Nathan’s Famous, Inc. An American company consisting of fast-food restaurants, with the specialty being hot dogs. It all started in 1916 when an immigrant named Nathan Handwerker started a hot dog stand on Coney Island, and in the process began competing against his former employer Feltman’s German Gardens by means of selling hot dogs at 5 cents, while Feltman’s sold their hot dogs for 10 cents.
It is said that Nathan decided to start his own business after being suggested to do so by actors Eddie Cantor and Jimmy Durante. He then saved his money (and by one account did so by eating nothing but the hot dogs he could get for free at Feltman’s).
Due to the 5-cent price, people thought the hot dogs were subpar, despite the fact Nathan was using quality beef. Nathan tried to lure potential customers by offering free pickles and free root beer, but to no avail. Finally, he solved the problem by telling the doctors at a nearby clinic they could get free hot dogs provided they wore their white coats. Such a strategy paid off, and Nathan’s became a popular spot for those who visited Coney Island.
Eventually, Nathan’s began to expand, with locations in 46 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 14 countries.
Nathan’s hot dogs and other products can also be found in grocery stores. And every Independence Day, Nathan’s original location hosts a hot dog eating contest.
Thus, the story of Nathans’ is a perfect of example of the American dream.
You can watch the story of Nathan’s in the documentaries American Eats: History on a Bun and The Food That Built America- episode the Godfathers of Fast Food.
But now this story of the American dream being pursued has taken a dark turn.
Just recently, Nathan’s Famous Inc. has been purchased by Smithfield Foods in a $450 million all-cash deal, with Smithfield acquiring all of Nathan’s shares at $102 each.
Why is this a bad thing? Because Smithfield Foods (a pork producer) is a subsidiary of WH Group- a Chinese meat processing company. Hence, an example of the American dream is now in the hands of the communists.
It is bad enough the Chinese has purchased land near military sites here in America, not to mention all the other havoc they caused- e.g. Covid-19, the spy balloon. But the fact they own one of America’s iconic fast-food franchises is shocking.
Who knows what the Chinese will try to acquire next? And what can be done to prevent such acquisitions from taking place?
