here - The Liberty Lake Splash

The Splash June 14, 2012 • 19
business
BubbaDogz develops LL niche
Hot dog stand focusing
on special event catering
By Kelly Moore
Splash Staff Writer
Liberty Lake residents Matt and Sandi
Wasteney started up BubbaDogz Hotdog
Cart two summers ago, admittedly on
somewhat of a whim. Now, the operation
has evolved to sometimes-street vending
and special event catering.
“We both are very personable and
outgoing people, and when I retired,
we thought of many different business
ideas,” said Matt Wasteney, a retired police
officer. “We both were former amateur
competitive bodybuilders back in
the late 90s, so we were thinking of ideas
in that field. Then, for no particular reason
and with no previous food experience,
we decided on a traditional New
York-style mobile hot dog cart. Although
I grew up in California, I am originally
from the east coast, so it’s probably in my
blood.”
He said the hot dog cart appealed to
his family because they like the traditional,
“old school” experience and oneon-one
interaction with customers. Sandi
Wasteney said the idea was sparked by
In Biz
Submitted photos
The BubbaDogz Hotdog Cart business is a family-run food service operated by owners Matt and Sandi Wasteney and their two daughters.
The family recently served the crowd at Spokane’s Lilac Festival (top right).
their daughter’s involvement in softball,
which led them to many tournaments
with few food options.
With authenticity and freshness at the
forefront of their mission, BubbaDogz
serves Nathan’s quarter-pound all-beef
franks, which Matt Wasteney said were
chosen because of their popularity on
Coney Island, and Longhorn Barbecue
German sausages. Buns are custommade
from Franz Bakery. Keeping the
menu simple, the cart also offers drinks
Optometrist of the year
and chips.
The business popped up on many Liberty
Lake radars earlier this season with
regular appearances on Signal Drive near
See BUBBADOGZ, page 23
Local schools selected for
Itron Champions Program
The Spokane Indians baseball team announced
this week that Madison Elementary
and Logan Elementary were selected
to participate in this year’s Itron Champions
Program. The program provides two
low-income Spokane schools with a visit
from OTTO the Mascot and 250 Indians
tickets to distribute to students as a reward
for good attendance, hard work, and
achievement in the classroom.
“We love bringing the Itron Champions
Program to schools and getting kids
excited about learning,” Indians Senior
Vice President Otto Klein said in a press
release. “This is a great opportunity for the
Indians to support our local schools and
students.”
The Indians open their season on June
15 against the Vancouver Canadians with
opening night fireworks and AAA magnet
schedule giveaway.
Chamber seeks participants
for veteran program
The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber
of Commerce is seeking qualified veterans
for the Fall 2012 NxLevel Course, which
is scheduled to begin Sept. 19 and run
through Dec. 19.
The veterans’ specific business planning
program is designed for veterans interested
in going into business for themselves.
The program teaches participants to build
or update an existing business plan.
“We see this as a unique opportunity
to fill a need in our community,” Chamber
President and CEO Eldonna Shaw
said. “We look forward to giving veterans
a head start on business success as entrepreneurs.”
For information on NxLeveL and enrollment,
contact John Pederson at john@
spokanevalleychamber.org or 216-3791.
For information on individual or corporate
donations to the program, contact
Phil Kiver at 999-8645.
Itron announces expansion
of ‘smart energy’ products
Itron announced June 7 that it has
expanded its ZigBee Smart Energy-certified
product portfolio across the company’s
energy product line. ZigBee Smart
Energy is a global, standards-based wireless
mesh networking technology that is
used to connect dramatically different
devices.
“Itron is committed to bringing best
of breed technologies together to enable
See IN BIZ, page 21
Submitted photo
Liberty Lake resident,
Dr. Nils W. Ohlsen,
was recently named
Walmart Vision Center’s
West Coast District
Optometrist of the Year.
His practice is located
inside the Spokane Valley
Walmart. Above he
is pictured with Vision
Center Manager, Brandee
Frizzell.