Wunder Wiener Owner Hopes To Be Home Within A Week

BEACHWOOD, NJ - You can't keep Gerry LaCrosse down.

The longtime Beachwood councilman and owner of the Wunder Wiener said he hopes to be out of the Wall rehab facility and home within a week. He was set to come home this Saturday, but started feeling sore and a little sick after a physical therapy session on Thursday.

"Every part of my body ached," he said in a phone call to Patch.

That's when he found out he had a 102 degree fever. He was put back on intravenous antibiotics in the rehab and must stay on them for another week to make sure he's free of infection.

"It's a bummer," he said.

LaCrosse, 75, suffered multiple injuries and severe bleeding after a SUV left Route 9 in Bayville and plowed into his popular hot dog stand that has stood for decades on the Beachwood Shopping Center property. He had to be airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune shortly after the accident.

Ironically, June 11 was a Monday, a day the stand is traditionally closed. LaCrosse went to the stand just to drop off supplies earlier than he usually did, his niece Charissa Fromm has said.

Does he remember the accident? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.

"I saw that guy's arm," he said, and starts to choke up.

He referred to a man named Frank who works at a nearby car repair shop. Frank raced over to help right after the accident and held up part of the battered building to keep it off LaCrosse until hope arrived.

He was on a ventilator for almost a week during his first hospitalization. He was later discharged and moved to the rehab facility to begin his recovery. Then came another health crisis and he was back in the intensive care unit for a few days.

So now he's back at the Wall rehab facility and is itching to rebuild his business eventually. He has to get permission from Berkeley Township to relocate the business in the Beachwood Shopping Center. The township now owns the shopping center property.

LaCrosse also has to wait for his dislocated shoulder to calm down. And rebuilding the Wunder Wiener over the winter would be tough, he said.

So his target date for reopening would be sometime in the late spring of 2019.

The Beachwood, Berkeley and Pine Beach communities have rallied around the popular businessman and public official ever since the accident.

The police unions sold hot dogs and other items LaCrosse once sold at his business. Hundreds turned out for the fundraiser, which was held for three days two weeks ago.

A gofundme account was set up for the family to help with expenses the day after the accident. If you would like to donate, click here.
Photos: Courtesy of gofundme, a Patch promotional partner.