Danbury Small Business Spotlight: Weenie Lynn's

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

• Business: WEENIE LYNN’s
• Owners: Michael & Lynn Negron
• Website: www.WeenieLynns.com
• Address: Mobile- Danbury, CT

What business are you in?

Food Truck, special events and private parties, specializing in all-beef hot dogs, grilled kielbasa and bratwurst, fresh-cut French fries, pulled pork sliders, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches (with pulled pork, turkey meatballs and more!), nachos, freshly-made mini donuts, and event-specific specials. (With a plethora of toppings!).

Why did you decide to open in Danbury?

Lynn, a second generation born and raised Danburian, worked in the publishing industry for over 26 years, and when the company closed in 2009, the economy and job market left no choice but to re-invent herself. Michael, who has worked (and continues to do so) for Synchrony Financial (formerly GE Capital) for nearly 30 years, along with her mother, Danbury native Rachel Radachowsky, encouraged her to put her confident personality and love of meeting people into a family-run business in town. Having grown up in Danbury and enjoying hot dogs and more at Big Ed’s and Moffa’s in town, a hot dog business seemed a perfect fit, and Weenie Lynn’s was born, providing high-quality food and customer service at family-friendly, budget conscious prices.

Starting a business in Danbury also allowed Michael and Lynn to involve their five children in the business as well. Now ages 16, 19, 21, 22, and 25, they each not only had specific jobs within the business, but also learned how to work cohesively together, as well as learning the value of customer service, talking and listening to people, marketing and promoting the business, inventory control, money management and giving back to the community.

What began in 2010 as a brand-new NY-style hot dog cart business offering only hot dogs, kielbasa, chips and soda, water, juice, became a full-service food trailer in February 2015, offering a broader range of food product and beverages for our customers. Weenie Lynn’s is a special events and private occasion food trailer operating mid-April through November having been a regular food vendor throughout the greater Danbury area and within CT such as the Ives Concert Park Summer Concert Series since 2010, a regular at the Danbury Summer Concerts on the Green, The Taste of Greater Danbury, Halloween on the Green, First Night Danbury, the Newtown Labor Day Parade, The Newtown Arts Festival, Western CT Militia Football sole home game food vendor, Armed Forces Reserve Center (Danbury) 4th of July family & fireworks picnic, various food truck festivals, sports tournaments, charitable fundraisers, having also been seen this past summer at Cartus Corporation and Branson Ultrasonics during their cafeteria renovations and so much more.

How did you come up with the name?

It’s a name whimsical enough to remember and silly enough to garner attention!

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

We’ve been fortunate and have not had many challenges that negatively affected our business. We have met many wonderful people in the event promotions industry as well as a varied range of food across the state that we have developed close personal and supportive business relationships with.

What’s been your proudest achievement since opening?

Aside from being able to work together as a couple and having all or some of our five children work with us at each event, our proudest moments are many but there are three that stand out. In 2010 the Northwest Regional Special Olympics were held at Danbury High School and we were the sole food vendor. And while we sold food and donated proceeds to the cause, being there to give hugs, high-fives, to cheer on the athletes, and commend them on their accomplishments and look at their medals, to talk to the athletes, coaches and volunteers was the most rewarding and moving experience we have had to date. When after Summer Concert on the Green in Danbury, I can give what I have left to the less fortunate that linger at the end of the night. And lastly, when a Western CT Militia football parent came to the trailer to say “I want to show you this text. My daughter would only come to tonight’s game if Weenie Lynn’s was there! She texted as asked ‘Is Weenie Lynn’s there?!’”

How does your business give back to the community?

Weenie Lynn’s participates in many charitable events throughout each season. For example, this past summer, we participated in the Danbury Railway Museum’s car and train show which benefited the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury. A percentage of our sales went to the WCOGD. We participated in events that benefited Ann’s Place, Ben’s Bells, Wounded Warriors donating not only a portion of our proceeds but the tip jar as well as feeding the less fortunate after events when we can. And this winter Weenie Lynn’s is sponsoring a basketball team through the Hat City Youth Sports program.