DOESN’T HAVE THE NAME YOU THINK
IT MIGHT.
IN ITS HEYDAY, CONEY ISLAND WAS
A SEASIDE SHANGRI-LA.
FUN SEEKERS WOULD TAKE AN
EXPRESS TO THE BEACH FOR A
NICKEL.
WHILE THERE, DELIGHT IN A LOCAL
DELICACY, THE HOT DOG.
>> CHARLES FELTMAN IS KNOWN AS
THE INVENTOR OF THE HOT DOG.
HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO PUT
THE SAUSAGE ON AN ELONGATED BUN.
>> MICHAEL QUINN AND HIS
BROTHER, JOE, STARTED FELTMAN’S
OF CONEY ISLAND IN 2015.
>> SO YOU GUYS DECIDE TO GO INTO
THE HOT DOG BUSINESS.
AND WHAT DID YOUR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS SAY?
>> EVERY SINGLE PERSON LAUGHED
AT IT.
>> OUR PARENTS SAID WE WERE A
COUPLE OF CROUTONS SHORT OF A
CAESAR SALAD.
>> ONCE THERE WERE THREE
BROTHERS, BROOKLYN BORN AND
BRED.
THEY DREAMED OF GOING INTO
BUSINESS TODAY.
>> THE DREAM CAME DOWN AT 9/11
WHEN JIMMY LOST HIS LIFE AT THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER.
>> I WAS A SENIOR AND ENDED UP
DOING TWO TOURS IN IRAQ AND A
TOUR IN AFGHANISTAN.
IT WASN’T UNTIL I GOT OUT OF THE
MILITARY WHERE WE REIGNITED THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT STARTING THIS
COMPANY.
>> THE DOGS, BASED ON CHARLES
FELTMAN’S ORIGINAL RECIPE, ARE
FLYING OFF THE SHELVES.
>> DID AMERICA REALLY NEED
ANOTHER HOT DOG COMPANY?
>> I THINK IT DOES.
DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN ALL THE
SHELVES WERE CLEARED, A LOT OF
THE TOFU HOT DOGS REMAINED ON
THE SHELVES, RIGHT?
>> Reporter: THAT THE MODEST
MEAT HAS BECOME A MUST-HAVE IS
NO MYSTERY, SAYS JOE.
>> I THINK IT WAS A COMFORT
FACTOR.
FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS.
YOU’RE ABLE TO BUY A PACK OF OUR
HOT DOGS AND THAT FEEDS YOU TWO
NIGHTS ON $10.
>> Reporter: THE HUMBLE HOT DOG,
SYMBOL OF SUMMER, BEST FRIEND OF
BASEBALL AND THE BACKBONE OF THE
BACKYARD BARBECUE IS HAVING A
MOMENT.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN COLORADO,
CUSTOMERS CRAVE MIKE’S CONEYS.
>> THE HOT DOG IS MAKING A MAJOR
COMEBACK IN AMERICA.
DO YOU KNOW WHY?
>> A HOT DOG IS JUST A SYMBOL OF
SIMPLER, HAPPY TIMES.
>> Reporter: THE PRO PRYTER SAYS
HIS POP-UP SELLS OUT MOST EVERY
STOP.
HOT DOGS, HE INSISTS, ARE GOOD
FOR YOU.
>> YOU KNOW, THEY’RE NOT
CONSIDERED A HEALTH FOOD, IT’S A
HAPPY FOOD.
BUT I THINK THAT HAPPINESS IS
THE IMPORTANT PART OF BEING
HEALTHY.
>> Reporter: TRUE HOT DOG
HAPPINESS, THOUGH, SAYS MIKE,
CANNOT BE ACHIEVED IF A CERTAIN
CONDIMENT IS REQUESTED.
>> FIRST OF ALL, IF SOMEONE
WANTS TO PUT KETCHUP ON ONE OF
MY CONEYS, I DON’T SAY ANYTHING.
I JUST GIVE THEM A STARE LIKE
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING.
THEY CAN RUIN THE HOT DOG ON
THEIR OWN BUT I WILL NOT DO IT.
WON’T DO IT.
>> Reporter: BACK IN BROOKLYN,
THE BROTHERS QUINN AGREE.
>> TAKING A BITE OUT OF HISTORY.
>> Reporter: ACCOMPANIED ONLY BY
FELTMAN’S APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
MUSTARD.
>> THERE MUST BE SOMETHING GOOD
ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE IT’S 11:30
IN THE MORNING AND I’M EATING
THIS LIKE IT’S THE LAST FOOD ON
EARTH.
WOW, THIS IS GOOD.
>> Reporter: BROTHER JIMMY THEY
KNOW IS SMILING.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, NATHAN’S
CAME MUCH LATER.
NATHAN WORKED AT FELTMAN’S AND
HE CAME UP WITH HIS HOT DOG
WHICH IS STILL SO POPULAR TODAY.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS WHAT DO
YOU PUT ON YOUR HOT DOG, KIDS?
>> NOT KETCHUP.
>> I’M WITH HIM.
I DON’T DO KETCHUP.
NO, I DON’T THINK YOU NEED -- A
GOOD HOT DOG DOESN’T NEED IT.
A LITTLE MUSTARD IS NICE.
>> A LITTLE MUSTARD IS NICE.
BUT I’M A BRAT GUY.
LOVE A BRAT.
SORRY.
WE’LL BE DOING BRATS THIS
WEEKEND.
>> YOU’RE BRINGING A BRAT TO A
STORY ABOUT HOT DOGS?
HARRY, THAT’S CRAZY.
>> I’M INTO TRUTH TELLING.
THIS IS ABOUT THE TRUTH.
I’M NOT GOING TO MAKE UP MY LOVE
FOR HOT DOGS WHEN IN FACT MY
HEART BELONGS TO BRATWURST.
>> HAPPY FOURTH.
>> IT’S A SONG.
>> HAPPY FOURTH, HARRY.
>> THAT REALLY TOOK A TURN I