A Los Angeles investment firm said today it had acquired Hot Dog on a Stick and expects to revive the iconic fast-food chain, which filed bankruptcy earlier this year.
Levine Leichtman Capital Partners plans to open HDOS eateries in a range of new territories.
“We can greatly accelerate growth while providing HDOS’s loyal customer base with even greater service and menu offerings in the years to come,” said Chris Dull, chief executive officer of Levine Leichtman subsidiary Global Franchise Group.
HDOS began serving skewered corn dogs and lemonade in 1946 near Santa Monica Pier. The original store is still operating — along with almost 100 restaurants throughout the United States and in Dubai, Guam, Korea, and Brazil.
The menu also includes cheese on a stick, French fries, funnel cake sticks, Nathan’s Famous beef hot dogs, and low-cal lemonade, served by employees in brightly colored striped hats.
In February, Hot Dog on a Stick filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, citing declining foot traffic at its shopping mall locations and expensive leases negotiated during the real estate boom.
The first HDOS restaurant, called Party Puffs, sold ice cream and lemonade, according to the company’s website. Later, founder Dave Barham used his mother’s cornbread recipe to develop the corn dog, and changed the eatery’s name to Hot Dog on a Stick, taking the product to county fairs.
Barham opened his first shopping mall restaurant in 1973 in Salt Lake City. He died in 1991 and left the company to his employees.
