Hot Dog History!

hot dog on a stick location in the 80s, view larger version of image

Once upon a time in 1946 on the beautiful beach in sunny Santa Monica, a man named Dave Barham opened a food stand that would become an American icon. Originally called Party Puffs, the bright red barn-like stand served ice cream cones and lemonade, but that all changed when, using his mom’s cornbread recipe, Dave perfected the Hot Dog on a Stick®. To highlight this new menu staple, he changed the name of his stand to Hot Dog on a Stick.

Next, he took his products on the road and started selling at county fairs using his Lincoln Continental as a generator. After that, Hot Dog on a Stick expanded into shopping malls across the country. While we have clearly come a long way, that famous Muscle Beach location is still serving made-to-order Hot Dogs on a Stick and fresh hand-stomped lemonade today. group of people wearing stripes, view larger version of image

Let’s see, what else? Oh, our fantastic uniforms! How could we forget? During the early days of Hot Dog on a Stick, our Hotdoggers wore polka dots, but eventually we changed to the famous and iconic outfits everyone knows and loves today. Our bright and eye-catching striped uniforms are “Red, White and Blue with a Splash of Lemonade.” We take great pride in them, as they represent our commitment to exceptional customer service delivered with a smile.

And fun fact: our hats are so coveted that they are never supposed to leave the store. If you want to get your hands on one, our stores offer fun paper replicas, and you may even spot special merchandise inspired by our iconic look from time to time.

What began as an entrepreneurial dream on the beaches of Southern California has grown into a beloved brand serving guests across multiple states. As we continue to grow, our mission remains the same: delivering our famous Hot Dogs on a Stick, hand-stomped lemonade, and a fun, energetic experience that brings a little California sunshine wherever we go.

man standing with a hotdog in hand, view larger version of image