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Business & Tech

Hot Dog Vendor's Business Changes Since Discovery Hostage Crisis

That decorative Augie's Doggies hot dog-cart is here for a reason, according to Discovery staff: The vendor earned it during last year's Discovery Building hostage crisis.

The Sept. 1, 2010, hostage crisis at the Discovery Communications campus changed the lives of many people inside the building. But it has also had a lasting effect on Isidro Cabrera, owner of Augie’s Doggies hot dog stand, situated on the sidewalk between Discovery and Georgia Avenue building.

"I remember everything from that day," Cabrera said. "When I saw the guy inside and people down on the floor, I started telling everyone to move away from the building."

His efforts did not go unnoticed by the media company.

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“He was really helpful in alerting people who were walking back toward the building. He was instrumental in keeping people away,” said Tammy Shea, vice president of corporate affairs and communications for Discovery Communications. “So we wanted to do something nice for him.”

And that something nice turned out to be a brand-new hot dog cart, courtesy of West Coast Customs, the  custom car-design company featured on the show “Street Customs,” which airs on the Discovery Channel.

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"It's a special project for us. It’s the ultimate hot dog cart, and it has everything on it," Friedlinghaus said in a statement to the press.

The finished cart arrived in Silver Spring on Feb. 2. Cabrera remembers the day well: A big truck pulled up, with the cart in tow.

“They came to this area. They brought it to this area,” he said.

Cabrera told Patch that the new stand is quite an improvement over the original. He praised its brighter design, extra amenities and roomier environment.

“It’s a new reworked style, a lot more colors and features,” Cabrera said. “And it’s bigger.”

made by Discovery following the situation—including changing the entrance—hasn't negatively affected his business. And the new cart has brought him new customers, Cabrera said.

"They know who I am now, from seeing me on promotions for the show," he said.

While he has not made any changes to his routine or location, he can still vividly recall the relief in his wife's voice when he called her on Sept. 1.

"I told her everything was fine, that I was OK, and she was so very happy," Cabrera said.

Augie's Doggies can be found weekdays on the sidewalk between the Discovery building and Georgia Avenue, close to the intersection of Ellsworth Drive.

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