Snacks! bodega to open on Ballard Ave.

Down at the end of the parking lot just outside King’s Hardware on Ballard Ave. sits a new little market called Snacks!

Snacks! is the brainchild of Ballard’s hot dog king, Dante Rivera. He says to think of this as a high-end 7-11. He’s planning to sell grocery staples, he’ll give vendors from the Farmers Market a space to sell their wares and of course he’ll be selling his famous hot dogs.

Dante has some fun new ideas for the dogs. He’s going to ship chili in from his home town of Detroit for the Coney dog and he’s created a “Chilly Dog” that is a hot dog bun with soft serve ice cream, his idea of an ice cream sandwich (served with a spork.) He tells us that a portion of all the proceeds will go to a non-profit here in Ballard, “When you’re making a purchase here you’re supporting your community.” The grand opening for Snacks! is next Monday, June 15th. The hours will be Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Not to worry, his hot dog carts aren’t going anywhere. (Disclosure: Dante advertises on MyBallard.)