LJWorld.com / New restaurant opens off South Iowa Street

Business

J-W Staff Reports

June 30, 2008

A new restaurant that specializes in offering Coney Island fare is open at 2116 W. 25th St., in the Holiday Plaza shopping center northwest of 25th and Iowa streets.

The Hut is Barry Rogers' vision of what might be available for diners on New York's Coney Island: chili and small, steamed hot dogs that are ready for dousing with hot sauce.

By also offering white-bread sandwiches - egg salad, ham salad, tuna salad - and an open-faced roast beef sandwich, complete with mashed potatoes and gravy, Rogers figures he has a recipe for success.

"You can get a little bit of everything for a real cheap price," said Rogers, whose family used to run the Nelson's Buffeteria in Tulsa, Okla.

The Hut is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information, call 856-2488.

Discussion

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30 June 2008
at 6:43 a.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

So why didn't we read about the prices?
30 June 2008
at 8:14 a.m.

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peachesncream (Anonymous) says…

anyone tried this place yet?
30 June 2008
at 8:33 a.m.

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hail2oldku (Anonymous) says…

Placing the over-under at 2 months on this place.
30 June 2008
at 8:39 a.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm……………..

Shutting down at 8 pm; right at the evening business peak.

Good plan.

hail2oldku has it right.
30 June 2008
at 9:02 a.m.

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Boston_Corbett (Anonymous) says…

Marion has such a great track record of business judgments, you understand……
30 June 2008
at 9:09 a.m.

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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…

Yes, do exactly the opposite as what Marion suggests and you will stay in biz.
30 June 2008
at 9:49 a.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

A traveling lunch wagon would do best in this town and sell what The Hut is selling.. How come the j/w didn't give us some price examples. If the ham salad, etc are more than $2.49, forget it.
30 June 2008
at 10:03 a.m.

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1029 (Anonymous) says…

Good luck…….but that's a “car-only, be-prepared-to-sit-at-some-traffic-lights location” and those hours are limited. It depends on how much money one is willing to lose before giving up, but I say this place lasts until early March of next year.
30 June 2008
at 10:15 a.m.

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gemini (Anonymous) says…

Actually the food is pretty good. I work in the area so it is a very convenient and affordable lunch option - less than $2.00 for most menu items plus a drink! I, for one, hope it stays around = )
30 June 2008
at 10:18 a.m.

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thebcman (Anonymous) says…

Mmmmmm .. sounds yummy, but I wouldn't give it more than 6 months at that location.
Wasn't there a similar concept on 23rd (quite a few years ago) where the sushi place is now? That place served yummy dogs, but when i tried to go back several months later it had closed. However, this town does need a good hot dog stand. I'll give it a try tomorrow.
30 June 2008
at 10:32 a.m.

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d_prowess (Anonymous) says…

I agree that Lawrence could use a good hot dog place. Somethink like Portillos in Chicago I think would go over really well here and appeal to the student crowd as well as the working lunch crowd.
30 June 2008
at 10:32 a.m.

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pomegranate (Anonymous) says…

I tried them out. Good concept, bad location. We just had two dogs to try out, one a cheese dog, and one a chili dog. Price was just about $3.50. They do have a special of 2 cheese dogs and a drink and chips for $3.99. Let me just say that if you want a really good hot dog around here, go to the new Five Guys burgers and fries just behind On the Border.
By the way, I do like hot dogs, and just for a quick run in and grab a couple of dogs, I would go back.
I give them maybe 6 months.
30 June 2008
at 10:35 a.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

Maybe the money is to be made in taking bets. Is there a place in town where we could place bets on different businesses? A wager store , if you will.
30 June 2008
at 11:53 a.m.

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Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

Way to welcome a new business into town, people! It's got to be disheartening to put so much money, toil, hope, & gumption into chasing one's dreams, only to have a bunch of armchair businessmen placing bets on how soon you'll go under. I hope Barry Rogers has the good sense not to read these comments—or has a thick skin and takes it all in stride.

Thanks to Gemini and Pomegranate for posting some useful and concrete information on the food, although it would've been nice if Pom could've resisted adding to the speculation on how long the place will last.

Posters could give honest critiques or offer practical advice (e.g.: the place should stay open later than 8:00 pm) without forecasting its demise. But that would be too helpful. Just gotta get that swipe in..
30 June 2008
at noon

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boblsky (Anonymous) says…

For all us transplanted Tulsans this could be a dream come true. I called the Hut and they said their food is just like the infamous Coney-I-Lander in Tulsa or “the coney” as we like to call it. This place is an institution in Tulsa, spawning numerous competitors in town. In my 26 years of living in Lawrence I still cant believe that there has not been a coney Island style restaurant to get miniature chili/cheese coneys and chili frito pie. If this is half as good as “the coney” they will have great success just catering to the cravings of the hundreds of transplanted Tulsans, who now call Lawerence home.
30 June 2008
at 12:06 p.m.

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unite2revolt (Anonymous) says…

5 Guys is way too pricey for my taste. Almost 10 bucks for burger, fries and a soda at lunch time.

Since I just moved out of the neighborhood, I don't think I'll have much cause to visit the Hutt. I am curious though is it a sitdown place in the shopping center or are they operating out of the icee stand behind Paisanos?
30 June 2008
at 12:18 p.m.

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Mr_B_Positive (Anonymous) says…

It's the old icee/hair place by Paisanons unite2revolt. It's good. I ate there Saturday.

The article says his family used to run Nelson's Buffeteria in Tulsa. Wasn't there a Nelson's Buffeteria coming soon sign on the old Pizza Hut building on 23rd street a while back? I wondered what happened?

Good luck Barry Rogers. I'll eat there again.
30 June 2008
at 12:25 p.m.

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hail2oldku (Anonymous) says…

Pywacket - I understand your point, but my biggest piece of advice would be to find a better location. Unfortunately, it's too late since I'm sure there is a lease involved in addition to moving costs, etc., etc.

I hope the guy is able to make a go of it, but the restaurant business in this town has proven to take out both the experienced and the novice.
30 June 2008
at 12:38 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

If ancient memory serves, I think Polly Holt had this originally as a hot dog place when the plaza was new.
How long did it last?

We had a hotdog vendor on Mass for a while, Franks.
People liked it. Not sure why it closed.
30 June 2008
at 12:51 p.m.

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horsegirl (Anonymous) says…

I haven't eaten there, but I got a flier on my car while parked at Holcolm. Prices look great. Like $1.30 for chicken salad sandwich or something like that. You can eat a couple hot dogs and soda for about $3.50. Anxious to try it. I do agree the hours should be later though. I was going to take my kids there after a baseball game, but they were closed.
30 June 2008
at 12:54 p.m.

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lionbacker (Anonymous) says…

i just ate there, the prices were great and the food was great also. i got a coney island dog, a sloppy joe and a coke for $4.75 lets try and support it, and to the guy who said 5-guys was expense, thats crazy, great food and very good price.
30 June 2008
at 1:07 p.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

“Way to welcome a new business into town, people! It's got to be disheartening to put so much money, toil, hope, & gumption into chasing one's dreams, only to have a bunch of armchair businessmen placing bets on how soon you'll go under. ”

I'm with Py. Give them a chance - and a visit. Then let us know…I'm sure other more VISUAL locations would result in a sandwich that costs $4.50. Then the complaints would be that they are too expensive!
30 June 2008
at 1:22 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Do they have good fries?
30 June 2008
at 1:30 p.m.

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phenommenom (Anonymous) says…

Been there twice, it's alright! Convient location for me at lunchtime.
30 June 2008
at 1:57 p.m.

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justthefacts (Anonymous) says…

Uh, anyone complaining of prices in Kansas need to take a trip to NYC real soon. Just returned and a breakfast of flakes and milk, no coffee, was $19. Hope it does not get that bad here, but meanwhile, let's give this new business a chance before we slam it, shall we? You know what they say about glass houses and stones…so let's try to be civil to others….unless, of course, we ourselves are perfect in all ways.
30 June 2008
at 2:43 p.m.

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dlkrm (Anonymous) says…

I hope The Hut is very successful.

And yes, Five Guys is extremely expensive but very good. I won't be back frequently due to the prices, but I'll probably be back.
30 June 2008
at 3:25 p.m.

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gccs14r (Anonymous) says…

“Just returned and a breakfast of flakes and milk, no coffee, was $19.”

I think I'd get a pint of milk and a box of cereal and have breakfast in the room for 75 cents a day.
30 June 2008
at 3:29 p.m.

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Boeing (Anonymous) says…

I would be more than happy to open up a Portillo's West in Lawrence :)
30 June 2008
at 3:37 p.m.

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eclaire (Anonymous) says…

I agree that later hours might be good, I'd imagine that every drunk college kid in town would like to have a chili dog and fries after leaving the bars.

Can't wait to try it, sounds pretty decent.
30 June 2008
at 4:22 p.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

If the prices are what is posted here, it will be a great place for the elderly at Cllinton Place. They need a food place like this.
30 June 2008
at 4:37 p.m.

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BillybobThorten (Anonymous) says…

Wow—do you all feel so good about yourselves being so negative?
I hope they make it.
30 June 2008
at 4:50 p.m.

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pomegranate (Anonymous) says…

At this time they do not seem to have fries.
30 June 2008
at 6:50 p.m.

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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…

The name might confuse total idiots with another Hut that sells pizza, like the confusion caused by Old Home Depot and Home Depot.
30 June 2008
at 6:51 p.m.

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emilyhadley (Emily Hadley) says…

Always always better to start small and expand your hours than start big and have to reduce them.
30 June 2008
at 7:02 p.m.

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KSA_21_3503 (Anonymous) says…

I give it 5 weeks.

Coney Island style restaurant? Disgusting.

Honestly, who would eat this crap?
30 June 2008
at 7:18 p.m.

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Lulu (Anonymous) says…

Are there any new vegan restaurants? I went to Five Guys and a Girl and the dreadful smell of slaughtered cow cooking permeated the air so bad I had to leave in a hurry. A smart business would sell only vegetarian foods.
30 June 2008
at 8:55 p.m.

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magnus (Anonymous) says…

bcman-my friend has a hot dog stand downtown on the corner of 9th and Mass. Several menu options and shaved ice. He's a fantastic guy and runs a good stand. He is usually there Wed through Sunday. You should try it sometime when you're walking downtown.
30 June 2008
at 11:51 p.m.

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TopJayhawk (Anonymous) says…

LULU…You're welcome to come and graze in my backyard if you like……It would save a lot of mowing.,
1 July 2008
at 12:47 a.m.

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KSA_21_3503 (Anonymous) says…

“Are there any new vegan restaurants? I went to Five Guys and a Girl and the dreadful smell of slaughtered cow cooking permeated the air so bad I had to leave in a hurry. A smart business would sell only vegetarian foods.”

If by smart, you mean stupid, then yes.

I can see how the business proposal would go now:

Promoter: “Yeah, yeah yeah… we know less than 5% of the population is vegan and of that less than 5% only a fraction would go out to eat very often. But wait! We'll put all of our “tofu eggs” into this one basket of a minuscule market share. It's gotta work! Of course we can survive on 3 customers per day.

$300,000 please”

Bank: “Ingenious! Sure, here is the $300,000 for your business. What was the profit margin again? Oh who cares. You don't really need revenue to survive in Lawrence.”

It's all so clear now. I take it back. It is a smart business move. Gosh, why AREN'T these places everywhere?
1 July 2008
at 1:19 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

ROFL
1 July 2008
at 6:48 a.m.

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imaLttlGrl (Anonymous) says…

I live close to the Hut, haven't tried it yet though because it is such a tiny place. (Although some good things come in small packages)

It is literally a small hut right next to Paisanos. And the reason some of you have tried it and then several months later it disappears is because it is only open during the “summer” months.
1 July 2008
at 2:30 p.m.

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thebcman (Anonymous) says…

I had lunch at the Hut today .. Good value .. 2 chili dogs, chips and drink for 4 bucks. I wish the dogs were a bit bigger, and the quality ot the hot dog wasn't that great, but for the money .. it was a good deal.

They do not have fries, but have sloppy joes, nachos, egg salad, hot beef & gravy.

There is not much room to eat inside, a few “tables” outside, but from what i see, most of the business is carry-out anyway. They were doing a good lunch business today.

Good luck Barry !!