The Wiener Kings are bringing hot dogs to the party on the Rehoboth Bay sandbars this year.
The pontoon boat-based business is run by father-son duo Brian, 52, and Tyler, 22, Keyes of Millsboro, offering hot dogs, sausages, burgers, fries, nachos, candy and drinks. They recently moved to Sussex County from northern New Jersey.
“My dad always wanted to do a hot dog cart, but then we realized that nobody was out on the water, and there’s a huge market out there,” Tyler Keyes said.
The Rehoboth Bay sandbars are probably the Delaware beaches’ worst-kept secret, having grown in popularity over the years. When the sun is high and the tide is low, dozens of boats show up at the sandbars, with kids and dogs (of the canine variety) in tow. They bring beer, cornhole and even grills, but now they don’t need the latter.
Wiener Kings’ first foray on the water was last weekend and Tyler Keyes said they did better than expected.
“I post our location on Facebook and we drive around, but we mostly go to the sandbars by Massey’s (Landing),” he said.
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The Keyes are able to cook the hot dogs and keep them warm because they’ve bolted an actual hot dog cart onto the boat. They use a grill for the burgers and an air fryer for the fries.
Wiener Kings will be at the sandbars from about 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for the rest of the summer, as long as the weather cooperates.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught
