like you that I still have my child respect even though you will always be a bitter old, probably lonely, northerner. It's sad that we get caught up in a caddy little spat over the internet. You are a mean, negative person.
Totally!
I noticed that your very health conscious! That's great! That leads me to wonder why you would choose to eat such unhealthy alternatives? Hotdogs are considered the worst meat for you. But, you have totally missed the whole point of my post(s). It's not to degrade or demean you or Pudgee's name. The point is that the Chronicle, once again, has misrepresented Pudgee's as being "World Wide". The only thing worldly about Pudgee's is that they may get their hotdogs from China and gosh knows what's in them! It's destructive when a media establishment publishes articles that are misleading and false! You see Pudgee's isn't even famous in Citrus County let alone worldwide. In the article it is only famous in one state. Whoopi! It doesn't offer anything that would compel me to jump into the car and rush to their roadside eatery for a meal or snack! Not everyone likes hotdogs and I am one of those people that detest hotdogs. I am pleased that the county has given them time to take care of what is needed but, sanitation and health concerns are necessary.
On the other subject, of my negativity......I am pleased to hear that you "think" I am negative and mean! This is the real world CCpatron, everyone is not going to agree with your opinion or my, for that matter! I'm not discouraged by blatant hatred and dismissive attitude. I think you're rude and belligerent but, that's just life. Get over it and don't take things so personal! When people post stupid comments expect stupid comments in return! When you personally get to know me, you may have a different view of me but, that will never happen so, keep on hating! That's the mentality around here and you only prove my point even more. So, please before you post inaccurate comments to me, Think, before you post so you are aware of my intentions to the article and not to your personal preferences or opinions. That way you won't be offended. Then again, anything being said by anyone would offend you because you're one of those people that think everyone should be so positive about everything even when it is destructive and demeaning and just wrong. You don't want to hear when things are negative which only indicates that you can only see things one-sided and that is just unacceptable. Good luck in future readings and keep up that positive dismissive attitude! Tune-in for my next post folks!
Brealistic
Good Grief!!!
Ok Pudgee.... With all this free publicity, I hope you used your head and put A giant tip jar out. Combine that with your increase in business over all the stories the paper has done on you recently, and I bet you would be at least half-way there, (probably more), to the upgrades you need to stay in business.