Why the American dream is shaped like a hot dog

Nathan Handwerker’s story began like many tales about the American dream. Working in a restaurant owned by Coney Island’s Charles Feltman, often credited as the inventor of the hot dog, he dreamed of a better life. To save money, Handwerker slept on the restaurant’s kitchen floor and ate free hot dogs. After a year, he quit working for Feltman and opened his own hot dog stand on Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, mere blocks away from his former employer’s own hot dog establishment. With his wife Ida's secret spice recipe, Handwerker sold his dogs for five cents, half the price of Feltman’s. But business still struggled. So, he did what any good entrepreneur would do—he pulled off a publicity stunt.
It was Independence Day 1916, and Handwerker was working at his hot dog stand when he overheard a conversation nearby. “The story that I have heard forever is that there were four immigrants arguing over who was the most American on the Fourth of July,” says Richard Shea, the President of Major League Eating. So, Handwerker challenged the four men to a contest.
“Nathan said, ‘I’ll tell ya, whoever can eat the most of my hot dogs is the most American,” explains Shea. The men took Handwerker up on the offer. Irish immigrant James Mullen won the race by downing 13 hot dogs in 12 minutes, thus proving his patriotism. The Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest was born.
Ninety-nine years later, the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest may be the largest publicity stunt in the world, with over 35,000 people flocking to Coney Island and millions watching at home on ESPN every July 4.