Pete's Famous Hot Dogs

Pete's Famous sign, photographed on February 4, 2006

Pete's Famous Hot Dogs is a legendary Birmingham hot dog stand operated by Gus Koutroulakis and his wife Kathy at 1925 2nd Avenue North (map).

The business, which occupies an extremely narrow 7' x 20' space, was founded as Louis's Place in the early 1900s. Gus' uncle, Pete Koutroulakis, and a partner bought the business for $600 from its founders in September 1939 (half of it winnings from a pinochle game). Pete bought out his partner 7 years later, made some renovations to bring the store up to code, and bought the $500 neon sign that still advertises the store as Pete's.

On January 18, 1948, Gus' father George, who owned a fruit distribution business on Morris Avenue, sent Gus to help out when Pete took a vacation back to Greece. Not long afterwards, Pete suffered a heart attack and Gus took over day to day business. He has worked at the store practically every day since, 7 days a week from 11 to 6.

Gus at work, photographed June 27, 2008 by André Natta

Pete's Famous serves hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks (in glass bottles). The Zeigler hot dogs are available plain or as a "special" with mustard, sauerkraut, and a secret-recipe ground-beef based sauce. There is also a "hot beef" sandwich with just the meat sauce served on a hamburger bun.

References

• Evans, Amy. (March 2004) Transcript of Interview for "Greeks in Birmingham". Southern Foodways Alliance Oral History Initiative. [1] - accessed March 26, 2006
• Clavell, Alicia K. (April 1, 2010) "Hot Diggity Dog!. Portico magazine.

External links

• "Hot-Dogopolis" short documentary film by the Southern Foodways Alliance
• Pete's Famous Hot Dogs at southernfoodways.com