In this Black Men in Motion interview, Cedric “Ced” Dickerson and Sheena Williams share the story behind Ced’s late-night hot dog cart near Gonzaga University, his passion for feeding people, and the deeper purpose that keeps him showing up–even when times are hard. Their reflections touch on entrepreneurship, community responsibility, family, and the power of second chances.
Q: Can you tell me about yourself and how you first became connected to Spokane?
Cedric Dickerson: I moved out here in 1986 with my mother, and I’ve been here ever since.
Q: Do you love Spokane?
Cedric Dickerson: Yes, I love Spokane.
Q: As I walked into your home, I smelled food cooking. What do you like about cooking?
Cedric Dickerson: I just like to cook … for my family … and I like to feed my students … I’m passionate for cooking.
Sheena Williams: His love language is food.
Q: Where is your food cart located on certain nights?
Cedric Dickerson: Hamilton and Mission, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. We do the late night–Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Sheena Williams: We try to be–summertime, depending on the weather. Summertime we’re at farmer’s markets and doing private events for companies and weddings. And we’ve been having some Gonzaga students getting married–spent their time getting to know their relationships at the cart.
Q: So you cater as well?
Sheena Williams: They invite us, yes.
Q: How did your journey lead you to start a food cart?
Cedric Dickerson: Just wanting to be self-employed and not having to work for another company.
Q: How long have you been in business?
Cedric Dickerson: Nine years.
Q: What else drove your decision to become an entrepreneur?
Cedric Dickerson: I didn’t really like working for other people … I had a previous job where I worked tons of hours and the paycheck wasn’t fulfilling–it wasn’t making the cut.
Sheena Williams: And then he was at his son’s football game one day watching him play football, and he was just looking at all those people out there on that field like, ‘Man, if I could just sell a hot dog.’ So they need something to eat while they watch the game. It just kind of started a thought process from that day.
Q: Who supported or influenced you when you first got started?
Cedric Dickerson: My brother in Seattle, Demetrius Dickerson. He had his hot dog cart… same thing, but in Seattle. I saw him making money and good money, so I went and bought one.
Q: How did you stay motivated during COVID and other hard times?
I shut down during COVID … until it was over. I took a big loss during COVID; the refrigerator went out on me. I had to figure it back out–remotivate myself and get out there. I wasn’t trying to work in COVID. It scared me.
Q: Were there moments you thought about giving up or changing directions?
Sheena Williams: He gets overwhelmed sometimes… the wintertime is slow. It’s hard. He’s used to being real busy.
But he is so attached–like a string attached–to the students down there. And he feels like it’s his priority to be there for them…we’re so glad we gave them something to eat before they went home and went to bed. I think those students keep him really motivated to keep going.
Q: Are there parts of your personal journey that shaped who you are today as a business owner?
Cedric Dickerson: I think I was born an entrepreneur.
Sheena Williams: He takes the lead … he keeps going. Even when he does get frustrated and doesn’t wanna go out, or the weather is so bad, he knows that this is what my calling was and this is what I’m gonna do.
Q: Did you do anything earlier in life that led you toward entrepreneurship?
Cedric Dickerson: Back when I was a little younger, I used to buy cars and fix ’em up and sell ’em.
Sheena Williams: He still to this day does it … he knows millions of people. He’ll find something, and he knows that he can turn it around. We’re gonna snatch it up and we’re gonna turn it around.
Q: Have you encountered stereotypes or challenges with different crowds?
Cedric Dickerson: I wouldn’t say no.
Sheena Williams: Sometimes I wonder how it’s gonna be when we go to a car show and there’s lots of older white men. I wonder how they’re gonna take our business. But they’re so supportive.
I’ve never felt disrespected. It doesn’t matter the age–it can be from a student all the way up to retired seniors. They always come back and tell us how delicious it is. His little slogan says “Delicious dogs.” A lot of people like to support personal-owned businesses.
Q: How do you think what you do impacts the community and younger kids?
Cedric Dickerson: The young kids in the neighborhood that I came from… either walking by or driving by, or even seeing my business on social media… they can do the same thing.
They don’t have to make bad choices to earn money. It’s good to get your own business if you don’t wanna work for somebody–you just have to have an idea. And the idea can grow if you keep following it every year.
Q: What community did you grow up in?
Cedric Dickerson: I grew up in the East Central neighborhood in Spokane, Washington … it was really rough.
Q: What are your goals for the next three to five years?
Cedric Dickerson: My goal is to get another cart out there … I want to keep the hot dog cart, but I want to do barbecue … a soul food truck.
Q: What are some menu ideas you’d like to explore?
Cedric Dickerson: Collard greens … barbecue … catfish … fried chicken … macaroni and cheese … potato salad.
Q: What do you want people to experience when they eat your food?
Sheena Williams: The love he puts into it and the hard work–even if it’s just a hot dog with ketchup. A lot had to happen before it got to that.
He puts love in. It’s his love language. He doesn’t like it when people are hungry. If a student comes up without money, he’s gonna feed them.
At the end of the night, sometimes he’ll take food to the homeless. Or customers will buy food for others sitting around. He doesn’t like hunger.
Q: Is there something you can share with young people about hope, change, and second chances?
Cedric Dickerson: I’ve been through hard times in my life… I made bad choices. I served my time to the community, and I got out. And now I’m helping the community.
A second chance–it was a blessing. It was a blessing. It’s an eye-opener.
Q: In your own words, how would you like to close this interview?
Cedric Dickerson: I just want the youth to know there’s always a second chance, and to never give up. If you hit the ground, get back up and keep going. Just don’t stop–because the more you put in, the more you’re gonna get out of it.