Hot dog carts are a staple of every New York City street, but most would be shocked at the outrageous price tag. Mohammad Mastafa, a vendor in New York, has said that he pays the parks department $289,500 a year just to operate one cart near the Central Park Zoo. In less popular areas, fees are lower, with an estimate of $14,000 for Astoria Park and $1,100 in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. Cart owners must bid on their spots to secure them for use.
Cart revenue ranges vary greatly not only from cart to cart, but from day to day. Mohammad Mastafa’s employee says that their cart makes around $750 each week in the summer. Other coveted areas around Central Park run around $200,000 a year. That’s right… the fee to operate a single hot dog cart for one year is enough to pay over three years of rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the heart of New York City.