Some 35 years ago this spring, a man and his bicycle-driven Hot Dog Kart showed up on a busy corner at the crossroads of the central business district in downtown St. Joseph. His name was Ben Yacobozzi, and his rainbow colored umbrella at the corner of State and Broad Streets in downtown St. Joseph has become legendary. In fact, it is the only non-brick & mortar hot dog vendor in the nation to be ensconced in the Vienna Beef Hot Dog Hall of Fame. When the Hot Dog Kart takes up its anchor position this spring, however, it will be the first season ever minus Ben himself. Sadly, Ben Yacobozzi passed away yesterday, Saturday, January 26, 2019.
Ben was an amazing icon in the community, truly a remarkable business man who turned 34 years of simple Chicago style hot dog sales into college educations for multiple children and grand children over the three plus decades of banner sales on the same corner all summer long every summer.
Ben had a sterling career with St. Joseph Fire Department, where he retired with the rank of Lieutenant and took the reins full time at the Hot Dog Kart.
It all started when one of his daughters hit a rough spot when the place she was working for a summer job closed up shop, and she needed to continue to raise tuition money for her college career. Ben got to thinking about how he would often see hot dog vendors in his native Chicago while he was growing up and they ended up paying a visit to the Vienna Beef Hot Dog company in Chicago. Having launched as a bicycle driven cart, Ben once told me that the folks at the hot dog factory suggested the concept of anchoring in the same space so people would know where to find the cart on a regular basis, and State & Broad has never been the same since.
Long lines have not been at all uncommon as a wide array of people would wait patiently while Ben and his family members would quickly make to order any request. A regular mix of men in business suits intermingled with kids pulling a pet on a leash and families decked out in beach gear bound for Silver Beach would stand toe to heel in line waiting for the great taste of one of Ben’s delicious offerings.
In the beginning, Ben’s kids ran the Kart to earn their way through college, but when the last one finished school, he became the regular vendor. Eventually, his grand kids took up the reins as well, and he would have more time to simply supervise from a park bench a few yards away and jump in when needed. I visited often and many times we would sit and chat and reminisce about the community and try to solve the problems of the day. Former St. Joe Today Director Jill Stone captured on of those great moments. 
He never seemed to tire from the task despite the occasional super hot day or the chilly winds rolling off of the lake and the occasional wash out that would force a rapid shut down and haul away because of the weather.
Ben had the construction of the Chicago style dog very much down to a science and could serve a substantial clientele at a rapid pace, and was always proud of the fact that people from all over the world had the opportunity to enjoy his concoctions while strolling the streets, parked on a bench, or headed off to the beach or a concert in the park.
Ben’s solid reputation stemmed not only from his and his family’s amazingly friendly demeanor, but also his insistence on using only the finest ingredients from premium produce selections to the legendary Vienna Beef hot dog.
Ben’s former fellow firefighters from St. Joseph and the firefighter’s union, IAFF Local 1670, shared their condolences to the Yacobozzi family early today. He and his wife lived in Hagar Township and would deliver the Hot Dog Kart every day ahead of the noon hour by off loading it from a trailer to put it in place for another day of summer time goodness in downtown St. Joe. He will be most assuredly missed by anyone who has ever stopped to enjoy the Hot Dog Kart in St. Joe, but the tradition will carry on with his family members this summer, marking the milestone year of 35 years in business.
Here is Ben’s obituary and funeral arrangement announcement:
