Overview
Nathan’s Famous began in 1916, when Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker and his wife, Ida, invested their savings of 300 dollars to open a hot dog stand at Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
Handwerker, who previously worked at Feltman’s German Gardens, sold hot dogs for five cents, half the price charged by his former employer. The original Coney Island location remains in operation.
Nathan’s expanded under the leadership of Handwerker’s son, Murray Handwerker. A second restaurant opened in Oceanside, New York, in 1959, followed by a Yonkers location in 1965. The company went public in 1968 and was sold by the Handwerker family to private investors in 1987. Nathan’s subsequently expanded through franchising, food service operations and retail sales of its branded hot dogs.
Quick Facts
- Status
- Open
- Locality or neighborhood
- Brooklyn
- State or province
- New York
- Country
- United States
- Address
- 1310 Surf Ave. (at Stillwell Ave.)
- Postal code
- 11224
