Gus Prokos and his family in 1989. Johnny Prokos, the baby in the photo, is now the owner of the hot dog stand.Supplied
From a spot just northeast of the Toronto Blue Jays’ home stadium, you can smell grilled sausages and sizzling onions, see floods of blue jerseys and even hear the home-run horn on game days. Gus Prokos has been feeding fans outside the Rogers Centre since 1989, long enough to witness the highs of the Toronto Blue Jays’ back-to-back World Series wins in 1992 and 1993.
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Now, 36 years later, the family-run Gus’ Hotdogs stand has been passed down from Mr. Prokos to his son, Johnny, who is gearing up for his first World Series as the owner.
“I was pretty much there every single day of my life,” said Johnny Prokos, who recalled how he started helping out at the age of 9 by selling peanuts beside the stand.
“My dad taught me early that if you want something, you have to work for it. He showed me how to make my own money and build something from the ground up.”
Johnny Prokos at his hot dog stand outside Rogers Centre.Paris Sanchez/Supplied
What started as a single cart run by Gus next to Gate 2 of the stadium has since grown into two busy locations a short walk apart. On regular days, Mr. Prokos says business runs steady, serving tourists, stadium staff and office workers. But when the Jays are playing, Mr. Prokos says the atmosphere is “electric.”
“It’s something different that I can’t explain,” said Mr. Prokos, who watched Monday’s American League Championship Series finale inside the Rogers Centre. “When Springer hit that shot to win Game 7, I got goosebumps. I lost my voice. You could feel it in the air with people walking the bridge until two in the morning. The whole city was thriving.”
Gus Prokos in 1991.Supplied
Mr. Prokos tells The Globe and Mail that business is booming. During the Jays’ playoff run, the stand has doubled its staff from three to six workers and began operating 24 hours a day.
Despite the increase in business, Mr. Prokos says the family’s philosophy has not changed.
“Our prices are always the same: $6 for a hot dog, $7 for a sausage, $2 for a drink. We never gouge,” he said.
“It’s about reputation. We want to stay true to ourselves, treat people right and make sure everyone leaves happy.”
For Mr. Prokos, carrying on his father’s legacy is about more than just business. It is about community.
“We’ve had customers for over 20 years, and now their kids come by too,” he said. “It’s bigger than a business. It’s family. It’s love. Legacy is important, and I’m just proud to keep it going.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that although the hot dog stand had not yet been named Gus' Hotdogs, the stand operated outside Rogers Centre since 1989.