Once upon a time, a hot dog joint based in Charlotte was the fastest growing fast-food chain in America. Then it vanished. Today, there's one Wiener King left in America, and it's barely hanging on.
When I was a teenage actor, I was in a Weiner King commercial. They were promoting a partnership with The Big A drive in movie theater, and gave away a pony. Kid you not. And in the commercial shoot, the pony kept kicking me.
Always felt bad for children who ended up in local commercials. There was one kid who said “come see our grandpa!” in his family’s furniture store ad and other kids repeated that line back to him in the hallways every day.
I was actually excited. It was my first commercail and lead to my career in television journalism. My next gig was for Holly Farms Chicken. And then there was the pantyhose commercial for Belk...
In a time where every fast-food joint has more selections than a Denny's. it's comforting to think back on a store that did basically one thing, and did it well. But bad management can kill anything...
Jul 23, 2023·edited Jul 23, 2023Liked by Jeremy Markovich
As a Charlotte native who doesn't like hamburgers, I was a huge fan of Weiner King and devastated when they disappeared. Hardee's also sold hot dogs back in the 70s and luckily there was one on Randolph, near our swim club on Sharon Amity. But nothing was ever the same after Weiner King went away
What a great post! I’d completely forgotten about Weiner King. I think the last time I ate at one was in late 70s Asheville?! Thanks for the nostalgia!
There used to be a Wiener King in Carteret, NJ. I remember when I had come back from vacation in 1979, it had changed brands. It went from being a Wiener King to an independent fast food restaurant called Burger Express. They’re still in business today, although they had to move from their previous location due to problems with leasing of the property. They bought land on the other side of town, and built a new restaurant. They’re best known for their fried chicken and cheese fries. Plus they just started selling Nathan’s hotdogs.
There used to be a Wiener King in Carteret, NJ. I remember when I had come back from vacation in 1979, it had changed brands. It went from being a Wiener King to an independent fast food restaurant called Burger Express. They’re still in business today, although they had to move from their previous location due to problems with leasing of the property. They bought land on the other side of town, and built a new restaurant. They’re best known for their fried chicken and cheese fries. Plus they just started selling Nathan’s hotdogs.
There used to be a Wiener King in Carteret, NJ. I remember when I had come back from vacation in 1979, it had changed brands. It went from being a Wiener King to an independent fast food restaurant called Burger Express. They’re still in business today, although they had to move from their previous location due to problems with leasing of the property. They bought land on the other side of town, and built a new restaurant. They’re best known for their fried chicken and cheese fries. Plus they just started selling Nathan’s hotdogs.
When I was a teenage actor, I was in a Weiner King commercial. They were promoting a partnership with The Big A drive in movie theater, and gave away a pony. Kid you not. And in the commercial shoot, the pony kept kicking me.
Oh yea, that next school year, I was known as The Weiner Queen. I think I was too young to be insulted?
Always felt bad for children who ended up in local commercials. There was one kid who said “come see our grandpa!” in his family’s furniture store ad and other kids repeated that line back to him in the hallways every day.
I was actually excited. It was my first commercail and lead to my career in television journalism. My next gig was for Holly Farms Chicken. And then there was the pantyhose commercial for Belk...
In a time where every fast-food joint has more selections than a Denny's. it's comforting to think back on a store that did basically one thing, and did it well. But bad management can kill anything...
Wiener Works still has a location in Kings Mountain, I think. Used to hit that up all the time.
Correct.
As a Charlotte native who doesn't like hamburgers, I was a huge fan of Weiner King and devastated when they disappeared. Hardee's also sold hot dogs back in the 70s and luckily there was one on Randolph, near our swim club on Sharon Amity. But nothing was ever the same after Weiner King went away
Saddest Facebook page ever....
Lew, your byline was on some of the wiener king stories from the paper!
There was a Weiner King on Tunnel Road in Asheville at its heyday.
I came across an ad for it when inwas doing research for this!
Great job bringing in the Ohio angle, Jeremy!
Gotta make sure I'm not overlooking my ancestral homeland.
OMG, Sally’s!!!!
What a great post! I’d completely forgotten about Weiner King. I think the last time I ate at one was in late 70s Asheville?! Thanks for the nostalgia!
I remember the ad man (Sid something) regretfully ruling out the name Hindenfurter....
There used to be a Wiener King in Carteret, NJ. I remember when I had come back from vacation in 1979, it had changed brands. It went from being a Wiener King to an independent fast food restaurant called Burger Express. They’re still in business today, although they had to move from their previous location due to problems with leasing of the property. They bought land on the other side of town, and built a new restaurant. They’re best known for their fried chicken and cheese fries. Plus they just started selling Nathan’s hotdogs.
There used to be a Wiener King in Carteret, NJ. I remember when I had come back from vacation in 1979, it had changed brands. It went from being a Wiener King to an independent fast food restaurant called Burger Express. They’re still in business today, although they had to move from their previous location due to problems with leasing of the property. They bought land on the other side of town, and built a new restaurant. They’re best known for their fried chicken and cheese fries. Plus they just started selling Nathan’s hotdogs.
There used to be a Wiener King in Carteret, NJ. I remember when I had come back from vacation in 1979, it had changed brands. It went from being a Wiener King to an independent fast food restaurant called Burger Express. They’re still in business today, although they had to move from their previous location due to problems with leasing of the property. They bought land on the other side of town, and built a new restaurant. They’re best known for their fried chicken and cheese fries. Plus they just started selling Nathan’s hotdogs.
Jimmy serves some of the best food in the area! Plus you'd be hard-pressed to meet a more gracious person.
I love Weiner king. I've been eating there for 40 years. Jimmy is the best.