Nathan's Famous - Coney Island origin and Fourth of July contest

Nathan's Famous, founded by Nathan Handwerker in 1916 at Coney Island, is widely recognized as an early American hot-dog stand that grew into a national brand. The original Surf Avenue location has hosted annual Fourth of July hot‑dog eating contests that drew public attention and later became a televised competitive-eating event. The restaurant and its Independence Day contest are enduring elements of Coney Island's food and popular-culture history.