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Hot Dog Stands (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

The businesses on these pages are organized chronologically by state.

Pink's Hot Dogs
Los Angeles, CA		 Art's Famous Chili Dogs
Los Angeles, CA
Pink's Hot Dogs opened in 1939. It started with a pushcart at this location. In 1946, this building was constructed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Art's Famous Chili Dogs was established in 1939. It closed in 2020 and the building was remodeled for the Breakfast Shack. The Art's sign remains. For more, see this website. [map]

former Dog House
Los Angeles, CA
Gray's Chili Dogs
Porterville, CA
There was also a Dog House hot dog chain in the Los Angeles area in the 1960s. The buildings had fake chimneys and there were dog house shaped signs. This former location now houses the Corner Kafe. The building's shape is concealed behind the canopy which was added later. If you know of any other buildings that have survived, please let me know. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

I suspect that the Gray's Chili Dogs building originally housed a Dog House. The smaller building behind it shown in the bottom row of photos above, which appears to be used for storage, was built in 2012. Although it's hard to see behind the plastic covering, the neon dog bears a strong resemblance to the signs at the Taylor Brothers stands (see below). I suspect it may have come from the Porterville location. [map]

Taylor Brothers Hot Dogs
Visalia, CA
Taylor Brothers Hot Dogs
Watsonville, CA
The original Taylor Brothers Hot Dogs stand opened in Porterville, CA in 1949. That location is gone now. In 1950, a stand was opened in Delano, CA. In 1952, that building was moved to Visalia, CA where it continues to operate. The neon sign is animated. [map]

The Watsonville location opened in 1954. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Original Kasper's Hot Dogs
Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA
2014 and 2008: 2023:

Kasper's Hot Dogs
MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA
The Original Kasper's Hot Dogs on Telegraph Ave. opened in 1929. It was named after the owner, Kasper Koojoolian. The stand closed in 2003 and the building has been vacant since then. The sign has been defaced on both sides with graffiti. In 2022, it was announced that Original Kasper's would be reopening and the signs will be restored. However, in 2023, the building was still in rough shape and the sign, or at least part of it, was still laying on the roof. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Kasper's Hot Dogs on Macarthur Blvd. was opened in 1961 by Kasper Koojoolian's nephew. [map]

The Caspers Famous Hot Dogs chain, shown below, was started by two cousins of the owner of Kasper's Hot Dogs described above. The first Caspers stand opened in Oakland in 1939. There are now eight locations in the Bay Area. The Caspers signs were built by Ad Art. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Hayward, CA
This Hayward location opened in 1948 and was the oldest survivor. It closed in 2024 and the sign was removed the following day. It is now part of the collection at CNI Signmakers. [map]

Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Richmond, CA
This location in Richmond was probably built around the same time as the one in Hayward above since it seems to have shared the same design before being remodeled. [map]

Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Oakland, CA		 Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Albany, CA
[Oakland map]

The location in Albany closed in 2020 and the signs have been removed. It now houses Xin Cheng International. [map]

Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Hayward, CA
This Hayward location was built in 1968. [map]

Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Dublin, CA		 former Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
San Pablo, CA
[Dublin map]

The location in San Pablo now houses an ice cream restaurant. [map]

Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Pleasant Hill, CA
[Pleasant Hill map]

More California:
Bill's Hot Dog Stand (Burbank) [vintage; gone]

Hot Dog Stands
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page 3		 Eateries Main Page