All that’s missing from the Trolley Stop is a recording of Judy Garland singing "The Trolley Song."
Instead of a clang, clang, clang, this trolley-trailer drives out the pang, pang, pang from appetites needing comestible fulfillment.
Designated a mobile food unit, the Trolley Stop set up shop first in the parking lot of 160 Speen St. in Framingham in November. A second trolley-trailer, known as Trolley Stop Jr. - it’s smaller than the original - opened in the Building 19 parking lot in Natick in December.
The trolleys are owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Ed and Diane Hyman - he works in Natick, she in Framingham. They both sell comfort food at a comfortable cost.
Prices range from $2 for a basic hot dog to $4.50 for a sausage roll served with peppers and onions. For $1.25 extra, customers can get a combo consisting of a drink of their choice, a bag of Cape Cod potato chips and a homemade chocolate chip cookie along with the main meal.
The menu, packed with whimsy, includes such offerings as the self-explanatory Three Dog Night, the Hound Dog (with melted cheddar cheese), the popular Snoop Dog (with chili and cheddar cheese), the Remdog (with mustard, relish and sauerkraut) and the Dogfather (with everything).
The signature dish - can you guess? - is the hot dog, which comes served in a natural casing on a fresh, warm, buttered, grilled roll.
Complimentary toppings include mustard, ketchup, relish, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, onions and celery salt. The following toppings cost 25 cents each: chili, melted cheese, bacon bits, sauerkraut, peppers and onions, jalapenos and pickles.
The Trolley also serves hamburgers, cheeseburgers, a turkey dinner wrap, clam chowder, an oversized baked potato, drinks, snacks and daily specials.
The Hymans offer giveaways as well. For example, guess the weight of Willis, their mildly flabby tabby, and you win a prize.
Their foray into the trolley-trailer business began last summer.
"We were dropping our daughter, Haley, off at her friend’s house when we saw a trolley-trailer sitting by the side of the road with a for-sale sign," recalls Ed Hyman. "We dropped her off and came back to look at it. Next thing we know I was calling and asking questions about it. We thought about it for a few days and both decided it would be a perfect venture for the both of us. A few days later we bought it and the rest, as they say, is history."
The trolley in question belonged to La Cantina owner Lee Mencoboni. Located across the street from the Framingham restaurant, it had been operated as Trolley Dogs Inc. The 8-foot-by-16-foot vehicular kitchen is made out of wood and fiberglass.
"Since we had what we felt were two great locations, we found another trolley-trailer a few weeks later and purchased that one also," continues Hyman. This 5-foot-by-10-foot trailer is made out of aluminum.
Prices for these units range from $5,000 for a used one to $30,000 for a new one, according to Hyman.
The Framingham couple spent two months scouting out locations. They chose Building 19, located in the 9/27 Shopping Center, because of its built-in commerce traffic while 160 Speen St. was chosen for its proximity to several corporate offices and visibility from the street. They pay rent at both sites.
Before launching the business, Ed Hyman worked as a school counselor and Diane as a day-care director.
"We wanted to start something together and when this opportunity arose, we thought it was perfect for us," says Ed.
Adds Diane, "Ed wanted something that would be a little more profitable, without the long hours and the tedious paperwork."
Diane operates the Speen Street trolley Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Ed runs the Building 19 trolley from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours vary during the winter. If the flags on the trolley are flying, the trolley is open for business. Once the weather improves, hours of operation will expand.
The Trolley Stop had served breakfast at the Speen Street location, but decided to stop due to frosty conditions. "We noticed a lot of customers didn’t want to get out of their cars on cold and windy winter mornings," says Ed. However, breakfast will resume in the spring.
Also in the spring, the Trolley Stop will add tables and chairs outside both locations. "This way customers can sit and enjoy their lunch and not have to rush back to their cars," says Ed.
For Framingham State College students and diners with late-night frankfurter cravings, the Trolley Stop will soon be open from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. with the Building 19 trailer going mobile and moving to the parking lot near Centre Pizza across from the college. An exact opening date and days haven’t been established yet. The Hymans are looking at Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. In case you’re curious, the Hyman’s SUV with a tow moves the trolleys.
For the winter months, the Trolley Stop has also just instituted a free delivery service for the Framingham area on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. "This will make it easier for those who don’t want to get in their cars and brave the cold weather," says Ed. "If it’s successful, we’ll continue it after the winter’s over and add more days."
Take-out orders can also be made.
While the exterior of the Trolley Stop’s trailer resembles the vintage trolleys that used to make tracks in bygones days, the interior looks like a mini-kitchen complete with hot dog steamers, grills, refrigerators, stainless steel countertops and storage areas. To operate the unit, the Hymans received permits from the Framingham and Natick boards of health.
"An advantage of a trolley-trailer is the uniqueness of the look as opposed to a standard trailer, a truck or just a hot dog cart," says Ed. "It makes people feel good to come to our trolleys and it can be a conversation piece. We are moblie so we are able to take it on the road if people want us to cater their parties, functions, grand openings or just about anything they would want us for.
"The best part about the job is the daily interactions with our customers. People come up to us and instead of just ordering and leaving, they tell us a story, tell us about their day. It can really be about anything. Since we both enjoy being around people, this job is perfect for the two of us."
The cold and snow of winter have put a crimp in business, Ed acknowledges. The Hymans expect more customers to "stop by for a bite" - that’s their catch phrase - when Old Man Winter chills out.
Though only in business a few months, the Trolley Stop has already attracted regular customers. They include Bobby Kline. "He comes faithfully every day for his sausage combo and root beer," says Diane. "He does all the plowing for TJX and during the storm three weeks ago, he plowed us out for free. To thank him, we bought him a beanie cap because he wears beanie caps. He’s a sweetheart."
The Hymans give back to the community, too. "Since we apprecaite the good job the schools have done for our children, the Speen Street location gives 50 percent of its tips to the Framingham public schools while the Building 19 location gives 50 percent of its tips to the Building 19 foundation which helps needy people in the areas where Building 19 is located."
In addition to the food, the Trolley Stop at Speen Street provides a home for a dog costume in the shape of a hot dog and a hat in the shape of a hot dog. To attract customers on the first Saturday the business was open, Ed wore the hat. "People were looking at me like I was crazy," he says.
But some still stopped at the Stop.
TROLLEY STOP
Owners: Ed and Diane Hyman
Address: parking lots at 160 Speen St. (the Rte. 30 intersection) in Framingham and Building 19 (the corner of routes 9 and 27) in Natick
Phone number: 508-308-2414 for Framingham, 508-816-0160 for Natick
Web site: Under construction
Employees: 2
Industry: Food
Company background: Based in Framingham and Natick, the Trolley Stop is a mobile food unit.
