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Informal hot dog sales raise concerns in Denver

MEXICO CITY STYLE | Bacon-wrapped hot dogs. (Photo/WhatsApp)

HOT DOG, HIDDEN DANGER

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

For Manolo, the night of Iván Cornejo’s concert at Ball Arena was supposed to be unforgettable. And it was—but not for the expected reasons. After the show, he was met by smoke, the smell of bacon and grilled onions, and a parade of street vendors offering hot dogs in the classic Mexico City style: sausage wrapped in bacon, on a lightly toasted bun, topped with tomato, onion, and chili. “It felt like being in CDMX,” Manolo recalled.

He bought one for himself and another for his pregnant wife. Minutes later, the culinary experience turned into concern. “I thought about the hot oil, the crackling sausage. What if they didn’t have a handwashing station? Where are the sausage and bacon refrigerated? How are the tomatoes and onions stored? I felt guilty.” Two days later, his wife fell ill. The doctor was blunt: “Did she eat something from the street?” Unfortunately, the answer was yes. For Manolo, it was terrible—he had been the one who gave in to the craving.

The Informal Network

Prompted by Manolo’s testimony, we began an investigation. We discovered that behind these hot dogs lies an informal network operating at least 40 portable griddles—or “comales”—stationed outside venues like Ball Arena, Bellco Theater, and nightlife spots along Colfax. A single individual manages these griddles and rents them out to vendors who operate without permits. The owner, of Mexican origin, does not handle sanitation or obtain permits. She only collects rent for the equipment, leaving the vendors exposed to legal risk.

We consulted Eric Escudero, spokesperson for Denver’s Department of Excise and Licenses, who confirmed that all signs indicate these vendors are unlicensed and do not meet the city’s basic health requirements. “They can’t operate without a handwashing station or refrigeration. Also, from what we see, they haven’t passed fire department inspections, which is required when cooking with propane. It’s a public health and safety risk,” Escudero asserted.

An Opportunity to Legalize

Escudero stressed that operating these unlicensed stands in Denver can carry serious consequences. Both the vendors and the owner may be fined between $150 and $999. In more serious or repeat cases, they could face criminal citations and even jail time. “We don’t want anyone getting arrested for selling hot dogs. We want them to get licensed,” he said. According to Escudero, the city offers multilingual support and does not require immigration status for licensing.

“All they need is a valid ID. There are real opportunities to do it the right way, and many succeed. But operating illegally is not an option.” Beyond legality, unlicensed sales also create unfair competition for licensed businesses that follow the rules. “It’s not fair to those who pay for permits,” Escudero added. Additionally, setting up unregulated stands in pedestrian areas can obstruct foot traffic, block emergency exits, and contribute to chaos during large events.

Informal hot dog sales raise concerns in Denver

Final Warning

Manolo’s story illustrates what’s at stake: public health, business fairness, and community safety. Street food can be a rich cultural experience, but when done outside the law, it can carry unfortunate consequences. “What started as a craving became a nightmare,” Manolo concludes. “I’m not saying don’t sell hot dogs—just do it right.”

Official guide for mobile food vendors in Denver (in Spanish):

guia-para-vendedor-ambulante Descarga

https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/1/business-licensing/documents/guia-para-vendedor-ambulante.pdf