The vendor known for his friendly personality, Marquette bucket hat and hot dog cart returned to his spot in front of the John P. Raynor, S.J. Library Tuesday.

After being delayed from coming to campus for two weeks due to a hand injury, John Rockefeller returned to the slab of cement where there was a line of students waiting for his services.

Rockefeller closed down early because his helper did not come to assist him in selling the food, he said. In his brief amount of time on campus Tuesday, Rockefeller said he sold 56 hot dogs. He returned Wednesday to sell more.

There were theories speculating that Marquette had kicked Rockefeller off campus, which Rockefeller said were false.

Brigid O'Brien Miller, director of university communication, confirmed Rockefeller was not asked to leave campus.

The area where Rockefeller stands is not owned by Marquette, O'Brien Miller said, but a city permit is required to sell products on that property.

Rockefeller, 58, a retired industrial mechanic who spent 14 years as a business agent with the Carpenters Union, said he has a county permit.

Jerry Dohr, general manager of University Dining Service, said he was disconcerted by the rumors that "we've driven someone out of business or driven someone away."

"That's absolutely not the case," Dohr said. There is a spirit of free enterprise and commerce at work, he said.

With business going well for Rockefeller last semester and after seeing several other successful vendors last year, Dohr decided to get into the hot dog business, he said.

"We decided to jump into it," Dohr said of the business venture, which is "starting off slow" and is impacted by weather.

Dohr said it takes time to build a clientele, similar to the other vendors who have been on campus.

In a day, Dohr said the Sodexho-run vendor will sell 20 to 30 hot dogs.

Dohr welcomes the competition.

"There's enough business for everybody out there," he said.

Rockefeller agreed.

"I have no problem with competition," Rockefeller said. "You could put a cart on all four corners and they'd all do business. You've got that many people coming through here."

Rockefeller said he will be back through October.

"I'm your fair weather friend," he said with a laugh.

Rockefeller said he was happy to see the response among students and others at his return. He said his cart has the "best deal on the avenue." His cart includes hot dogs, bratwurst and sausage, which he sells for $2.50 each or $3 for a combo with soda and a bag of chips. The meat varies from a quarter to a third of a pound, depending on the deal he gets on the meat, he said.

According to signs on the cart, the Sodexho-run vendor accepts MarquetteCash and hotdogs are $2.50; chips are $1.00; a soft drink or bottle of water is $1.50.

Cheryl Saathoff, an administrative secretary in the Counseling Center, was glad to see Rockefeller back on campus.

"He's very personable and we were looking forward to seeing him," Saathoff said. "We just enjoy him."

When she went to buy some hot dogs, Rockefeller told her that he was closing early. Saathoff was saddened but said she would return on Wednesday.

Saathoff said she never did business with the Sodexho-run vendor and she was happy to see that the rumors about Rockefeller were false.