A James Coney Island restaurant on South Shepherd Drive in Houston

James Coney Island has been selling hot dogs in Houston since 1923

ByDana Kowalczyk

Photo: WhisperToMe, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

James Papadakis came to the United States from Greece and worked in restaurants in New York, where he saw how hot dogs sold at Coney Island. In 1923, he and his brother Tom opened a hot dog stand on Walker Street in downtown Houston. They called it James Coney Island.

The menu centered on hot dogs topped with chili, mustard and onions, a style Greek immigrants spread across the country in the early 20th century. Chili cheese fries, Frito pie and chili by the bowl followed.

Growing with Houston

The downtown restaurant became a lunch spot for office workers, politicians and shoppers. The company began opening other locations after World War II and eventually grew to more than a dozen restaurants around Houston.

The Papadakis family ran the business for decades before selling it. It has had several owners since, and the number of restaurants has shrunk from its peak. The original downtown location closed years ago.

Why it lasts

James Coney Island has survived a century of competition by keeping the menu familiar. Its restaurants are a reminder of the Greek immigrant families who ran diners, cafes and food stands across Houston in the 20th century.

The chain also sells its chili in grocery stores, and Houstonians who grew up with it still seek it out. For a city that changes as quickly as Houston, a restaurant that has lasted more than 100 years is a rare thing.

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