A few of the things that many people have asked for at the Commercial Slip are places to eat and places to shop. Until we see some of those permanent places established at the site, we're going to have to rely on entrepreneurs like Tomaso Coniglio to provide visitors with a quick snack and refreshment. Tomaso, a disabled vet from the Marine Corps, told me that he was set up at the foot of Pearl Street for a good part of the day. I asked him how business had been since he was the first person to set up any sort of concession stand along the Central Wharf. "I sold 500 hotdogs (Sahlen's) today," he told me. "I was lucky enough to win the lottery draw for today. Vendors must submit an application... then it's totally random who gets a spot and when."
I was surprised to hear that 500 hotdogs were sold yesterday. I was also surprised to hear and see that hotdogs were not the only item on his menu. Tomaso also sold homemade Italian, chicken and Polish sausages (second best seller), and 1/3 lbs black angus burgers. And besides Pepsi and Diet Pepsi, customers purchased bottles of water for a buck and chips- that should keep people at the Commercial Slip happy for a while. Tomaso asked me to mention that he also sets up at events if anyone is ever looking for a vendor who has good food and the cleanest cart around. His business is called Tomaso's Catering and Tom (donning a Sabres' cap) can be reached at 716.603.5926.