Hot Dog Man - Meet Walter Washington serving dogs daily with a smile

by Megan Routh | photos by Elizabeth Ezzell

Each step past the Lamar Dodd School of Art magnifies the mouth-watering aroma; each pace closer to Old Athens Cemetery brings the smiling face clearer into focus. Identifiable to all the student body, it's Walter Washington and his campus-famous LaFonda Dawgs.

Every school day (weather permitting) around 11 a.m., you can catch Washington setting up his concession cart, which contains everything a restaurant on wheels needs: an electrical water pump system, a water heater, burners, a refrigeration system, a full grill and a four-compartment sink. The cart is more than equipped to handle the daily flux of customers.

Washington began his University of Georgia food service career in the East Village Summit Dining Hall. Two years into the job, however, he discovered he had developed a hole in his lung and would no longer be able to work full-time.

Washington is not one to be overcome by adversity. What first presented itself as unwelcome news later proved to be a blessing in disguise for him. Along with his dedication, which he attributes to six years in the Army, Washington cites UGA's student athletes as a source of inspiration.

"I attended a few Gym Dogs gymnastics meets," he says. "When I saw a few of the ladies with iced ankles and [other injuries], I was inspired by that."

The perseverance he witnessed encouraged him to press on as well.

After learning the news of his medical condition, Washington remembered a business suggestion given to him by a patron of the Huddle House on Prince Avenue, where Washington was previously employed. That patron was James C. Brown, an Athens citizen who has built his own local empire around the city-renowned "J.B.'s Polish Sausages" he sells downtown.

"J.B. introduced me to Peaches [Fine Foods] on Broad Street, which my cart is affiliated with," Washington says. "At Peaches, you can get 100 percent soul food. I offer you a small taste of that here."

Along with his wife, Maricel Cid-Washington, who is the owner and the business' namesake, he decided to begin his own vending business on Jackson Street.

"It's named LaFonda Dawgs after my wife, who is half Puerto Rican and half Cuban," Washington explains. "In the Cuban culture, her name is synonymous with 'siesta,' and that's what I hope to offer students-a little relaxation."

"I enjoy this job even more than the one at ECV," he says. "I get to meet the students close-up, and that's my favorite part of my job. Students are the future. They have enough going on with all the books and work. I want them to stay focused, but also be able to relax and have fun. They're still young."

His cart's offerings reflect his close connection with and sincere care for the student body. Along with the signature hot dogs, LaFonda Dawgs also offers three types of beef and pork sausages (in flavors ranging from mild to hot), Polish sausage, chicken breasts, a full array of condiments, a cooler brimming with ice-cold beverages and a snack table that puts Wal-Mart's snack aisle to shame. He is also careful to include vegetarian options, such as veggie dogs and sausages, so that all lifestyles are accommodated.

Prices follow suit. Sandwiches, sausages and hotdogs are $2, drinks are $1, chips, cookies and other snacks are a mere 50 cents.

"I know students are on a budget," Washington says. "I know not everyone has Mom and Dad and all their credit cards. I want to keep it in the students' budget. I only raise prices on game days, only six days out of the year, and even then the increase is only $1."

UGA football is another source of inspiration for the successful businessman. A native of south Georgia, Washington decided to call Athens his home after watching the Bulldogs on the field.

"I knew this is the place I wanted to retire," he says.

The 2007-2008 school year was LaFonda's first year operating in the off-season. For the past two years, Washington has only set up shop during the football season, and he is already looking forward to this fall's action.

"I do catering for the football players," he said. "And this year I'm hoping to offer gator meat in time for the Georgia-Florida game."

That pleasant attitude and agreeable sense of humor is Washington's trademark. His positive nature is infectious. Students come from all reaches of campus to enjoy a mid-afternoon snack as well as a jovial exchange with the man behind the cart. All orders are met with a flash of Washington's toothy grin, a sincere inquiry into the comings-and-goings of the students' day and a promise of his product's quality.

"This is good stuff," Washington proudly declares as he hands a hot dog-extra onions, no sauerkraut-to an eager customer.

While on duty, Washington hardly has a moment to himself. A steady stream of people, students and local Athenians alike, stop at the cart. Professors slow their pace to say hello on their way to class. A passersby exchanges a smile and a wave. Cars trudging up Jackson quickly pull over to shout a greeting out the window. North-South and Family Housing buses honk their horns in greeting. Washington is clearly well-known and loved on campus.

One of the customers that day was Cory Helton, a 21-year-old fourth year political science and geography major from Grayson, Georgia.

Is he a regular? "Oh yeah," Helton confirms emphatically.

"It's cause it fits in your budget, right?" Washington interjects.

"Fits in my budget and is convenient," Helton finishes as he walks over to the condiment table to dress his LaFonda Dawg just so.

With less than a full year of continuous service, Washington's charisma and strong work ethic has enabled him to become as much of a campus staple as the Arch or Student Learning Center.

And his already successful business is looking to expand.

"I'm trying to get a spot on Clayton Street, but none are available yet," he says.

Inspired by his former days as a taxi cab driver, Washington hopes to someday have a cart downtown so he can be around and cater to the students when they are not focusing on school.

"I have some funny stories from those days," Washington says with another wide smile. "I just really enjoy the students and the faculty. They're the best part of the job."