Wienermobile stops in Downey as part of national road trip

Photo by Alex Dominguez

DOWNEY – Downey residents were able to relish in an American tradition that they could sink their teeth into when the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled into town on Sunday. 

The 27 foot long, 11 foot tall and eight foot wide vehicle shaped like a hotdog wiener is a sight hard to miss wherever it goes, however Sunday afternoon saw it parked in front of Vallarte Market. 

Currently, the Wienermobile and its two “hotdogger” crew are celebrating its 81st anniversary. 
According to “Hotdogger” Francisco Ruiz, the first ever Wienermobile was built in 1936. 

“Carl Mayer, Oscar Mayer’s nephew, was actually the first one to build one,” said Ruiz. 
Local residents were able to bring their families to take pictures and – of course – get their Oscar Mayer Weenie Whistle.  

This falls right into what Ruiz described as the mission of the Wienermobile.

“The mission of the Wienermobile is always to create smiles. We always like to say ‘miles of smiles,’” said Ruiz. “Everywhere we go we always like to see people smiling, telling us how much, you know, ‘oh I remember when the Wienermobile when I was little!’ Those are always the great memories that they have with us… “

According to Ashley Eisert, the other half of Sunday’s Hotdogger crew, the Wienermobile appeals across all generations.

“We definitely get the older generation; those who remember when it first came out,” said Eisert. “But then we also get the new generations, and that’s because the grandparents and the parents are bringing their kids to show it off. So it really is a wide range, we like to say ‘kids of all ages’, who come to see the Wienermobile. It is a great tradition and a great memory starter.” 

Those who missed the Wienermobile while it was in Downey and wish to “ketchup” with the classic American Icon are encouraged to download the Wienermobile app for updates and locations.