THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 1996 TAG: 9604230161
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Earning a Living in Virginia Beach
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
IN 45 YEARS, the customers of B&J Hot Dogs have bought and consumed 3.2 million all-beef wieners.
In a slow year, William and Joan Harmon cook, sell and serve 73,000 hot dogs and there is no end in sight for the couple who have made hot dogs and service their business for decades.
``I still enjoy doing it,'' said Bill Harmon, 59, ``Though we've seen some real ups and downs over the years.''
When they took over the family business from Bill Harmon's father in 1969, hot dogs were 15 cents, sodas cost a nickel and teenagers were their main customers.
Today, hot dogs are $1.45, sodas are $1 and professional and military folks as well as families out together for a weekend lunch are the main customers.
The Harmons sell only Dubuque all-beef hot dogs from Iowa. There's homemade chili, bean soup and the fixings for an ``all the way'' hot dog - relish, sauerkraut, onions, mustard, ketchup and even coleslaw, a favorite of Joan Harmon's. They also sell New York hot sausages.
Their best seller is a hot dog with bean soup and a small soda for $3.25.
Over the years, when business hit a slump, the couple tried different ideas. At one point, they opened with a breakfast and dinner menu.
They quickly found that neither meal was worth the work it took to prepare or the price they had to pay to hire extra help.
They still battle the ups and downs of business.
``It seems like every five years we hit a slump,'' said Joan Harmon, 56, adding that business has been slower lately than the couple would like.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer four months ago, putting even more of a strain on the couple's finances and time.
Bill Harmon does woodworking on the side, including the picnic tables and chairs he sells at the shop.
Some things have remained the same, especially the store's down-home decor and old-timey soda fountain feel.
There are 12 red-padded stools in front of a long counter where customers can see their food being prepared. There are 11 white and gray booths that Bill Harmon bought from a restaurant years ago. Even then, they were already 20 years old though today, the booths shine with years of cleaning by Joan Harmon.
There are yellow and white gingham curtains hanging in the windows and near the register in the front is a jar of jelly beans for customers to dip into while paying their bill. There's also a full-size scale by the front door. It's been a topic of conversation for years.
``We always tell people that it's there so we can weigh them when they come in and weigh them when they're leaving so we'll know what to charge,'' said Joan Harmon, laughing.
Bill Harmon bought his business from his father, Allie Lloyd Harmon. His father had started Allie's Restaurant on York Street in Norfolk and Allie's Stop-In Fountain Service at the Beach. He ran both until ill health forced him to retire. Harmon's mother, Sally Harmon, helped with the bookkeeping, cooking, sewing and ironing, as well as raising eight children.
Young Bill Harmon was the only child out of the eight who was interested in buying and continuing the soda fountain business. One of the first things he did was change the name to B&J Hot Dogs, which represents himself and his wife, Joan, whom he met through the shop. The couple have been married 39 years and built their first house in Lakeview Shores on a lot where they used to ``park'' while they were dating.
The second thing Harmon did when he bought the business was to change the inventory from a general store to food and drinks only.
``People look at this little place and think 200 hot dogs a day is good business,'' said Joan Harmon. ``People don't realize we live off an hour and a half of (lunch) sales a day.'' MEMO: B&J Hot Dogs is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The
phone number is 464-9609. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Joan and Bill Harmon, owners of B&J Hot Dogs, have been in business
for 45 years in the Robbins Corner area.
by CNB