Lloyd Handwerker

Starting with just five feet of counter space on Coney Island's undeveloped boardwalk, Nathan Handwerker opened Nathan's Famous, a business that quickly spanned the globe, launching the hotdog as an American food staple and Nathan himself to national fame.

Born in 1892 to a poor Jewish family of 13 in Eastern Europe, Nathan become an apprentice at a bakery in a village near his family. Living in the store, he learned the value of hard work and developed an appreciation for good food and how it can bring people together. When it came time to emigrate to America, Nathan brought only the shoes on his feet, $28.00 in his pocket, and a determination to succeed.… (meer)

Everything you wanted to know about Nathan’s hotdogs and more. Written by Nathan’s grandson, this is more than just a story of how his grandfather came to America, started his business and continued to be a national phenomenon. It is also the history of Coney Island. One gets the feeling of how Coney Island changed from a rich man’s playground to everyman’s weekend getaway to what is today. We read as Nathan grows his business, his family and tries to adapt to the changing times. I found this book to a very fascinating insight on the man, the legend, the area and the history.… (meer)