Oscar Mayer is well known as an American packaged meats and cold cuts company, but perhaps it’s best known for the famed hot dog on wheels: the Wienermobile, invented in 1936.
Each year, a fresh crop of Hotdoggers — 20-somethings selected via a competitive application process to market the company — drive one of the six operating Wienermobiles cross country to raise awareness of the brand.
Sarah Oney and Stephen Harrison are "Sarahkraut" and "Sizzlin' Stephen," respectively. The duo started their year-long tenure in June and have already driven through Bloomington-Normal plenty of times. For Thursday and Friday of this week, they’re finally roll-ing the “Relish Me” Wienermobile to stops at the local Jewel-Oscos.
In addition to a seemingly endless list of hot dog puns, Oney and Harrison get to share Oscar Mayer postcards, stickers and the iconic Wiener Whistle that is only available to individuals who see the Wienermobile in person.
Marketing is the goal of the Wienermobile. It doesn’t serve food, but for Hotdoggers like these two, it goes deeper than selling the brand. Both Oney and Harrison said their favorite part of the role is meeting new people.
“As you're traveling along the road, you can stand out here today and see the attachment that people have to [the Wienermobile]. But it's another thing to like, tell the stories of the attachment that people have,” Oney said. “It brings the Wienermobile to life.”
Hotdoggers get grilled on the technicalities of the vehicle.
Has the Wienermobile ever been in an accident? Technically, yes — and in Chicago last month — but it's rare. [Note, Oney and Harrison have not].
Is there a grill in there? No, you don’t want them behind the grill, they said.
Do you sleep in it? No, it’s not a weenie-bago. [Oney informed WGLT this is her favorite pun. Harrison prefers classics like “it’s been grillient,” “it’s been bunderful” and “frank-tastic."]
Between answering these questions, Oney and Harssion said they also get to make real connections, and there are plenty of stand-out encounters.
Harrison described an “angel” they met recently who brightened both of their days with her effortless kindness, and Oney spoke about a woman in Minnesota who visited Relish Me after her spinal surgery to announce she was walking again via photo.
“Just the fact that we got to be a part of such an important moment in her life is such an honor,” she said. “People come up all the time and are telling you stories from their childhood. I’ve cried in front of the Wienermobile because they love it so much and I love it. It’s sweet to be a part of that with people.”
Harrison said “ditto” to all of it, adding that Relish Me’s role in Chicago Pride made the day a top 10 of his life.
At the Jewel on Oakland Avenue Thursday in Bloomington, the pair created more unique experiences.
Plenty of people came intentionally to see the Weinermobile, carrying memorabilia and vintage Wiener Whistles with them. Others stumbled upon it.
Mary, who declined to share her last name but was overjoyed to talk about her trip, said she dragged her sister-in-law from Heyworth out to see the hot dog car. She couldn’t stop smiling and laughing.
“It’s awesome,” she said in a rush, laughter bubbling up. “I’m like a little kid. I called everybody. I’ve been with the chiropractor today and I told my chiropractor and he said he’s gonna take his kids. He told me, ‘Thank you for telling me.’ I’m like a kid.”
She’s turning 80 next week and said it’s her first time seeing the Wienermobile in person. She sang the Oscar Mayer song and the Bologna song with Oney.
And it was neither the first nor last time the songs came up. One person brought an accordion he’d recently been gifted and is learning to play out for the occasion. He said he saw the Wienermobile was coming and figured the song would be perfect for practicing.
“I had the day off today and figured I might as well go see the hot dog mobile, and then I shortly after that figured I might as well learn the Oscar Mayer Wiener song,” said Daniel, who also declined to share his last name.
Raymond and Linda Miller felt the same way. While they didn’t partake in any sing-alongs, the couple who live in Bloomington came professional camera ready for their close up with Relish Me.
“It’s impressive,” Raymond said, with Linda adding that she imagines “you get a lot of attention going up the road.”
Springfield resident and native Amber Johnson didn’t necessarily bring a camera, but she did come decked out from head to toe in a homemade Oscar Mayer-themed outfit. She wore a homemade Wiener Whistle headband and earrings.
“My dad has been taking me [to see Wienermobiles] ever since I was a baby whenever it was in town, so I started as a wee one, a little wee weenie,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s Oscar Mayer roots run deep. She said her grandfather was the first butcher in Springfield to sell Oscar Mayer products. She herself was one of five youth who made it to the final round of try-outs to be the Oscar Mayer Wiener kid for the famous 1997 commercial, which solidified her love for the company.
Oney recognized her, saying it was great to finally meet the “Wien Queen,” since she’s well-known for her visits.
Seeing Relish Me was a special treat, Johnson said, because it was the first Wienermobile she got to ride in.
“They came for my birthday and took me for a ride and I also got to take my father for a ride, who started this whole problem — but a good problem,” she said.
No one was able to ride in Relish Me on Thursday, and the Hotdoggers say it won’t happen when they travel to the Jewel-Osco on Veterans Parkway at 10 a.m. Friday either — but people can still come to create new memories with the Wienermobile.
If they can’t make it, Harrison said it’s more than likely the Wienermobile will be back. If it comes to Bloomington-Normal again in the fall, that’s when people can hop in.
“We don’t know if we’re going to be back yet… but we hope to be back,” he said, adding people can track the Wienermobile online.
