City Shuts Down Teen's Hot Dog Vendor Cart!

In Holland, Mich., a 13-year-old entrepreneur thought he would be able to sell hot dogs and financially help his disabled parents with the purchase of a food cart. Unfortunately, city zoning officials have shut down his business, based on an ordinance that prohibits competition to brick-and-mortar restaurants from mobile food vendors. The Mackinac Center's own Anne Schieber investigates.

[@terrifictomm]

The phrase, "an Ordinance that Prohibits Competition" says it all.

[@michaelpreston233]

Political pay off in action.

[@smithysmithsmith4022]

parents: do we need a license? no. do we need a permit? no. what the fuck kind of city is this ???

[@nathanjohnson9184]

Thank you for all your kind words.

[@prolusio1]

He already contacted the city before opening the stand to make sure everything was ok... He was misinformed by the people he trusts to handle and be in charge of these things. I don`t really see what more he could have done to get this up and going..Holland needs to get its shit together

[@throughmylens5127]

Violation of civil rights can not deny the right to earn he can sue the city

[@chs557]

sorry but you are wrong

[@davidhersh2697]

@@chs557 actually randy right, look up cases on institute for justice, on mobile vending,,and see the cases they won helping mobile vendors fight zoning laws, they all so help regular businesses fight zoning laws

[@Wall2000x]

And that zoning regulation is probably unconstitutional and illegal. Depends how it was written.

[@davidhersh2697]

It is look up institute for justice And you see similar cases that they won helping mobile food vendors

[@jeremy8080]

From one entrepreneur to another, Keep going Nathan! Its harder today to start a business than its ever been but don't let anyone stop or discourage you. When will government just get out of the way. If a restaurant can't compete with a hot dog stand then they will not last anyway.

[@conversationswithadrianne]

Right!

[@davidhersh2697]

Exactly

[@CakesBySusu]

So sad for this poor and brave kid...

[@pookiedig]

Let's face it they saw a young little kid and said look a weak kid let's ruin his food cart business lol 😂 that's so obvious they don't want to see you win

[@keithedgington7869]

who's being bribed at city hall? I hope they sleep well at night knowing that they have ruined a life. could this be a form of abuse?

[@neilyaremchuk6798]

Government is established to assist the people not people establish to assist the government.

[@craigpate4140]

In Detroit good trucks have to pay$450 a week to be on the downtown area. Yet people set up in empty lots with no permits outside that area. No one stops them .

[@nathanjohnson9184]

We are going to continue to fight this so I can re-open as soon as possible. My parents are doing what they can but any help you can provide would be very helpful. It is still being updated but there is a donation button on my website. Any amount you could spare would help with the added costs my parents have been experiencing to help me with this. Thank you again, Nathan

[@jwalidea]

This needs to go viral to not only help this family out but expose government for the market-stifling bullies that they are.

[@withjustmyhands]

Truly amazing! I cannot believe how obvious POLITICS and GRAFT are at play in this story. You have got to be kidding me. This young man could be out doing some very negative things to make money. I applaud him for trying to do the right thing. I just scratched the City of Holland off my list of places to visit. I may reconsider if I can get the opportunity to buy a hot dog from this young man. I say we all BOYCOTT those restaurants downtown.

[@scott31312]

Holland is just like Houston. They are socialist cities.

[@Rehdman6444]

The kid is right. If the owners of those restaurants feel threatened by a 13 year-old boy, they should not be in the restaurant business. One day, all those assholes will be working for this industrious young man. As for those mealy-mouthed politicians who seem to sympathize with the kid, I can only say that they have the power to change the rules. Do the right thing. One day, this young boy will be able to vote and you will be history.

[@SpeedFleXXX]

I don't understand how there can be laws that prohibit competition. WTF?

[@larryparks1520]

Go to the Institute of Justice. They can help.

[@embrj1453]

And this how's Cartels are formed...

[@icecreamladydriver1606]

Is there a second video to let us know how the story ends?

[@GeneralJack0neill]

This kid is a hero to his parents. Let him do this.

[@neilyaremchuk6798]

As long as this kid has proper state and local licensing, insurance and stays a reasonable distance away from the brick and mortar businesses, he should be allowed to do this. Good for you kid. This was five years ago and i wonder ever became of this?

[@srtyeh]

You have the right in the pursuit of happiness...I think a good lawyer and a fed up jury of your peers could clean their clock.....

[@davidhersh2697]

Institute for justice is the way to Go,

[@craxydaswb]

Listen to the story again. He didn't get a permit. They told him he didn't need one when, in fact, he did. The city council member screwed up and so did he.

[@zoozootaken]

If your food sucks enough for a kid's hotdog stand to take away business, you shouldn't be in business.

[@dlhsonic]

If a hot dog stand is competition for your restaurant, then your restaurant doesn't need to be open in the first place. That's like a bar competing with a 8 year old who runs a lemonade stand

[@loganzwiefelhofer7085]

like a said, you go to the restaurant if you want a meal. if you want a snack, go to a hotdog stand. Completely different businesses.

[@crila]

Kid of the year award. In 10 years he will own that city.

[@alpha95X]

How much a hotdog stand makes should not hurt something as big as a restaurant, and the concept behind it is competition, which improves business. If 2 restaurants are competing people will go more often to the one that provides better foods and services, which will bring more money. That would encourage the other one to improve their foods and services. If a restaurant is being hurt by a hotdog stand: 1) there's something wrong with that restaurant, 2) it's motivation to improve the quality.

[@danpoor1]

A local restaurant should just endorse him.

[@Technodreamer]

The purpose of the government in a capitalist system is to promote competition, not stifle it. This is sick.

[@toastiecake]

Less laws= more business = more taxes for government, everyone would be happy

[@preludewordsmith7527]

In our town they also frown upon food carts and trucks. We looked into renting a location but the rent is at least 1,000 for a 300-500sq ft place plus utilities. People say they looking out for the established food places I just think they are protecting their pockets and get away with over charging for locations.

[@davidhersh2697]

Contact institute for justice they can Help you with mobile food vending in your town ,they win a lot of cases

[@loganzwiefelhofer7085]

But really, when has a hotdog stand ever competed against a full service resturaunt??? They are on completely different levels. And wtf is with heated sidewalks.....

[@kluna]

Did you not listen? He got his permits and they went into City Hall and asked if it was ok, They just told him at the last minute which is bullshit to tell a 13 year old that after the fact he spent so much money to set everything up

[@paulgarcia1147]

A small hotdog cart does not in any way compete with a restaurant. Small town restaurant owners and franchise owners have their greedy hands in this somehow. Special interests always find a way into government especially when money is concerned. They should be ashamed of themselves but sadly they probably are not.

[@loganzwiefelhofer7085]

Epilepsy, like any other medical condition, has more health care costs associated with it than say, a perfectly healthy individual would have. Also, he mentioned epilepsy because he was explaining what his parent's reasons for being on disability were.

[@PianoKeyzOfficial]

Voting this up while voting for Romney or Obama is an oxymoron. Gary Johnson supports freedom, do you?

[@Ganeki-san]

Another prime example of government limiting competition, promoting monopolization (of the restaurants that pay more to the city) and harming people with an entrepreneurial pursuit and spirit...the backbone of our country.

[@johnjones4101]

Thumbs up to Michigan once again. Biggest dump in the USA.

[@wigwmg77]

ok...so as long as they can capitolize this kid's business then he can stay?!?

[@ilililhy1]

America is full of kids dealing drugs and this poor kid is trying to earn an Honest Buck and the city shut him down? there is an Old Fashion way of dealing with City Officals,give em a Blanket Party.

[@LucidDream101]

geez, if the kids wants to work than let him work. he got permission from the store owner to be there.

[@BdeJJG]

i hope he is still hustling and grinding, there is always bullshit like this, restaurants dont lose out with one or a few, neither does the city.

[@loganzwiefelhofer7085]

He wanted to help contribute to home owning costs for his parents, and the cost of living for a family of at least three, includes health costs, groceries, entertainment, etc. Try and think a little next time about what the kid actually said....

[@toms4020]

Such a joke…No respect to these city officials!!!

[@billrockmaker]

If he is such a profitable threat, what is stopping the restaurants from opening their own hotdog cart outside their restaurant?

[@joelmonteiro1419]

"He didn't want to sit around and play videogames this summer" - yeah, 'cause that's everything kids do nowadays, right?

[@craxydaswb]

I did a google search. There is 8 on the commercial block and another 5 within 5 miles. Because they pay taxes for the right to be a restaurant. The little boy does not.

[@scott31312]

In Washington DC shoe shine boys have to pay 1200 dollars for 2 year permit to shine shoes. Republicans and Democrats let it become law. This is one of the many reasons I voted for President Trump. Trump would never let this happen.

[@BigRobb2389]

you think because they have to pay extra taxes that it justifies not allowing other people to open up their own business?

[@craxydaswb]

He wasn't given the green light by somebody who was wrong. He was ill-informed. And this isn't about taxes. This is about protecting already established businesses.

[@jsnadrian]

2:39 - they pay extra tax for heated sidewalks?

[@xcrazycolbyx]

This kid learned a valuable lesson. It makes more sense to go into business with government than with private entrepreneurs. Serve the bureaucrats and you will receive benefits, serve the people and you will get shut down.

[@kluna]

I didn't see how the kid screwed up when the city was in fact the one the screwed up, it was in no way the kids fault, he went ahead with the stand cause the city said it was fine, City's fault, not the kids

[@nullality]

I love how 2 little girls can MAKE lemonade and sell it, without a private kitchen, or business license, or any standardization of their process and get on Fox news, but this kid can't even set up shop.

[@Handsome-Jim]

I listened just fine. The ordinance covers all outside area. There is no difference between him violating it in his parking lot and another business owner violating it on the side walk.

[@braklinath]

...Wow... and they're all upset at the fact that they're losing jobs... HOW HYPOCRITICAL CAN YOU GET?!

[@TheRealPlato]

Please bookmark this video and show it to anyone who says 'America has free markets'. Govt screws the competition to help their buddies

[@moviemusicfreek]

It does seem a little cold, but they have law on their side. I like that this kid is going to try and change that law. It's still dumb to shut a kid's hot dog stand down, though, it's kind of like flipping over a little girl's lemonade stand.

[@KermitTheFrogHere]

“I believe in an America where the free enterprise system flourishes for all other systems to see and admire - where no businessman lacks either competition or credit - and where no monopoly, no racketeer, no government bureaucracy can put him out of business that he built up with his own initiative.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

[@nathanjohnson9184]

I am preparing for the upcoming season but am missing one important thing - a hot dog cart. I am busy saving, my parents will do what they can, but I think I am going to fall short of what I need to buy a new one. You helped me win the fight with City Hall and it is my hope that you can help me get back in business. I know times are tuff but any help you can provide will get me that much closer to being back in business. To donate please visit my website. Thank you, Nathan

[@voogru]

You can't have a free market without regulations like this. We can't have people starting businesses in their garages now can we?!

[@Derechtekojack]

It's sad that so much people agree with this. The Goverment should represent the people, not a few moneycows. This is wrong and just because it's a law, doesn't mean it's right.

[@CenturianCornelious]

Our servants are wildly, insanely out of control.

[@NoLMAOnade]

Its unfair to the store owners because he doesn't have to pay to be there? That's like saying its unfair to homeowners that homeless people live on the street for free...

[@LibertarianGranola]

Since the City protection racket is threatening him with force for trying to make a living, this kid should set up a paypal, dwalla, and/or bitcoin account so people can send him and his family support. Keep up the entrepreneurial spirit kid, and never be afraid to stand up to a bully, even if that bully has a lot of guns and fancy titles like "City Administrator" or "County Sheriff." You weren't hurting anyone or violating anyone's property rights, no victim no crime.

[@whattherichardd]

It all boils down to greed.

[@Curt_Randall]

This makes no sense. Private property and with the property owners permission, and still the the city is giving the kid the boot. Oh brother. Big brother.

[@dcsumosam]

Exactly, I bet that if enough people were to defend him to an extreme degree, not even the law could shut down this boys dreams. The Government only works as far as the people allows it to.

[@chllywllyd]

Fuk those BS laws, but,...If the "brick and mortars" dont offer him a job, next time they have a opening, the community should flatten them :)

[@Poshhhhhhh]

He is wanted in Oakland County and Ottawa County.

[@alpha95X]

Also, if you shut down a small guy because he's making a lot of money, you are punishing success.

[@twotwocold]

The restaurant owners complained about the kid and they had pull judging how fast it happened especially if city officials ate at those restaurants 💯

[@marcocleirigh1334]

He should of checked his facts before he set up the cart there. He can either partner with one of the restaurants or move his cart out of downtown. These are the kind of everyday difficulties every business is faced with, good thing he learns it at a young age.

[@ZackForester]

If these 8 downtown restaurants cannot exist without a municipality enforced monopoly in the downtown commercial area of Holland, Michigan perhaps it's time for their customers to boycott their businesses and drive them out of business or out of town.

[@Handsome-Jim]

Not in this case. Ordinances like this one increases the value of commercial districts through promoting a nice, friendly shopping experience and that's probably a big reason why this PRIVATE business choose to open his business there instead of a district without these protections. It's probably a safe bet that he would be objecting pretty heavily himself if someone else decides to set up a sporting goods cart across the street.

[@craxydaswb]

It hurts the businesses that pay a tax to run their restaurants...

[@humanhiveanomaly]

A productive member of society turned lobbyist by the good graces of the coercive state apparatus.

[@NoNameC68]

There's more to this story! And no, it's not a happy ending. This kid and his family are separated and homeless! Nathan and his mom are in a shelter, but his father is on pain medication that's not allowed in the shelter, so he's elsewhere.

[@omitsura]

The fact that we have internet and someone would support such a law? wow

[@ImOblivious]

Chapter 12; Section 12-2; Mobile food establishment. A mobile food establishment is a food establishment operating from a vehicle or watercraft that returns to a licensed commissary for servicing and maintenance at least once every twenty-four (24) hours. In the video, his parents stated that they were told that they did not need a license or permit. Chapter 12; Section 12-3; Specifically states you need a permit to run a food service. They were ill informed, that's why they were shut down.

[@Alarindris]

It's not trespassing if it's in the street. Without zoning laws there would be nothing you could do.

[@craxydaswb]

Actually...food stands in Washington D.C. make a boatload of money. They pay hundreds of thousands for the rights to operate their stand yearly.

[@MatthewByrd]

Shutting down a kid busting his butt to try to provide for his family to protect profits of other restaurants... You guys should be proud of yourself. Go rot you filthy thieves. Keep it up Mich! You're fighting for your rights!!!

[@Tastycake233]

kid doesn't research well enough, gets shut down. happens to people of all ages, and not just 13 year olds, nothing will change because of this.

[@mbabist01]

Because, if you had LISTENED to the report, you would have HEARD that the boy's business was set up on a PRIVATE PARKING LOT, NOT a SIDEWALK. Your precious sidewalks would have been kept neat and clean anyway.

[@craxydaswb]

The intent and purpose of the law is stated clearly in this video. If you watched it, I shouldn't have to repeat it.

[@whowantsfood]

this kid's barely a teen - he's going to do wonders when he's in college.

[@terradraca]

There is no zone where he could sell. They're pulling this nonsense all over the place. You can't even have a lemonade stand on your own freaking property without some busybody shutting it down nowadays. Where have you been?

[@mbabist01]

@dihsonic, You really "hit it" with that one. And, if I were a citizen of Holland, I'd go to a restaurant in another town, as it is obvious that the snooty Holland restaurants do not need my business.

[@alpha95X]

I'm reading the comments and I see so many people surprised by what has happened. I'm not. This crap has been happening in America for a while now. I'm only surprised it was the city that shut him down and now some government official, because it's usually a government official who comes and shuts stuff like this down. Lemonade stands, neighborhood barbeques, even offers of baby sitting have been shut down.

[@glanemann]

I can't stand that cities shut down food carts. It's idiotic.

[@lauralambreal3142]

Once upon a time this country was founded by people just like this young man, who had a dream and started whatever business they could to support their families. What a shame! Wehave now alowed the government to stifle our young people and keep them from pursuing their dreams.

[@mbabist01]

They're just as bad in the large cities. But then, it's not only restaurants, but practically everything else that can buy a politician.

[@dougackmann]

Is one Hot Dog cart really going to hurt restaurants during the summer? I think not. Let the kid stay. God I bet every parent would love to have their kid being that entrepreneurial.

[@craxydaswb]

The law is there, not to attack this boy personally, but to keep others from opening hot dog stands as well. If they make an exception just for this boy, although in a tragic situation, they have to make an exception for everyone. Food vendors could open up all over the place, driving these restaurants out of business.

[@alpha95X]

I'm not saying ALL laws are bad. The murder laws protect the people, at least they're supposed to. But, what the laws are saying also matters. And, just because we can't choose which laws we can and cannot follow doesn't mean that some of them are wrong.

[@adisharr]

As much as I like to say 'screw the machine!', he did not have the proper paperwork or permits from what it looks like. That's just the way it is.

[@LibertarianGranola]

They'd probably try to arrest the bike store owner too. Sick bastards.