Dogs at Hiram's Continue to Bark Best

Hiram’s, a roadside hot dog joint at 1345 Palisade Ave., has been serving the borough and tourists hot dogs, burgers and brew since 1932. 

Joe Barnao took over in 1955. Ready to retire and with a sick wife, he sold the business to Pete Demiris and Jeff Escudero in 2002, both employees since the early 1980s. He passed on the chance to sell the business for cash to other interested buyers because he was afraid the name Hiram's would change.

Together, Pete and Jeff keep the legacy going.

"There’s nothing to replace it," Pete said. “With Hiram’s already existing, with a following, made maintenance and continuity easy. Joe was conservative. Everything stayed the same. It’s the flow of people, the diversity of customers and the gossip buzz, that help me feel positive and motivated about coming to work. Joe's opinion of keeping things the same pays off."

The fact that people keep talking about the delicious food, the great service and the ambiance is what helps keep Pete and Jeff stay in check. But Pete said the economy is actually affecting business in a positive way.

"Families of four are deciding to come to us instead of going to a restaurant," he said. "The fact that we continue to be family-friendly and reasonable continue to make us the choice."

Alisa Boyko, a do-it-all employee, who is there at work first thing in the morning said, “The different thing we did shows on our menu. We added red onions, chili, cheese for the cheese fries and onion rings. It seems these changes work for Hiram’s. We don’t panic. We stick to what tastes good and stay on course. We always try to please the customers.”

Pete speaks highly of his workers, saying "they make what Hiram’s is."

"They are not robotic - no uniforms, things are one-on-one. We talk about everything with everyone," he said. "Jeff started a year earlier than I did; our chemistry works. Part of making this business work is the fact that we always cover each other at all times.”

The diverse clientele, as Pete puts it, “is a big melting pot. There’s no one that doesn’t come here who frequents a fast food restaurant.”

The big seller is hot dogs with fries and hamburgers coming in a close second. They use vegetable oil to fry in. Anything in moderation goes!

“You can always come to Hiram’s and bump into someone you know," Alisa added. "It’s kind of like a 'Cheers' atmosphere - Where everybody knows your name.”

Hiram’s is not a chain nor a fast food restaurant. It stands out by itself. Everything is made to order, keeping the business steady and constant.

Jeff and Pete are full-time workers, and there is always one owner on the premises at Hiram’s. That means being away from family. Jeff’s kids hang out at Hiram’s, whenever possible, making his sacrifice of time easier.

“It’s like being married; things change," he said. "You give up a big part of life serving the public."

Pete’s wife, Mara, works Thursday and Saturday nights and jumps right in when needed, making the business side of Hiram’s, as well as the camaraderie, always seem to flow as normal.

“It takes pride; it’s a team effort here," Alisa said. "Working with good people makes your job easier. The owners make it easier too. They always seem to make things work."
               
As far as the future of the business is concerned, Pete says, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

"If my workers quit, we’re in trouble," he said. "We would be able to replace the worker but not the ethic or the public relations. People come here to get what they want. ‘Standing orders never die!’ Customers come in to talk about food and even to inquire about our lives, The business runs deep, like the root of a tree.”

Pete’s older brother, Steve, does the shopping for Hiram’s twice a week at Restaurant Depot in South Hackensack. All decorations in Hiram’s are done by Jeff’s mother, Olympia, and her sister Rosemary.

Pete and Jeff donate funds raised from the return of water caps for chemotherapy and cancer patients, beer caps for the troops and 10 cents per beer cap to the local police. They've also donated food for a local summer camp for kids.

Hiram's hours are 11 am. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sundays. Hiram's can be reached at 201-592-9602.