Nathan's Famous : the first 100 years : an unauthorized view of America's favorite frankfurter company / William Handwerker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Handwerker, William, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nathan's Famous.

Handwerker, Nathan, 1892-1974.

Handwerker, Nathan.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xx, 192 pages) : illustrations, maps

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Morgan James Publishing, [2016]

Summary:

"A heartwarming, poignant and even-handed account of the quintessential American immigrant/family business struggle to succeed against all odds" (Larry King). Nathan's Famous chronicles the history and business strategies of company founder Nathan Handwerker that led to the success of an iconic international brand and two of America's most loved foods: the Nathan's Famous Frankfurter and Crinkle-cut French Fries. Brimming with photos of historic Coney Island, New York, Nathan's Famous restaurants, and intimate family memories of author, former company Senior Vice president and grandson William Handwerker, Nathan's Famous details entrepreneurial spirit, business lessons, dramatic corporate missteps and growth. William includes insights into three generations of the Handwerker family, beginning with the founder's early life, growing up in extreme poverty in Galicia, Poland, as well as his own sons and grandson who contributed to expanding geographic locations, menu and the overall brand. Nathan's may have started as a small hot dog stand in 1916, but by sticking to his philosophy to "give 'em and let 'em eat, " he was able to beat his competition by providing top quality food at low prices. Nathan's Famous reveals the successes, trials and tribulations of growing Nathan's original vision into the international frankfurter corporation it is today.

Contents:

Intro

Title

Copyright

Table of Contents

Author's Note

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Section 1 FROM STEAMSHIP TO ROLLERCOASTER (1882 - 1940's)

Chapter 1 From Galicia to Manhattan

The End of an Era

Humble Beginnings

Nathan's First Jobs

Big Dreams for Young Nathan

Early Days in America

The Birth of Nathan's Famous

Naming the Stand

Famous Fans

Chapter 2 Fireworks &amp

Family

A Match Made in Coney Island Heaven

Nathan and Ida Start a Family

The Roaring Twenties and Booming Thirties

Surreptitious Expansions

Buying Up Boardwalk and Surf

Growing Pains

Clashing Management Styles

Section 2 THRILL ON THE STEEPLECHASE (1950 - 1960's)

Chapter 3 Murray's Venture Outside Coney Island

The Roadside Rest Is History-A New Nathan's Restaurant Opportunity

Coney Island Memories

Steeplechase on My Ninth Birthday

Family Management Shakeup

Questions I Wish I Could Ask

Work: A Means to an End?

Yonkers: Store Number Three

Chapter 4 Nathan's in the Public Eye

In the Public Arena

Times Square: Hitting the Big Time

New Stores, Bad Locations

Foray into Franchising

Wetson's Acquisition

Personal Effects

Section 3 RIDING THE MERRY-GO-ROUND (1970's - 1980's)

Chapter 5 A Higher Education

College and Courtship

Returning to School

Walking into a Firestorm

The Wetson's Effect

Hot Dog Eating Contest Rolls Around

Earning My Stripes

Painful Lessons

Inside Out

Chapter 6 Saving Nathan's: The Plan

Natural Casing versus Skinless

Supermarket Licensing

Two Faces of Couponing

Section 4 BUMPER CARS ON THE FREEWAY (1980's)

Chapter 7 Margins and Marginality

My Sabbatical Year and Back: Arc of the Survivor

Vendors Under Fire

Marriott: Saving Grace

Testing Where to Go from Here

Searching for New Blood.

Chapter 8 Nathan's Goes Private Again

Flagging Confidence in Management

Outsiders Step In

The New Five-Year Plan

Figuring Out New Leadership

On the Block

Section 5 VIEW FROM THE FERRIS WHEEL (1990's - Present)

Chapter 9 Private Again, Public Again

New Regimes

The New World Order

Taking Nathan's to Russia

More Trouble in the Executive Suite

Back to the Public Market

Farther East: Japan

The End of My Road at Nathan's

Chapter 10 New Beginnings and Endings

The End of Generation Two

Success and Legacy

About the Author.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781630479350

1630479357

OCLC:

1056068453