He Grew Up Eating at Hot Dog on a Stick. Decades Later, He Bought the Struggling Chain for $8 Million: ‘It’s a Diamond in the Rough’

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He Grew Up Eating at Hot Dog on a Stick. Decades Later, He Bought the Struggling Chain for $8 Million: ‘It’s a Diamond in the Rough’

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After shrinking from much than 100 locations to 44, the 80-year-old franchise has a caller proprietor pinch plans to move beyond the mall.

By Jonathan Small | edited by Dan Bova | Jul 13, 2026

Stephen Siegel has been hooked connected Hot Dog connected a Stick since he was a kid successful Los Angeles. Now he owns the joint. The laminitis and CEO of Amazing Brands acquired the 80-year-old concatenation retired of the Fat Brands bankruptcy earlier this twelvemonth for $8 million, betting that the struggling promenade staple still has plentifulness of life left.

“It’s a gem successful the rough,” he told Restaurant Business. “I grew up connected the brand.”

Founded successful 1946 adjacent the Santa Monica Pier, Hot Dog connected a Stick became celebrated for its maize dogs, “hand-stomped” lemonade, and labor wearing rainbow-striped uniforms. During the basking canine heyday, the concatenation had much than 100 locations. Today, it has 44.

Siegel believes erstwhile owners grounded to spot what made the marque instrumentality out. His scheme is to return Hot Dog connected a Stick beyond the promenade pinch standalone restaurants, drive-thrus, airports, stadiums and tourer destinations, pursuing a way utilized by erstwhile promenade staples for illustration Panda Express and Chick-fil-A.

Stephen Siegel has been hooked connected Hot Dog connected a Stick since he was a kid successful Los Angeles. Now he owns the joint. The laminitis and CEO of Amazing Brands acquired the 80-year-old concatenation retired of the Fat Brands bankruptcy earlier this twelvemonth for $8 million, betting that the struggling promenade staple still has plentifulness of life left.

“It’s a gem successful the rough,” he told Restaurant Business. “I grew up connected the brand.”

Founded successful 1946 adjacent the Santa Monica Pier, Hot Dog connected a Stick became celebrated for its maize dogs, “hand-stomped” lemonade, and labor wearing rainbow-striped uniforms. During the basking canine heyday, the concatenation had much than 100 locations. Today, it has 44.

Siegel believes erstwhile owners grounded to spot what made the marque instrumentality out. His scheme is to return Hot Dog connected a Stick beyond the promenade pinch standalone restaurants, drive-thrus, airports, stadiums and tourer destinations, pursuing a way utilized by erstwhile promenade staples for illustration Panda Express and Chick-fil-A.

Jonathan Small is simply a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he... Read more

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