Boss Doggs, the only outdoor food vending service on campus, has been a staple in the college experience for many students, as well as being a recognizable piece of Ohio State history.
The hot dog is king of the business, but the chicken fajita remains the heart and soul, said Eric Clark, owner of Boss Doggs.
“Even though we sell more hot dogs than any other item, it’s the chicken fajita that people will stand in the cold and wait for,” Clark said.
It’s not by chance that Boss Doggs, a business formerly owned by OSU, is the only outdoor food presence on campus; the business has the exclusive contract for outdoor cart services.
“The only other cart concessions on campus are at the hospital or on Lane Avenue,” said Patti DeLano, former associate director of the Ohio Union. “I think OSU continues to grant this contract because they are a good business, they know their customers and they are willing to do anything for the students.”
Clark said he is very grateful for the chance to sell food on campus.
“I love my job. I will do it until I retire, if I can,” Clark said.
Dave Wiseley, associate director of business services for the Ohio Union, said at the time the contract was set up for Boss Doggs to have exclusive rights for push-cart vending services, there may have been talk about having a central point of control for vending services on campus.
“At this point, I don’t see anything to prohibit continuance of their contract,” Wiseley said.
Clark, a 1990 graduate of OSU, said he came into the business by luck and chance.
“If someone had told me when I graduated that I would come back to OSU and sell hot dogs, I would have been surprised,” Clark said.
Clark, an English major, said he always used to see the Boss Doggs cart outside Denney Hall, where many of the English classes are held.
“I got to know one of the guys who ran the business, and we stayed in touch,” Clark said.
After graduation Clark pursued a law degree at Capital University, but decided he wanted to have his own business.
“At that time, Boss Doggs was owned by two brothers, Dave and Joe Palcsak,” Clark said. “One brother moved to Colorado and the other left because of health reasons, so that left me to take over.”
Students are most likely to see the Boss Doggs carts from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but Clark said his day is much longer.
“We always start out in the Ohio Union, where we organize ourselves for the day, then we push our carts to our three locations,” Clark said.
Two carts are located on Neil Avenue, and an additional cart can be found outside of Denney Hall.
Regardless of weather conditions, people are likely to find Clark sporting his signature shorts.
“People always ask me how I can wear shorts when it is so cold out, but truthfully, after I’ve started out in the morning in the union and pushed my cart to its location, I’m too hot to wear pants,” Clark said.
“Sometimes I bring fleece pants, but before I know, it the day is over and I never put the pants on,” he said.
Clark said he tries to hire students whenever possible because they are young and energetic, and because he has a desire to help students.
Gina Carlisi, a junior in human development, has been working for Boss Doggs since the beginning of fall quarter.
“I like the job because I get to see a lot of people and I can talk to Eric everyday,” Carlisi said.
Clark, who has owned the business for four years, said their food prices have not been raised in five years.
“I try to keep the costs as low as possible, because I was a student here once and I know kids don’t have that much money,” he said.
Tony Corbin, a freshman in engineering, considers himself a regular.
“I buy the beef fajita once or twice a week,” Corbin said. “I just think it tastes good and it’s a quick lunch.”
