Pete's Famous Hot Dogs
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 1920s. 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.
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.
Gallery
Pete's Famous sign in 2006
Gus at work in 2008 by André Natta
special dog & chips
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