At 71 and 63, Two Friends Start A Business In Groton

The way Jim Low sees it, he’s creating employment. For himself.

“I’m not going to get rich, but then again, you never know,” said Low, 63, who with his friend, Jimmy Loomis, 71, opened “Jimmy 2 Dogs” in the kiosk across from Big Y on April 21.

“Maybe we can cover the world with Jimmy 2 Dogs. Maybe we’ll have stands all over New England. . . Maybe I can get my daughter a job.”  He's kidding.

Low, who lives in Old Mystic, worked as a stockbroker in his other life, and before that, sold yachts. He retired as an independent trader three years ago.

His friend and golf partner, Loomis, of Groton, had retired as a corporate pilot. They wanted to do something, hopefully make a little money, so they decided to go into business together.

“The economic impact on my 401K plan in the 2006 period had a lot to do with it,” Loomis said. “I suddenly realized I didn’t have the cushion I once had.”

Loomis flew with the U.S. Coast Guard for 20 years, then flew corporate jets for 25 years.  After he retired, he ran Zavala’s Mexican Restaurant in New London for eight years with his daughter, Genine Zavala and her husband, Martin Zavala, a Mexican chef.

The couple now runs Milagro Mexican Restaurant in Stonington borough.

Loomis said he and Low looked in Mystic, tried unsuccessfully to rent a place, then found the kiosk in Groton. The stand has been vacant for about three years, since the last hot dog vendor left. Mystic Color Lab originally built it as a drive-through place to drop off film.

The two spent a few thousand dollars, bought a hot dog steamer, a sign, supplies and leased the kiosk. They decided to offer a few exotic hot dogs.

The menu ranges from the "naked dog," (nothing on it ), to the Chihuahua dog (Mexican salsas from Milagro in Stonington),  to the SpongeBob SquarePants dog (mac and cheese) for the kids. They also have a Chicago dog and a New York dog (hot, cooked onion sauce). Loomis is a Yankees fan, so he put the logo on the menu as a bit of trash talk for his friend, a Red Sox fan.

"I'm the creative arm, so I get to say," said Loomis.

The shop is open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. every day except Wednesdays, when their league plays golf. In addition to hot dogs, the stand sells chips, smoothies and sodas.

“We hope to make a little money,” Loomis said. “We’re keeping ourselves out of trouble. If we played golf seven days a week, we wouldn’t be friends.”