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Through a PanAthenic special event per
mit, a business permit is automatic when a ven
dor rents a space, according to Hogan.
Hogan says he’s beginning to get a little ner
vous and he’s a little bummed out that he won’t
get to go to any events
“1 won’t have any time; 1 think the entire
Olympics will be like it was yesterday in here.”
A few vendors have had spaces in the down
town area for years. They were able to renew
those spaces through the Athens-Clarke
County Government, according to a govern
ment official.
* * *
John and Virginia Gundacher have been
setting up their two ho' dog stands on College
and Clayton and on Lumpkin and Clayton ev
ery Thursday through Saturday since 1983. In
the summer, they set up mainly at night,, and
usually stay open until about 4 to 5 in the morn
ing.
During the Olympics, the Gundachers will
have to wake up a little hjt earlier then usual.
“I’m very certain that he events tot the six
days will have us going probably damn near close
to 24 hours around the clock,” Virginia
Gundacher says. “1 don’t know how John’s plan
ning on sleeping. He'll probably have to set up
a cot somewhere and take a nap."
The Gundachers were the first vendors in
Athens to do what they were doing, according
to Virginia.
Their native Athens roots enabled them to
go through the government to get a vending
license.
“I’ve been extremely pleased working with
A1 Crace,” Virginia says. “He is wonderful for
this government because he is a man of his
word.... I’m always happy to live in Athens.
But when you can work with your government
and work within the framework, and have them
work with you, it’s always so refreshing to live
in a town like this.”
Virginia says they have gone through hoops
tor a vear trying to get things worked out with
the i ountv government.
ivi the Olympics, Virginia says she has had
to make provisions with staff and food.
‘How much is too much? How little is too
little?” she says.
She is hoping the city is making provisions
s o the Gundachers can access the stands and
keep them supplied.
And while she says she is excited about the
'pint of the games, “I’ll be kind of happy when
everyone goes ‘Ohh, we had the Olympics here;
we hosted it,’ and we’re getting back to busi
ness as usual."
* * *
Mike Griffin will be selling dogs at the
Gundacher’s stand for the Olympics. Located
right next to the Georgia Theatre, where soc
cer will be broadcast on the big screen, Griffin
says he expects some big crowds.
Ww -
PM
Griffin says this makes him very excited.
Hopefully, I’ll be meeting people from
around the world and around the country, which
is always groovy,” he says. “If I didn’t love people,
I probably couldn’t do this job.”
Griffin says he loves it:
“It’s real easy to just relax and sell hot dogs,
and talk to people all the time.
“Just about everybody gets hung.y at the end
of the night. Come down get a dog, and go on
home. Sleep off your festivities.”
Griffin says he just hopes to make a little
money so he can take a vacation in August. But
he doesn’t think Europeans are big tippers.
He says he invites all Olympic visitors to
stop by, and he recommends a Sabrett, a New
York-style kosher dog:
“It’s probably one of my favorite all-time
dogs. I grew up in Jersey; that’s where they are
made, and they’re awesome; awesome dogs.”
Griffin says that he thinks during the Olym
pics, the streets will reflect an older Athens,
when more musicians and jugglers could be
found around town. He says he knows some
performers coming all the way from Austin, Tex.
■*. * *
B.J. and Quinto are going to be driving here
from Asheville for the occasion.
Quinto plays the bagpipes; B.J. plays the
guitar.
Quinto says he likes to play on the street
because you can just sit around and play music.
He says you can also meet a lot of people and
make connections. One time when the duo was
playing in Athens, Bill Mallonce, of the Vigi
lantes of Love, offered them a gig opening up
for his band. The two ended up playing at The
Downstairs a couple of times.
As i watch them play on a warm Athens
night, Quinto looks down to the ground with a
very focused look on his face. B.J. faces him look
ing off to the ide as their blend of traditional
Irish folk music just seems to float through the
flower bed thev sit on and the tree they're un
der.
“People give you the amount ot monev thev
think you're worth,"' B.J. says. “It’s all very di
rect and open ended. We're not trying to get
rich or anvthmg. It’s just inspiration to keep it
going."
Quinto auds. “There's something in me that
makes me want tc let other people in on it too.
I couldn t lust see praenctng an art ail closed up
;n a room somewhere and not reallv caring if
anyone appreciated it.”
Quinto's lather was a musician: his mom was
Irish.
“The Irish love soccer,” Quinto says. “So
there will be tons ot people around here. It's like
we were talking about before, just seeing the
people and interacting a little bit somehow."
Keith Hurwin
0 t / v LrvJtrv
1V - Ilf** Fjl Em
WL N-Oi
1061 Baxter St. Athens 548-8702 / Take Out 353-6908
and Hwy 441 at 1-85 335-5062
>< ^ Jt*
Zucchini’s Welcomes the
Games to Athens!
Grand Prize
Z ucchini’s Grand Prize is
an official Umbro soccer
ball signed by the U.S.
Olvmpic Soccer Team.
Zucchini's contacted John
Martin, Director of the
National Team and asked for
his assistance in receiving
this prize. This will be a
erreat prize to cherish long
after the Games are over.
So come on out
and register
today.
2^ Prizes
Zsr-o**
out thl j* ° n sa, e t
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says’*
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[ I foods market
1055 Gaines School Rd • 555-5066
July 17, 1996 FLAGPOLE ® 0