Hopatcong Business Offers Intriguing Combo

What do hot dogs and coffee have in common?

Soon you'll be able to find both at the same place in Hopatcong.

Rohan Shetty will open Sabretti's in a few days—he's still finishing some things—on Lakeside Boulevard, offering push-cart hot dogs, in natural casing and beef broth, and gourmet coffee. Shetty, owner of multiple businesses, said he's wanted to open a hot dog restaurant since he was a kid growing up in Jefferson.

"For me it wasn't about getting into the restaurant business," he said Monday. "It was either open a hot dog place or nothing at all."

Shetty said Sabretti's—next to Garden Cleaners, in old King Realty office—won't serve run-of-the-mill hot dogs you could make in your kitchen. Instead, customers will get either Thumanns or Sabrett hot dogs with about 20 different topping combinations, from "Naked," or plain, to "Hopatcong," boasting sriracha, chili, cheese and onion crunches.

Shetty said they'll come at affordable prices, especially if eaters opt for choices on his recession-themed menu.

But Sabretti's won't be a one-trick eatery, Shetty said. He said he''ll also have breakfast sausage and sell premium, Starbucks-level coffee under the Java Chief banner. He also said customers who show a recent Garden Cleaners receipt will get a free small coffee.

Shetty said he leased the location in February and began construction in March. And though he could have opened months ago, he said he wants to make sure everything's right for the first customer.

There have been doubters and supporters. Shetty, a 40-year-old with a Montclair State University nutrition degree, said people have asked why—of all things—he would open a hot dog joint in Hopatcong. But then he's said he's had people tell him they wished they thought of it first. Shetty even said a borough man who owns a pair of South Jersey hot dog shops visited Shetty to talk business.

Shetty, who also co-owns the businesses Food and Beverage Industry Consultants and Universal Web Code System, said Sabretti's will have between about 15 employees working in rotation and will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. all week.