Friday, July 2, 2010

Red Hot Leaving Their Mark on Hot Dog World and Local Community

by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager

The Red Hot and their Tacoma-inspired hot dogs are grabbing national attention. A few weeks ago they were featured on the Food Network’s Chef vs. City and Yahoo Travel recently named their dogs one of the best in the nation. However, it’s their work right here in their Pierce County community that really turns heads.

Shortly after opening nearly their eatery on 6th Avenue three years ago, the staff at the Red Hot came to United Way of Pierce County looking for an opportunity to give back. They got involved in their seasonal giving programs, providing school supplies for low-income kids going back to class and gifts for single-mother families at the holidays.

In 2009, they decided to get their patrons involved. With the additional donations from their customers, the Red Hot was able to build a backpack for a girl and another for a boy in every grade. They also bumped up their holiday giving to include two families.

In honor of their third anniversary, the Red Hot is celebrating August 15, 2010 and raffling off a vintage Rainiers cooler with all the proceeds going to United Way of Pierce County. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 5th and will be sold through August 14th and are just $1.

Owner Cynthia Miller and her team at Red Hot believe in community and have developed a family of patrons who join them in making a difference.

“We have the greatest clientele,” said Miller. “It is like a community within a community, not an establishment.”

Visit the Red Hot at 2914 6th Avenue in Tacoma to purchase tickets.