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The original Hot Dog Stick in Santa Monica, which has grown into hundreds of franchises around the country and world. Uriel Kim / J-Camp Live
By Uriel Kim
J Camp Live staff writer
Santa Monica, among other things, is known for its fine dining, vibrant beach culture, street performers, and shopping. Hotdogs are usually not associated with this coastal city . . . unless they are skewered on sticks.
This particular marriage of weiners and wood occurred in Santa Monica in June of 1946, according to hotdogonastick.com.
The parent company of the chain of Hot Dog on a Stick fast food restaurants, HDOS Enterprises, has successfully expanded their business in 105 locations in states all across the country and even the world. Most locations are located in shopping mall food courts, easily recognizable thanks to the employees’ uniforms and stark interiors.
The eatery’s character, a chief factor to the success of the chain according to the corporation’s website hotdogonastick.com, is an obvious byproduct of its historic Southern California roots.
Muscle Beach, located adjacent to the Santa Monica’s iconic pier, was a hot destination for locals and tourists alike. Accordingly, the demand for portable, finger friendly food was in high demand. Dave Barham responded by opening a tiny stand called “Hot Dog Stick” in 1946.
The original Muscle Beach has since been converted into a parking lot and another stretch of sand bears the moniker. But the long lines in front of the original “Hot Dog Stick” booth remain after 64 years in business. During this time, Hot Dog Stick, and its chain locations Hot Dog on a Stick, have become a deep-fried symbol of the region.
Jency James, a student participant in the AAJA’s 2010 J Camp, is familiar with the restaurant chain, and was excited to visit the original store. “I think it is really funny that they have to be enthusiastic . . . it think it helps bring in the customer,” James said.
James was referring to the work ethic policy required of the employees, according to the company’s website. She also spoke about her fondness of the company’s characteristic uniforms.
Simply put, Hot Dog a Stick makes people happy. The chipper attitudes that the employees adopt are reflection of the laid back and relaxing atmosphere the area is known for. The characteristic mod fashion inspired clothing – a bold blue, yellow and red outfit with a custom-fitted jockey hat — are representative of the area’s past and present whimsy and enthusiasm.
Following the founder’s death in 1991, the corporation became entirely employee-owned, and this familial feeling has expanded to its customers. Julian Cho, 32, is a native of Los Angeles. “I live right here [in Santa Monica],” she says, “[Hot Dog Stick is] convenient and good.” The restaurant is a family affair, and her toddler son, a third generation Korean-American, is already a full-fledged cherry lemonade and corndog fanatic.
For the employees, the work is difficult by any measure. Steven Harris, 19, is part of the staff in the original venue. “Working next to the beach is wonderful,” he says, “but the work is really hard sometimes. The hardest work is stomping our own lemonade…it’s very hard work.”
The process of hand-squeezing the lemonade, which uses an anachronistic plunger mechanism, is a fan favorite to watch.
Harris ended the interview with, “we always put the customer first.” The attention to customer service, coupled with the unique atmosphere, is what makes the restaurant special even for first time customer Steven Gu, 17, of Philadelphia.
“I feel like I’m in The Princess Diaries,” he said (in reference to the 2001 Walt Disney movie in which the main characters eat corndogs on the beach), “[the experience] was almost movie-esque.”
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