$2 Burgers in Harlem - Street Food Icons

-I love working. I always tell others, "You'll do anything, get a job." Keeps you out of trouble. -He's like one of the mayors of Harlem, you know what I mean? And it's like this is an institution. You have buses lined up here. -I used to get my hair done here when I was a kid, and Mo's been here since I was a teenager. -Hello. How are you? -And it costs less than 15 dollars to get a haircut and, you know, something to eat. -I've been doing this for so long that I don't know what else to do. ♪♪ It all started because a friend of mine came up with the recipe for the drinks, so we set out to sell the drinks, and then there was an uproar saying, "Hey, you need a hot dog with the drinks." And it started from there.

And then we moved on to the

burgers

, and they were good, so we said, "Let's try this." My name is Leroy Maurice Robinson Jr. I am a mobile

food

vendor in New York City: Mo's Burgers. We're in Harlem, right in the center. I work at 153 Lenox Avenue, also known as Malcolm X Boulevard. I've been running Mo's hot dogs and drinks for 32 years. -This guy makes the best

burgers

, man... on the moon. -I sell small cheeseburgers, large cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fruit punch and lemonade, and then we mix the fruit punch with the lemonade in the cup, and it's called half and half, and that's my number one drink. -This is like Harlem in a cup. -Oh, I'm famous for the hamburger.

People love hot dogs, but I think I'm more famous for hamburgers. My little cheeseburgers are known for being $2 burgers. I leave my prices as is so that young black people and others can afford it here. Where are they going to buy a hot dog for $1.50 or a cheeseburger for $2? They won't understand it. I own the barbershop. I have the barber shop because I have the freezers and things in the back to help the

food

cart. I bought it about four years ago. And since then, it's been good. I believe I am an asset to the community.

People tell you that they just don't feel like coming home to cook. It's too hot or whatever. I'm on my feet 10 hours a day and I'm usually here burning, but I stay. -And if Mo's wasn't there, then there would be a problem. -Here people care about others. That's why I'm so successful, because people care about me, not because I sell them a hot dog. -Mo is a basic element. My kids come home after school every day and this is the first thing they do when they get off the bus. Harlem will always be special to me because I was able to raise my family through Harlem.

I have four children who graduated from college. Oh, the hamburgers, they helped pay for college. Everyone is doing well now. I was born in Brooklyn. - -Have patience. These people love me. You see they're standing there and, you know, they're just joking with you. What's up brother? -How are you brother? -I was in the Navy for eight years, I worked on propulsion equipment. After I left the service, I was always in Harlem. Since I was a veteran, you can get the license for free. Hello how are you? When the city was adjusting to the permit system and things like that, we had problems with the police all the time.

But once all that was fixed and leveled, there were no problems. I leave home between 6:15 and 6:30. When I wake up, I constantly spin my head thinking about what I need. Because once you get here, that's it. I can't go and say, "Oops, I forgot something." And this is where I head to Harlem. I get there at 9:00 and start selling at 10:00, depending on everything I have to do. I thank God for the day and for the day he is about to bring. ♪♪ I flipped a switch inside. I can be slow, move slow, but once I get here, it's not the time for that.

Everyone knows that when they see this flag up, I'm going to work. When I get here, I make sure I have hamburgers for the next hour, the next hour, the next hour because they just run out: at least 300 hamburgers, 100 hot dogs, and 75 sausages, easily, every day. Then you have a spicy sausage. You have to find out if that person wants onions in the sausage because you don't want to do it twice. The burgers are ready. Okay, look, now, if this person is busy, you can wrap the burger. I just joke with them all the time. I always have a joke for them or something sarcastic I say.

They like that because, you know, it makes them smile when they come to get a hot dog. -Alright. -Alright. Thanks my friend. -Yes sir. -He can be a little stubborn sometimes, but, you know, he's a good person. -He is a really amazing guy. If you're missing something, he'll give it to you, you know, see you next time. -Some people, you know, say that he is tough, but he is charming. -It's about letting them know that it's not just about me receiving $1.50 for a hot dog. It just brightens their day. They make their day, I go home to my wife... she makes my day. -Hmm.

That's like going to a barbecue, only... you know? -My grandmother started and got me Mo's, so I love them. -Two cheeseburgers and a hamburger, right? -Yeah. -Enjoy your burger. -Thank you. -You are welcome. ♪♪ -About two years ago, they published an article about me and this line was very long. But I don't track Yelp. I am satisfied with the response I am receiving from my people here. I don't have to read to know if I'm doing it right or wrong. They tell me. Hey. You are not the first. That lady over there is the first. - -I have always had good times here.

The only time I got angry was when my grandmother passed away and I couldn't get on a flight to South Carolina for her funeral. That bothers me. I was mad at the booth because I stayed here. I really should have been there, but no, I had to take care of this, my obligation to this. I make rules, and that's what they are, you know, and not for one, they're for all. I think it comes from my military days. You do things the way they should be done. I do it because I love doing it. Without doing this all day, every day, I would be...

I don't know what I would be doing. ♪♪ ♪♪