He鈥檚 91原创鈥檚 version of the food truck guy 鈥� without the truck.
Miguel is always 鈥渢hat鈥� guy, the one with a big smile on his face, a boisterous 鈥榟ello鈥� to passersby, and cool music emanating from his food stand in front of the 91原创 Real Canadian Superstore for years. All that, and the smell of fried onions, invariably brings a smile to the faces of customers coming and going from the grocery store.
Miguel has become a real favourite for many.
Today, his popularity is apparent by the sheer number of posted notes that are currently pinned to the gate of his hotdog shack.
Since Miguel became sick about two weeks ago and was forced to close up shop 鈥� hopefully only temporarily 鈥� his fans and friends have covered the gate outside his Gypsy Bite food stand with notes, well wishes, and even a few balloons.
There are so many notes 鈥� some that have even fallen off and flown back into his concession 鈥� that the management at Superstore are today working on erecting a better and larger board for all the public messages, said assistant manager Ian Danis.
He has only been with the store since March, but has been with the company more than 20 years. Even in that short time, Danis has gotten to know Miguel is a 鈥渧ery friendly man, always with a smile on his face.鈥�
In fact, he is such a 鈥減opular community icon鈥� that the company made an exception in keeping his hotdog stand open when all others were closed down.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a big draw,鈥� Danis said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 so popular鈥� He鈥檚 a good character to have around. He鈥檚 got a great sense of humour. He鈥檚 always got a smile. He鈥檚 just a great guy to have around.鈥�
In the days since Miguel has been MIA, Danis said his staff get constant questions about his whereabouts and health.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of love for the guy. He鈥檚 very popular in town,鈥� noting that the get well message board was erected just a few days after he went off sick.
Among the many notes telling Miguel he is missed, wishing him a speedy recovery, hoping he鈥檚 feeling better, and telling him to get well soon, many more personalized notes have been added.
The Briggs family posted: 鈥淲e miss your enthusiasm and fantastic music!! Thoughts + wishes.鈥�
Josh wrote: 鈥淟ove your positive attitude and permanent smile.!!鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not the same without you,鈥� wrote Dan, Elsa, and Lucas.
鈥淭he hot dogs are waiting,鈥� said Kiko.
鈥淲e miss your hellos while shoping,鈥� The Pranks wrote.
The Hsiang family added: 鈥淒ear Happy Mister, Thanks for always being the sunshine in our lives. You鈥檙e truly an important member of our family.鈥�
鈥淲e pray for you,鈥� Mark and Nancy wrote.
Chris Shaxon, who has worked at Superstore for two years, was among those who put up a note. He鈥檚 also tries to visit with people inquiring about his friend.
鈥淢iguel knows we care. He鈥檇 probably be bawling his eyes out if he could see the kind of support that everyone is showing,鈥� Shaxon said.
Even an eight-year-old from the neighbourhood, Jayce Wright, scribbled a quick note for Miguel, saying he missed him.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just so nice,鈥� Jayce said, 鈥淚 hope he鈥檚 back soon.鈥�
Jayce鈥檚 mother, Liz, added: 鈥淗e鈥檚 been here forever. The community just adores him. He鈥檚 just an amazing guy.鈥�
A man with a following
There was a public outcry back in 2009, when it looked like Miguel was going to have to move or close his stand, based on a corporate decision back East.
But a collective choir of some 5,000 customers and fans apparently rallied behind Miguel, and not only did Superstore reverse its decision and allowed him to stay, but provided Miguel with a lockable covered shelter for his food stand.
Back then, Jimmy James of Richmond wrote on a Topix internet forum: 鈥淭hanks to people rallying together and voicing their opinions, Miguel at the 91原创 superstore was able to stay! Good going everyone! Our community would be losing a real treasure if we lost Miguel. Anyone that鈥檚 been there knows what I mean.鈥�
Dave from Calgary wrote: 鈥淥H鈥O鈥�.MIGUEL is staying鈥�..WOW鈥ow鈥�..GOD Bless鈥ood HOTDog eat鈥檔鈥�..Onward鈥�..eh鈥�..thank yous鈥�, too, to the 91原创 Superstore鈥�.eh鈥︹��
Around the same time, the Bliss family of Surrey wrote: 鈥淢iguel is a very good reason why we shop at Superstore. If Miguel goes, so do we.鈥�
Patti Dell of Surrey also wrote in: 鈥淚鈥檝e only been in the 91原创 area for 1.5 years, but as soon as I saw Miguel鈥檚 face I knew who he was right away! For a man to have his work ethics in this lazy world we are living in is outstanding and should be rewarded鈥� He is an outstanding man, smiling every day and bringing our ever growing community a bit closer as it should be.鈥�
Darian K. of Gastown spoke up about Miguel on Yelp, saying: 鈥淔un hot dog guy Miguel outside is always good for a conversation.鈥�
A blog called Kitsch 鈥檔鈥� Stone Soup ran a segment called 鈥淭aking a Stand for the Hotdog Man.鈥�
A big part of her diatribe was focused on Miguel. She called him a 鈥渕onumental individual that sort of became a landmark鈥� in her mind.
鈥淓ach time I shopped, he stood there like a beacon in my memory; tanned skin, crazy wild hair, beanie hat, and hobo gloves. Dark framed glasses dwindle his big eyes and his 1,000 watt smile is hard to miss at the back of the monstrous parking lot that you think 鈥� that man鈥檚 face is all teeth.
鈥淗is smile makes your day. It doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean that you鈥檒l buy a hotdog, but you feel like you鈥檙e at home when you step inside that store.鈥�
She said Miguel became a friend that she had never met, until one day the writer and her roomie chose to pay it forward and delivered a card and a huge Starbucks coffee to the 鈥渉otdog man.鈥�
鈥淲e heard about his life in South America. We had to put our sunglasses on when he saw the coffee. He radiated with astonishment. As much as he is all teeth, he is also all voice. He yelled his thanks across the expansive parking lot as it echoed through the valley.鈥�
Later, when she heard through Facebook that there was a group fighting to Save Miguel the Hotdog Man, she joined in the letter-writing campaign.
鈥淚 joined the group in a furious rage and send Galen Westen, the president to the monumental President Choice brand a rant the length of my forearm explaining that they could not get rid of Miguel because it wasn鈥檛 going to solve the solution to the problem of finding food tenants for the inside spaces at the 91原创 location. As one of the 5,000 individuals from 91原创 that spoke up, I can safely say that I stood up and spoke. And as a result, Miguel has kept his job.鈥�
The blogger was glad she took a stance.
鈥淧erhaps it was all a wild and crazy rumour but I was willing to take a stand to keep what keeps the 91原创 community unique. Who knows if his job was ever in jeopardy,鈥� she penned.
鈥淏ut the point is that Miguel and I are actually now on a first name basis, I feel like I somehow made a difference in his life鈥︹��
On the Gypsy Bite Facebook page, there鈥檚 limited action. About a year ago, Joseph Zichterman Jr. posted five star, saying 鈥淢iguel is fantastic. Always remembers names, has a great story, and knows how to give people exactly what they want (whether it鈥檚 silence or conversation).鈥�
It鈥檚 obvious, just by the outpouring of support, that Miguel has touched many people鈥檚 lives over the years.
Anyone wishing to send him a comment is invited to do so here. They will be printed out and added to his board.
