1916The original Nathan’s

Famous hot dog stand

was founded by Nathan

Handwerker in 1916.

1916On July 4th, 1916, legend states that

four immigrants held a hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous stand in

Coney Island to settle an argument about who was the most patriotic.

1921 In 1921, Nathan hired a redheaded teenager by the name of Clara Bowtinelli to assist in serving his customers. While working at Nathan’s, she was discovered and went on to become Clara Bow, the “It Girl” of the 1920’s silent films.

1933 To celebrate the end of prohibition in 1933, Nathan’s Famous served free beer.

1939 In 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt served Nathan’s Famous hot dogs to the King and Queen of England, bringing the delicious taste of Nathan’s hot dogs across the pond.

1946 In 1946, Nathan’s introduced seafood products and its famous clam bar.

1955 Nathan’s opened their second location in Oceanside, Long Island in 1955.

1965 Nathan’s opened

their third location in Yonkers, NY in 1965.

1968 The Nathan’s

Famous Hot Dog Cookbook was pub-

lished by Nathan Handwerker’s son

Murray Handwerker in 1968. 1971

Nathan’s opened its 4th restaurant in Times Square in 1971 due to the growing demand for Nathan Handwerker’s mouthwatering hot dogs.

1983 In 1983, Nathan’s are first sold in supermarkets.

1987 The Handwerker family sold the Nathan’s Famous business to private inves-tors in 1987 who expanded franchise operations around New York.

1972 The first major & recorded

hot dog eating contest was held in Coney Island on July

4th. The winner was Jason Schechter (USA) who ate 14

hot dogs and buns.

1992 In 1992, Nathan’s Frankster was born. This fun and playful mascot delights thousands of children as part of the Nathan’s kids meal program.

2001 In 2001, Takeru Kobayashi broke the world record for the most hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes at 50—doubling the previous record of 25 set by Kazutoyo Arai. Kobayashi went on to win the next 6 contests.

2007 In 2007, Joey Chestnut defeated Takeru Kobayashi, the 6-time defending champion, in the Nathan’s Famous 92nd Annual International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

2012 In 2012, only one year after start-ing the women’s only Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Sonya Thomas set the women’s world record eating 45 hot dogs & buns.

2012 The Nathan’s Famous Coney Island location was closed in 2012 for the first time since 1916 due to Hurricane Sandy.

2013 In 2013, Joey Chestnut set the world record for the most hot dogs & buns eaten in 10 minutes at 69!

2014 In June of 2014, Nathan’s began

a sponsorship of Richard Petty Motorsports. The first race was at the historic Pocono Raceway.

2014 Nathan’s launched its Mobile Tour in 2014, bringing the fun of Coney Island on the road. They currently operate two mobile tours that travel 2,000 miles every year!

2016 Nathan’s Famous celebrates 100 Years.

CELEBR ATING 100 YEARS OF NATHAN’S

C E L E B R AT I N G 10 0 Y E A R S C E L E B R AT I N G 10 0 Y E A R S C E L E B R AT I N G 10 0 Y E A R S C E L E B R AT I N G 10 0 Y E A R S

2014 In 2014, Nathan’s donated and built a Coney Island inspired playground for the city of Kissimmee in part-nership with KaBOOM!

2015 In 2015, Matt Stonie defeated defending champion Joey Chestnut in the 99th annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY.

1918 Legendary gangster and Brooklyn native

Al Capone stopped by Nathan’s whenever his travel took him to Brooklyn. This photo was

captured around 1918 during one of his visits.