Okay…first let me say that I mean no offense to anyone who works at or has any connection with either of the above establishments. My questions are the mere curiosity of someone who’s wondered about them for a long time.
On a trip to the newly opened food court of our local mall last night, I saw a fast-food franchise called “Muscle Beach Hot Dogs.” I noticed that the food (hot dogs and fresh-squeezed lemonade) and the employees’ mode of dress were very similar to those of Hot Dog on a Stick, which led me to believe the two were owned by the same parent company. So my questions concern both of them:
Why do they make their employees dress in such outlandish costumes? (For those who haven’t seen them, they consist of garishly colored polyester-looking striped tops (no sleeves for HToaS and short sleeves for MB), shorts, and what can best be described as “tall beanie hats” in the same color as the tops.
Why are their employees invariably female? I have never seen a male employee at either of these places.
Is there a corporate policy that forces the female employees to squeeze the lemons by jumping up and down on some sort of lemon-squooshing device in full view of the customers?
I live in the Silicon Valley. It isn’t as if there’s a shortage of retail/fast-food type jobs here. Why would a self-respecting teenage girl (who is presumably at least somewhat concerned about her appearance and what her friends think) want to work there? Do they pay really well? Offer great benefits? Or is there just something alluring about those freaky polyester outfits that I’m not seeing?
I know this sounds facetious, but I’m genuinely curious about this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
The costumes are supposed to be “mod”. It was a “mpdern” or futuristic style in the 1960s that was meant to portray a youthful, forward-looking enthusiasm. Check out 2001: A Space Odyssey for a contemporary example.
I don’t think a guy would wear a costume like that.
The lemonade is “freshed squeezed”. It’s more efficient to “squeeze” a bunch of lemons in a five gallon container than it is to do them individually. Displaying the act shows the public that the lemonade is indeed fresh.
Hey! This is the second time in a week that I’m reminded of a song by the Vandals!
On their album “Vandals Good, Hitler Bad”, the song Cafe 405 (a shopping mall food court in Westminster) describes young love inspired by a female employee of Hot Dog on a Stick.
I couldn’t find the answer to any of your questions at the company’s website, except for the tidbit that the Muscle Beach stores are also owned by the same corporate parent, as you suspected.
That was kinda my point. But to avoid anti-discrimination laws, you’d think they’d have a male version of the costume.
I’m just wondering why I’ve never seen one. Has anyone seen a male HDoaS or MBHT employee?
Well…yeah. But if you’ve ever seen this process occurring, you’ll know what I mean. Trying to be delicate here, the way they do it forces a lot of…er…bouncing. It’s not just me who’s noticed it either–my husband and other male friends have commented on it. Maybe we all have our minds in the gutter, but it doesn’t seem quite wholesome for a franchise to be encouraging that sort of thing in teen girls.
I am a bit of a Shy Person. If I went up to a girl there and asked some variation of “What do you like about working here?” I’d probably sound like an idiot or end up accidentally offending her. Therefore, I’d prefer to mine the collective wisdom of the Teeming Millions.
Oh, I don’t mind watching them make lemonade. I kinda like watching the grrls make lemonade!
FWIW, I think the owner of HDoaS is a woman; the daughter of the founder. I’ve been to the original one in Venice. Hewell Hauser did a “Visiting” show on it and I had to say, “Hey, I’ve been there!”
