Cake, balloons and a velvet rope reserving a table was the setting for state Sen. Catharine Young when she visited Michael’s AJ’s Texas Hots to celebrate the business’ 40th anniversary.

On Tuesday, Young presented a proclamation to Michael Riolo, Michael’s AJ’s Texas Hots owner, in honor of his 40 years in business. Riolo said he was surprised when he heard the state senator would be visiting his business to celebrate four decades of serving Texas hots.

”It’s been the biggest honor I’ve ever had,” he said.

On July 12, Riolo celebrated the business’ anniversary with specials on menu items. The all-day special prices include hot dogs for .76 each, and a small fry and a small pop for .40 each. Hot dogs were further reduced in price to .40 each, as well. Riolo said they had a line of people waiting out the door in one direction and in the other direction there was a line of cars around the block waiting to go through the drive-through.

”We sold 5,000 hot dogs and 3,000 fries during the anniversary,” Riolo said.

On Tuesday, Young asked Riolo if it seemed like 40 years since he opened the restaurant. Riolo responded by saying, ”It seems like just yesterday.” Young thanked Riolo for being a great example that locally-owned small businesses can still succeed in today’s marketplace. Young also thanked Riolo for the cake, balloons and the velvet rope that reserved a table for the senator.

”No one has ever done this for me,” Young said.