08/25/2026
After four years with Home Run Hot Dogs, Karis left us last weekend to finish her final year of college, and this is one of those goodbyes we knew would eventually come but never really wanted to write.
Karis was our very first hire who wasn’t family or already connected to our family.
For a small, family-owned and operated business, that was a much bigger deal than it probably sounds. When your business is so intertwined with your family, your life, your sacrifices, and everything you’ve worked for, trusting someone from outside that circle can be scary.
Then Karis came along. And before we knew it, there really wasn’t an “outside” anymore.
She started with us as a general employee and, over the years, worked her way into becoming a manager. But that title doesn’t begin to explain what she became to us.
We watched her grow right in front of us.
We watched a young employee become someone we could completely depend on. Someone we trusted to lead. Someone younger employees could look up to. Someone who could train a new person with patience, handle a crazy rush, take care of our customers, solve problems, and somehow still keep that cheerful, upbeat personality that makes Karis so easy to love.
She showed up. Again and again and again.
When we needed help, Karis was there. When things were crazy, she stepped up. When something needed to be done, she didn’t wait around for someone else to do it. She learned quickly, worked unbelievably hard, went above and beyond, and carried herself with an attitude that made everyone around her better. But the thing we’re going to miss most isn’t what Karis did for Home Run Hot Dogs. It’s who she is.
She is kind. She is funny. She is outgoing. She is dependable. She is hardworking. She is the type of person who brings good energy into a room. She has one of those personalities that makes people feel comfortable around her, and it is genuinely hard not to love her.
Over four years, there were countless shifts, long days, busy events, stressful moments, laughs, inside jokes, growing pains, accomplishments and memories.
Somewhere in all of that, she stopped being “one of our employees.” She became one of ours. And that is probably the hardest part of owning a small family business.
You pour your heart into it, and every once in a while, you are lucky enough to find someone who pours a little bit of their heart into it too. You watch them grow. You become invested in their life. You celebrate them. You worry about them. You rely on them. And eventually, the day comes when you have to let them go and become everything they’re supposed to become.
And as hard as that is, we could not be more proud of Karis.
We are so incredibly grateful that four years ago, somehow, she found her way to Home Run Hot Dogs. Karis, thank you for every shift you worked, every time you covered for us, every employee you helped, every customer you made smile, every crazy day you helped get us through, and every single time you gave us more than we ever could have asked from you. But more than anything, thank you for giving us you.
Thank you for allowing us to watch you grow into the incredible young woman you are today.
As you leave to finish your final year of college, we hope you know that we are cheering for you louder than anyone. We hope this next chapter brings you everything you’ve worked so hard for. We hope you chase every opportunity, take chances, make mistakes, grow even more, and build a life that makes you unbelievably happy.
And wherever life takes you, never forget that there will always be a place for you here.
There will always be a Home Run Hot Dogs family cheering you on. There will always be a door open if you ever want to come back.
Because while employees eventually move on, family doesn’t. You walked into our business four years ago as our first real “outside” hire. You’re walking out as family.
And that might be one of the greatest things this little family business has ever given us.
We love you, Karis. We are so proud of you, and we’re going to miss you more than you know.
Go finish that degree. Go chase everything waiting for you. And always remember…
you have a family here forever. ❤️
