It’s the 4th of July, the day thousands of New Yorkers celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by flocking to Coney Island and watching competitive eaters push an unspeakable quantity of hot dogs down their throats.  In the 2014 Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Contest winner Joey “Jaws” Chestnut devoured 61 in 10 minutes.
I mean no disrespect to the eight-time champion by asserting his feat was not quite as impressive as it seems. Nathan’s Famous franks (frankfurters) just ain’t what they used to be. They’ve shrunk over the years by, I reckon, over 25 percent, mostly in their girth. I had two in five minutes last month at the original Coney Island location. They were shamefully skinny. There was little of the signature juice and none of celebrated snap.
Back in my 20s I had a recurring Coney Island dream: I would close my eyes for a moment, then reopen them to see the world’s playground in its heyday. All the vanished arcades, rides and funhouses would be back. A Nathan’s frank would cost five cents. My grandfather would buy me two, when one was plenty.
Now I have a new dream: I close my eyes for a moment, then reopen them to see the Nathan’s incredible shrinking hot dog restored to its original, plump size. I buy two – one for my son and one for me. With our first bites the natural casing enclosing the franks breaks open. The plump hot dogs explode with juices and, we, with happiness.
Really disappointed with the shrunken dog, no more snap, not worth eating. The dog disappears in the bun. It’s 1.5 ounces -really now!!! It’s as skinny as my index finger& I m a woman. Afraid to put onions, relish, & kraut cuz there would be no hot dog to find at all.
What have you done ?
You are now the skinniest hot dog sold. Even Oscar Myers has you beat ans I’ve never eaten one of those.
Thanks for your message, Sylvia. I agree: skinny dogs like these have no snap, no
juice. In shrinking their Frank’s the thrill is gone.
Thank goodness we have a local butcher shop in town that makes wonderful frankfurters. You can get either all beef or beef and pork blend. Bye, bye Nathans.
Lucky you, Steve! Where are you located?
Why not just raise the price, everyone will understand that. But you shrink the hotdog? Now you have to put 2 in one bun. We aren’t stupid. Very bad business decision.
Thank goodness White Castle can’t shrink their hamburgers anymore or you wouldn’t see them
Finally found a source for Nathan’s old fashioned natural casing hot dogs. Got a case. Not like the Nathan’s I used to get. Skinny, salty, greasy.
So sad it’s come to this, Ron. Thanks for letting us know.