D&S Hot Dogs Of Guilford: A Love Story

GUILFORD, CT — Dennis Hanlon worked the anti-crime unit as a member of the New York Police Department at the 52nd precinct in the Bronx of the ‘80s.

It was a tough job and though he was no firefighter, he hates fire, he said, he twice ran into burning buildings, one a high-rise, to help save lives.

“I don’t like running into fires, but that’s what happens,” he said.

In one case, he was directly across the street from a fire that had yet to be called in.

He ran in.

Injured, he’d take a line-of-duty retirement in 1988.

Hanlon, now 64, may have left the city, but the city hasn’t left him and so it’s not a big surprise that he and his “partner in life, love and business” Susan Young, 59, thought “how about hot dogs?” when formulating their plan to provide quick, and yummy, bites to Route 80 travelers, motorcyclists in particular they’d hear drive by their North Guilford home. Pull over and grab a dog. But not any hot dog, a Sabrett hot dog, a New York City staple found in omnipresent stands and carts across the five boroughs.

“Where we live, 80 runs alongside the house. We hear motorcycles a lot and thought they could use a place to stop to eat quickly. We looked at each other one day and said: ‘Wouldn't it be fun if we bought a NYC-style cart?’”

They took the idea and ran with it. They began with a cart in October of 2019. They got the necessary permits and licensing and took their hot dog cart to town. D&S Hot Dogs was born. They went from the Green to Jacobs Beach, and started doing events like tag sales, summer concerts, and graduation parties.

“It’s a slow process and you learn as you go, but we've had a lot of support,” he said. Indeed, as members of both the Madison and Shoreline chambers of commerce, and with “incredible support” from each, he said, the business grew. That and word of mouth. If the food is good, they will come.

Then the pandemic hit. They lost business like so many others, but they have been committed to seeing it through and growing the business and have.

This week, after receiving the highest marks possible from the Guilford Health Department, their cart is more chariot: they have a trailer.

Hanlon said that one huge plus is their business is an outdoor one.

“We’re hoping for a great season,” he said.

D&S will be at summer concert series in Madison and Durham, they’ll be at Jacobs Beach, the Dudley Farm and other locations. Check with their Facebook page to stay informed.

What’s on the menu?

Sabrett dogs with all the fixings, Italian sausage and peppers, burgers, lobster rolls soon, and, Susan said that since she’s Polish, she may try kielbasa, even pierogies maybe.

The couple told Patch that while in the beginning, business was “kind of slow,” they figure it was because, “no one knew who we were.”

Not anymore as business is great, he said, noting credit goes to the support they have received from both chambers of commerce.

This is also a love story

Hanlon and Young both grew up in Westchester County. And they were high school sweethearts.They’d eventually go their own ways. Hanlon to the NYPD. Young to Texas. Years and years passed. Hanlon’s wife died. Young got divorced.

“And somehow, we found each other again,” Young said.

She moved to Connecticut from Texas where she’d been a retail store manager. Hanlon has for years since leaving the NYPD been a church administrator in Westchester and then Darien.

They reconnected and haven't been apart since. The couple moved to Guilford where they’ve created a whole new life and new business.

When Hanlon was asked about his career as a New York cop, and running into burning buildings, he uttered a pfft.

Susan wasn’t letting it go.

“He’s the most wonderful, caring gentleman that I’ve ever met,” she said. “He’s my hero.”

(Patch is thinking maybe a hero sandwich should be on the menu.)

To reach D&S Hot Dogs & Catering, call (203) 285-6818, send an email to dandshotdogs@yahoo.com and like their Facebook page here.