City Steps In To Save Boy's Hot Dog Business After It Was Shut Down For Not Having Permit

A 13-year-old who has been running his own business selling hot dogs for two years was in danger of being closed after people complained that he didn't have the correct permit to flog his food to the public.

Now, this is nothing new, in recent weeks we've seen a few similar stories, with a woman nicknamed 'Permit Patty' hitting headlines after she called officials over a little girl selling bottles of water and another woman calling cops on a 12-year-old kid who set up his own lawn-mowing business.

However, what makes this story different - and infinitely better - is that when officials from the Minneapolis Department of Health first got wind of the complaints they set about making young Jaequan Faulkner and his business 'Mr. Faulkner's Old-Fashioned Hot Dogs' legit.

CBS

According to CNN, Jaequan has sold his hot dogs for a couple of years to raise money to treat himself to new clothes, but, admittedly did not have the correct paperwork to sell the food items.

So, Dan Huff from the Minneapolis Department of Health stepped in to sort out the legal side of the business and also got young Jaequan trained on food handling and health and safety issues.

Dan told CNN: "When I realised what it was, I said, 'No, we're not going to just go and shut him down' like we would an unlicensed vendor.

"We can help him get the permit. Let's make this a positive thing and help him become a business owner." How nice is that?

If all that wasn't enough, they then got in touch with the city's local entrepreneur support network - Northside Economic Opportunity Network or NEON - which is giving him invaluable advice and has helped him set up his own Facebook page for the business.

Ann Fix, a programme manager at NEON told the news outlet: "The thought is to get a permanent location with primo traffic, so he could sell hot dogs.

"This young man is so full of gratitude. He is absolutely terrific to work with."

Staff from the department of health even clubbed together and helped Jaequan pay for his permit.

Doesn't it help to restore your faith in humanity a teeny bit, eh? In a world of Permit Patties, be a Minneapolis Department of Health worker.

Source: CNN

Topics: Inspirational, Interesting, US News, US

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19