View source for Pete's Famous Hot Dogs

[[Image:Gus with hot dog.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Gus Koutroulakis at Pete's Famous Hot Dogs in 2010]]
'''Pete's Famous Hot Dogs''' was a legendary [[Birmingham]] [[List of hot dog stands|hot dog stand]] that was operated by [[Gus Koutroulakis]] and his wife [[Kathy Koutroulakis|Kathy]], located at 1925 [[2nd Avenue North]] ({{Locate_address_inline | address=1925+2nd+Ave+N | state=AL,+35203}}).

The business, which occupied an extremely narrow 7' x 20' space, was founded as '''Louis's Place''' in the 1910s. In September [[1939]], Gus' uncle, [[Pete Koutroulakis]], won $300 over the course of a weekend playing pinochle at the [[Greek Club]]. He got a partner to match his investment and bought the business for $600. Pete bought out his partner seven years later, made some renovations to bring the store up to municipal code, and bought the $500 neon sign that advertised the store as Pete's for the next 72 years, until its closing.

On [[January 18]], [[1948]], Pete took a four-month trip to Greece to visit his aging father. His twin brother, [[George Koutroulakis|George]], who owned a fruit distribution business on [[Morris Avenue]], stayed behind and sent his son, Gus, to run the restaurant, essentially a lunch counter, until Pete came home. Not long afterwards, Pete suffered a heart attack and Gus, his nephew, took over day-to-day business and determined to "make the best of it". He worked at the store practically every day for the rest of his life.

Before he married he often worked from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week, leaving no time for any other pursuits. After marrying [[Kathy Koutroulakis|Kathy]] he modified his hours, starting the day at 11:00 AM and leaving after the lunch crowd slowed in the afternoons. He brought on [[Douglas Houghton]] as a second employee in [[2007]]. He feared what would happen to his mind if he retired altogether.

Pete's Famous served hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks (in glass bottles). The [[Zeigler Meats|Zeigler]] hot dogs were available plain or as a "special" with mustard, sauerkraut, and a secret-recipe ground-beef based sauce. There was also a "hot beef" sandwich with just the meat sauce served on a hamburger bun. Gus was assisted by his wife, Kathy, and by long-time employees [[Sam Alongi]] and [[Alex Likis]].

After Gus Koutroulakis' death on [[April 5]], [[2011]], the stand was closed. In May, the iconic neon sign was removed from the building and donated to the [[Birmingham History Center]], now in the possession of the [[Vulcan Park Foundation]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Pete's famous sign.jpg|Pete's Famous sign in 2006
Image:Gus Koutroulakis at work.jpg|Gus at work in 2008 by André Natta
File:Pete's Famous menu.jpg|menu board
Image:Pete's Famous special.jpg|special dog & chips
</gallery>

==References==
* Evans, Amy. (March 2004) Transcript of Interview for "Greeks in Birmingham". Southern Foodways Alliance Oral History Initiative. [http://www.southernfoodways.com/oral_history/greek/BG08_petesfamous.shtml] - accessed March 26, 2006
* Clavell, Alicia K. (April 1, 2010) "Hot Diggity Dog!''. ''[[Portico]]'' magazine
* Diel, Stan (June 2, 2011) "Pete's sign to go on display at Barber's". {{BN}}
* Hare, Francis III (June 2011) "[https://www.harebrains.com/could-i-get-one-more-to-go/ Could I Get One More to Go?]" ''B-Metro''
* Thompson, Wright (June 27, 2011) "The hunchback and the lost art of the Birmingham dog." ''Grantland''
* Taylor, Drew (July 21, 2021) "[https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/memories-of-petes-famous-hot-dogs-owner-gus-koutroulakis-keep-birmingham-legend-alive/ Memories of Pete’s Famous Hot Dogs owner ‘Gus’ Koutroulakis keep Birmingham legend alive]" CBS42.com

==External links==
* "[http://vimeo.com/23003768 Gus]" short documentary film by Joe York for the Southern Foodways Alliance
* "[http://vimeo.com/3460153 Hot-Dogopolis]" short documentary film by the Southern Foodways Alliance
* [http://www.southernfoodways.com/documentary/oh/greek/BG08_petesfamous.shtml Pete's Famous Hot Dogs] at southernfoodways.com

[[Category:Former hot dog stands]]
[[Category:1910s establishments]]
[[Category:2nd Avenue North]]
[[Category:Greek-owned restaurants]]
[[Category:2011 disestablishments]]