Nathan's Famous is a historic American fast-food company best known for its iconic hot dogs. Founded in 1916 by Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker and his wife Ida in Coney Island, New York, the business began as a humble hot dog stand with a $300 loan and a secret spice recipe from Ida’s grandmother[1][2][3][5]. Nathan famously undercut competitors by selling hot dogs for five cents, half the price of rivals, and overcame skepticism about quality through creative marketing—hiring men dressed as doctors to publicly eat the hot dogs, reassuring customers of their safety and healthiness[1][2][5]. The brand quickly gained nationwide recognition by the Great Depression and became a beloved American staple. Expansion was slow initially, focusing on quality and quick service at the original Coney Island location for decades. After World War II, Nathan’s expanded to the suburbs, opening new stores on Long Island and eventually in other northeastern states like New Jersey and Connecticut[1][4][5]. Nathan’s went public in 1968 but was taken private in 1987, then experienced management shifts that stabilized the company in the 1990s[4]. Today, Nathan's Famous operates through three main segments: branded product programs, product licensing, and restaurant operations. It owns and franchises restaurants primarily in the Northeastern U.S. and sells a wide range of Nathan’s branded products—including hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries, sausages, and condiments—through supermarkets, club stores, and foodservice distributors nationwide and internationally[6]. The company also produces other snack items like miniature bagel dogs and mozzarella sticks[6]. Headquartered in Jericho, New York, Nathan’s continues to innovate while honoring its New York roots, maintaining a legacy as a cultural and culinary icon[3][6]. Notably, Nathan’s Famous is known beyond food for its annual hot dog eating contest held every Fourth of July, a significant event i