Brad Horn/Nevada Appeal
Some might think that the simple hot dog can't be gourmet fare, but Mike Gribble would quibble with that characterization.
With his wife Jan, Gribble opened Finx Hot Dogs in the Short Stop gas station on North Carson Street, with an eye on offering Carsonites something they can't get anywhere in town.
"It's slowly starting to catch on," he said. "I'm the only place in Carson that will serve you a gourmet hot dog. It's not on a rotisserie, and not on a stale bun with a stale dog. Everything is fresh, my buns are steamed, my hot dogs are steamed, fresh-made chili every day, fresh-made sauerkraut, all the way down the line."
When looking for the kind of quality product he wanted to serve, Gribble didn't have to go far. The hot dogs at Finx all come from The Sausage Factory, the local wholesale sausage maker a few blocks up the street, which has been turning out a wide assortment of links for 40 years. And Gribble can put his own special twist on the ordinary hot dog.
"I have some specialty dogs, and I can custom make a dog however you like it," Gribble said. "Everyone who comes in has their own favorites they like to get, and they almost consider it their own dog. Dean Heller comes in here, and he has his own special dog that he orders every time."
Finx's prices range from $1.50 for a plain hot dog to $4.50 for their specialty dogs. Condiments available to dress up a dog include chili, bacon, lettuce, tomato, sauerkraut, onions, jalapenos, two types of mustard and more.
One specialty dog is the Reuben, made with a real corned beef hot dog, deli mustard, onions, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and celery salt.
"It tastes just like a Reuben sandwich," Gribble said.
Another specialty dog is the Colt .45, which features a snappy hot dog, deli mustard, two strips of bacon, barbecue sauce, onions, cheese and chili.
Gribble said he was in the car business for 23 years, and not hopeful about where that industry is going. That's when his silent partner presented him with an opportunity.
"He had this place that had a kitchen, and he always wanted to do hot dogs," Gribble said.
They modeled the idea on Pink's Hot Dogs, a 70-year-old institution in Hollywood that has people lining up around the block.
"That's kind of our goal," Gribble said. "We are starting small, and I feel that with the help of the community, we can grow."
Despite a challenging economic environment, Gribble thinks they have a niche that can make it here, where a customer can get a quality hot dog, chips and a drink for under $5.
"I offer a quality product at a quality price," Gribble said. "I take real pride in what I do. Every dog I've made, I've eaten. I'm not just throwing things out there. That's why I can call it a gourmet hot dog."
One of the major challenges facing Finx is their location.
"Our biggest hill is we are located in a gas station, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Gribble said. "The second thing is, when you think of a hot dog in a gas station, you think of AM-PM or 7-Eleven, where you get a dog on a rotisserie."
Other challenges include the lack of parking and seating.
"If you have to park next to a gas pump to come get a hot dog, then park next to the gas pump and come on in," Gribble said. "And we are working on getting some seating inside, maybe by next week."
Finx is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. They are closed on Sundays.
Contact reporter Kirk Caraway at kcaraway@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1261.
Finx Hot Dogs
1321 North Carson Street
Inside Short Stop Gas Station
882-5409