A must see addition to Roadside Peek: An article on The
Huntington Hot Dog by John Salvatore.
Texas Hot
Wellsville, NY Photo courtesy Jay Linserves
Now here's a storefront worth slowing down for. Texas Hot in downtown Wellsville has a great combination of green porcelain tile, shiny stainless steel and neon that looks like it belongs right where it is.
The place has been serving them up since 1921, when Greek immigrants Jim Rigas and George Raptis opened the restaurant. More than a century later, it remains in the same family. The specialty is the Texas Hot, a hot dog topped with mustard, onions and the family's meat sauce.
Over the years, even a few familiar faces have stopped in, including Bill Pullman, Shirley Jones and Donny Osmond. But that green and stainless facade alone is enough reason to pull over for a look.
UPDATE: Texas Hot remains open on North Main Street, still serving hot dogs beneath its classic neon. 08-26
Wiener
World (Gone)
Pittsburgh, PA Photo courtesy Steve Felder
In the mood for a quick bite? Then check out Wiener World in downtown Pittsburgh, where the big red and yellow storefront was pretty hard to miss. Hot dogs were naturally the main attraction, but if you're watching the calories, there's always the “soup of the day.”
Wiener World opened in 1965 and spent nearly 60 years at its Smithfield Street location, serving dogs and other quick eats to the downtown crowd. Nothing fancy here, just an old-fashioned lunch counter with plenty of personality and a name you won't forget.
UPDATE: Wiener World closed its longtime Smithfield Street location on May 23, 2024, but didn't disappear. It reopened a few days later inside the U.S. Steel Tower at 600 Grant Street, where the dogs are still cooking. 08-26
Nathan's Famous
Coney Island, NY Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
A visit to New York is not complete without a stop at Coney Island. The
original "home" of the hot dog (seemingly debatable to each
and every other city), Nathan's Famous has been in operation since
1916. This is the neon marquee at the original counter, and no visit to
Coney would be complete without "snapping" into the "best
hot dog in the world." The sign still features its rather royal looking weenie. 10-10
Nathan Handwerker had worked at nearby Feltman's before setting out on his own with wife Ida and opening a little stand just down the road. Feltman's was already famous for its hot dogs and charged a dime, so Nathan came up with a pretty simple way to attract customers. He sold his for a nickel.
Nathan's Famous marquee
Coney Island, NY Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
Apparently a five-cent hot dog sounded a little suspicious even in 1916. According to Nathan's lore, Handwerker sometimes had men dressed in white doctor's coats eat at the stand, giving nervous customers a little reassurance that the bargain dogs were safe to eat. The story also goes that entertainers Jimmy Durante and Eddie Cantor helped Handwerker get started with some of the money needed to open the place. However it happened, that little nickel stand soon became part of the Coney Island scenery.
And what scenery. This is Coney Island after all, where subtle roadside advertising was never really part of the plan. Neon stretches across the original Nathan's counter, joined by the big vertical sign and enough lettering to make sure nobody wandering off the subway misses the place.
Nathan's Famous
Coney Island, NY Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
Then there's that rather royal-looking weenie. Wearing a crown and cape and carrying a tray of food, the Nathan's hot dog mascot has been hanging around since the 1960s. He's one of those goofy old advertising characters that makes you wonder why every hot dog stand doesn't have a giant neon frankfurter standing guard.
Every Fourth of July, things get considerably more crowded when Nathan's hosts its famous hot dog eating contest. Thousands gather around Surf and Stillwell while the contestants somehow consume more hot dogs in a few minutes than most people would want to see in a lifetime.
The original stand is also right in the middle of the classic Coney Island action. The subway lets out nearby, the boardwalk and beach are just beyond, and the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel aren't far away. Grab a dog and some crinkle-cut fries, then hang around for a while. There's usually something interesting passing by.
UPDATE: The original Nathan's remains open at Surf and Stillwell Avenues, with its familiar neon signs and crowned hot dog still welcoming the Coney Island crowds. 08-26
AJ Texas Hots
Jamestown, NY Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Check out the great old roadside sign standing outside AJ Texas Hots in Jamestown. With that big arrow pointing toward the building, there's not much question where to turn when you're hungry. And with a name like Texas Hots, these dogs must be about as hot as the state itself. 01-01
AJ Texas Hots opened in 1968, started by Sam Colera and named for his father, Adolph John. The specialty is the Western New York “Texas Hot,” a dog topped with mustard, onions and a spicy family-recipe meat sauce.
Hungry? Try the old “package deal,” two Texas Hots with fries and a drink. AJ's also claims a little Jamestown history as the first restaurant in town to offer a drive-thru window.
UPDATE: AJ Texas Hots has been family owned and operated for over 38 years. All sales are in sets of 3. More info can be found at the AJ Texas Hots website. 01-07
UPDATE: AJ Texas Hots remains open on Foote Avenue, with its familiar roadside sign still pointing hungry travelers toward the dogs. 08-26
Texas Hot
Wiener
World (Gone)
AJ Texas Hots
