Hot Dog Charlie’s is a family-run business spanning three generations. Hot Dog Charlie’s was started in 1922 in Troy, New York by a Greek immigrant, Strates Fentekes.
Back then, called New Way Lunch, customers started calling Strates “Charlie” so the name Hot Dog Charlie’s stuck.
Known as the “Hairy Arm”, hotdogs were lined up on their bare arms and dressed with mustard, onions and Charlie’s Famous Chili Meat Sauce. Customers came from miles around to buy a Charlie’s mini hot dog for 5 cents.
Over the years, many have tried to imitate this famous chili meat sauce, but no one has ever been able to duplicate the secret recipe of Strates Fentekes.