Everyday People features the people who make the greater Ingleside neighborhood a special part of San Francisco.
Thaddeus Laffitte found his love for food and education at City College of San Francisco, and he found a way to combine the two with street food.
The San Diego native moved to the city in 1992 to study kinesiology at San Francisco State University. A few years later, he took a nutrition course at City College, where his love for learning and being on the campus led to earning degrees in nutrition and health science, real estate, and counseling. Now he owns and operates Thad’s Hot Dog A La Carte on Frida Kahlo Way near Ocean Avenue.
“Everybody wants a hot dog,” said Laffitte, who proudly shared he’s known as the hot dog man. “It makes people happy. It makes them smile.”
The Bernal Heights resident can usually be found on Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving low-pierced New York-style hot dogs like a classic beef-based jumbo, polish and hot link dogs, vegan and chicken sausage with endless complimentary toppings like classic ketchup, mustard, onions and tomatoes, among others. He also serves various soft drinks, chips and cookies. He also brings kids’ parties and partners with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to serve at baseball games.
When he’s not manning the cart, the 57-year-old is running around the city as a self-proclaimed community ambassador, volunteering with the SFRPD and the San Francisco Police Department and working as a physical therapist at UC San Francisco.
Laffitte doesn’t work at the hot dog cart alone. He has mentored several City College students who are majoring in business. Alejandro Chan Cabrera, who joined the team last semester and has earned an associate's degree in business, is learning from Laffitte about the ins and outs of operating a business.
“Come and eat because it’s good because we have different varieties of hot dogs,” Chan Cabrera said. “Drop by and say hi to us.”
The Ingleside Light caught up with Laffitte to hear more about him.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day looks like getting up around 8 o'clock, doing some prep and making sure all my supplies are checked. Then I load up my vehicle. I usually get to City College around 9 a.m. We serve from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. After that, I might do some shopping.
I am a jack of all trades. This is my side business. With my degrees from City College, I now work at UC San Francisco as a physical therapist. On my off hours or my off days, because I feel like I’m a steward of the city and the community, selling hot dogs is a way to give back.
Thaddeus Laffitte and City College student Alejandro Chan Cabrera serve a hot dog at Thad's Hot Dog A La Carte. | Anne Marie Kristoff/Ingleside Light
Out of everything you could serve, why hot dogs?
It's simple. It's affordable. I had a restaurant for 10 years called Thad’s Cozy Cafe at 965 Sutter St. I was there from 2005 to 2015. Food is my passion. It’s something I’ve always done. Everybody wants food and has to have food. Once my lease expired, I was looking for a more affordable way to keep my business flowing, and the hot dog stand just worked out. The cost was much more affordable. The responsibility was less. It gave me the opportunity to go to different places rather than that one brick-and-mortar.
What has been your favorite memory so far while operating the cart?
My best memories are just working with the students. I just like working with the students and working with the community.
What’s one piece of advice you have for someone who wants to start their own business?
Be honest and provide good customer service. Consistency is what people always want to see.
Anne Marie Kristoff (she/her) is a recent graduate from San Francisco State University's journalism program. She enjoys writing about the arts, entertainment and nature.
