Hot Dog! Tom & Jerry‘s has got Snap for the Season

Sept. 29, 2004

There’s nothing like a hot dog eaten outdoors on a glorious Indian Summer day in the heart of downtown Traverse City.
And those who are wise to the pleasures of Tom & Jerry’s Dog House in the small park directly across from Horizon Books can revel in the fact that owner Tom McManus plans to keep his hot dog cart and tent operation open right through December and the Christmas shopping season.
“My goal one day is to have a Tom & Jerry’s restaurant that will cater to nothing but hot dog lovers,” Tom says. “Every kind of hot dog, whatever you want, from kosher to all-beef, soy and veggie. Just don’t ask for hamburgs, salads or Reuben’s. But that’s still in the future.”
Tom’s banter is as snappy as the dogs he sells -- they’re delicious premium Koegel Viennas which do indeed “snap” when you bit into one. He seems to know every customer’s name and offers the sort of first-class attention to detail and service that one yearns for in many gourmet restaurants.
And no wonder, McManus (no relation to the political family of the same name) left his hometown of Elk Rapids when he was nine years old to live in Brooklyn before launching a career in the dining industry. He’s been a maitre ‘d, a waiter and a short-order cook. “I come from an Italian background and we love to cook,” he says.
More than that, McManus goes way back with a love of hot dogs. “One of the first jobs I got in new York was on 34th right across from the Empire State Building serving HoJo’s -- Howard Johnson’s hotdogs,” he recalls. “I had nightmares about hotdogs!”
Eventually, McManus returned to Northern Michigan, settling in Eastport with his wife Carol, who works in the operating room at Munson Medical Center. Last year, while engaged in a shoe shine business, he and his friend Jerry Grover decided to launch a hot dog restaurant in Garfield Township, south of Traverse City. Unfortunately, their plans fell through due to some zoning restrictions and Jerry decided to continue with his career as a specialist in Subaru maintenance. Undeterred, Tom decided to launch a hot dog cart business in downtown TC, using the Tom & Jerry’s Dog House name.
This summer, he established his cart near Union and State streets, meeting with instant acclaim. “I got a wonderful welcome,” he says. “Even people from Benzie County come and say they always stop here when they’re in town and I’ve had people from all over the country say these are the best hot dogs they’ve ever had.”
Recently, he moved his operation down on Front Street for better visibility, again with great results, judging by the number of people who stopped by during our interview.
Part of McManus’s success is his savory, spicey creation: Tom & Jerry’s Dog House Sauce, a condiment which adds a zingy tingle to the tongue. McManus says the sauce rates as a “three” on a 1-10 spice level, and customers can’t seem to get enough of it.
“It was an accident,” he says of the sauce. “I wanted to make something really hot but I came up with this and it was just right.”
Is a recipe available? Any clues as to what’s in the sauce?
“No, the dog ate the recipe,” he says with a smile. But seriously, he’s discussing the possibility of marketing his sauce through the Great Lakes Culinary Institute; and one notable restaurateur told him he could have a big hit on his hands if it ever reaches the grocery shelves and restaurants of America.
McManus is also a Vietnam vet. Twenty years ago, he says he had a religious awakening that has colored his life ever since. He’s concerned about the level of violence in the world and tries to do his bit to help out by projecting a sense of optimism and spreading the word on his faith. His good works include provide free hot dogs on occasion to homeless persons downtown, or to kids who are down on their luck.
Currently, McManus is looking for letters of support to re-up his lease for the coming year. So far, he’s received fan mail from folks ranging from a nine-year-old to doctors, lawyers and local bankers.
“This summer has been enormous fun -- people have been so contributive to having a good hot dog in town.”