One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Hot Dog on a Stick files for bankruptcy
In this Creative Commons licensed photo, a clerk in the colorful Hot Dog on a Stick uniform takes a customer's order. HDOS Enterprises, which owns the iconic restaurant chain, announced Monday that it has filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition.
(
Luigi Anzivino/flickr Creative Commons
)
The company that owns the fast food chain Hot Dog on a Stick announced Monday that it has filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition.
Hot Dog on a Stick is the iconic Southern California restaurant chain popular in malls and known for its brightly colored, circus-like uniforms. Its main offering is the trademarked "hot dog on a stick," but don't call it a corn dog — nowhere on the menu is there mention of one (though the ingredients confirm that, indeed, the batter contains corn meal).
HDOS Enterprises cited declining foot traffic at malls and expensive leases established during the real estate boom for its financial woes. The company said it is seeking relief so it can implement a plan to reorganize and restructure its business.
"We’ve been pursuing new leases in all locations and the Chapter 11 filing will allow us to do so in a more effective manner," CEO Dan Smith said in a statement released Monday.
HDOS notes that its first restaurant opened in 1946 in Santa Monica; today, it currently operates 93 locations. It plans to continue business as usual throughout the bankruptcy proceedings, so no need for corn dog-loving patrons to panic.
Did you ever work at Hot Dog on a Stick? If you've eaten there, what did you think? How does it compare to other corn dogs in the region? And where would you go, by the way, if they all closed down?
Folks on Twitter shared their photos and memories Tuesday:
Sponsored message
SABBA RECALLS HER CHILDHOOD AT HOT DOG ON A STICK
ALLIE MACKAY DOESN'T MIND THE UNIFORM
We want to hear from you, too! Share your photos and memories with us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or in comments below.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
