Published: June 25, 2009 01:55 pm      

A taste of New York in New Albany

Corner hot dog stand brings city taste to small town

Though New Albany isn’t the Big Apple, locals can still buy a hot dog while strolling downtown.

Whether customers like it topped off with the works or just with ketchup and mustard, owner Mike Seacat takes pride in being able to bring a little piece of big city life to his customers.

“I like doing this,” he said. “I’ve always been a social bug.”

Seacat began running “Sea Dogs” earlier this year as a seasonal hot dog stand. He got the idea from his time spent in cities like New York and Chicago where street side vendors are commonplace. Customers can find him near the corner of Spring Street and Hauss Square, outside the City-County Building, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Though Seacat enjoys his job, the opportunity for him to take on the venture was born out of less than favorable circumstances. As the nation felt the pull of a falling economy, Seacat did his best to cope.

“Really, I’m just a small town guy trying to make it through tough times,” he said.

Until 2006, Seacat had a steady job at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville — a position he held for 11 years. As the company started offering buyout options to its employees, he began to worry about his job security.

“It took me three years to make my decision,” Seacat said. “I didn’t feel secure there. I felt pushed.”

Hoping that he was making the best choice for himself and his family, Seacat accepted the buyout, leaving KTP. Since then, he has turned his initial spot between a rock and a hard play into a stepping stone.

Seacat is now enrolled and taking classes in the Ivy Tech nursing program. He is confident that his new field will prove to be more stable. In his spare time, he runs his stand.

To get the word out about his business, Seacat set out with fliers and utilized word-of-mouth advertising. The response to his business has been good, family and friends dropping by as well to show their support.

“This is my first time stopping in,” Seacat’s uncle Vaughn Seacat said. “Mike has always been a hard worker. He has a good personality.”

It is these traits that Seacat hopes will win over “Sea Dogs” customers.

“Being set up here, I hope to become like the old guy at the general store,” he said. “It let’s me get to know people.”