Red Wagon owner retires buggy with plans to sell, go back to school

by Rob Chalifoux
Staff Writer

Uptown Athens is now short one buggy.

The Red Wagon, on Union Street, did not reopen after winter break. Owner Eric Lee said the buggy, which served a variety of sandwiches, is closed.

"I'm done for good," said owner Eric Lee. "My interests are kind of elsewhere at the moment."

Although the vending permit does not expire until March 31, Lee said he plans to go back to school.

"I want to go to college and get an education," Lee said. "I hope to be enrolled by next fall quarter, but probably not at Ohio University. I want to get out of town for a while."

Lee also has plans to sell the wagon.

"Eventually I plan to sell the business," Lee said. "I haven't gotten any offers yet, but I haven't really pursued it that aggressively either."

The Red Wagon first opened in October 1996. Lee said he always knew the business was a short-term investment.

"If I ever want to do something else, I feel like I have to get busy," he said. "If I'm going to do something with my life, then now's the time to start doing it."

Scot Bradley is a baker at Big Chimney Baking Company, 8776 Mine Road., which supplies the bread for the wagon. Bradley said he was told last week the wagon was closing for good and that no more bread was needed.

Paul Wildeck, owner of the Burrito Buggy, said he will miss the service and atmosphere the Red Wagon provided.

"The Red Wagon was a good representative of what vending should be," Wildeck said. "It was a clean operation and a good product. It really enhanced the atmosphere."

Wideck said he sympathized with the Lee's venture. Vending is not always as easy as it appears, he said.

People might think it looks easy and that the buggies really rake in the cash, but it is hard to move a business every day and stay open late at night, Wildeck said.

"That's what Eric had some trouble with," he said. "He could do day or night time business, but he couldn't be there all the time, so one had to suffer."

For now, the Red Wagon sits empty at The Big Chimney Baking Company.

"The wagon is empty; it's just sitting out back in the parking lot," Bradley said.