After years of crying into our mustard-stained napkins over the impending demise of New York’s frankfurter royalty, Papaya King, we’ve got some sizzling news that’ll make you relish the day! The hot dog haven that’s been serving up a side of papaya juice with every wiener has found a new throne at 1535 Third Avenue, between East 86th and 87th streets, Upper East Site reports. The new location could open as early as this week, and it’s got the Big Apple buzzing like a pack of hungry pigeons around a dropped pretzel.
The new digs are part of what used to be Modell’s Sporting Goods, and it’s right across the street from the original Papaya King. It’s like they took a bite out of the Big Apple and moved it across the road! Upper East Site, which broke the news, reports that the interior of the new space is painted the same shade of yellow as a taxi cab in a mustard fight. It features a mural of food brands that debuted the same year Papaya King opened: Fritos, Mentos, and Mars. Another mural showcases black-and-white retro photos of the original hot dog shop, where the buns were always toasty and the toppings piled high.
The website shows Papaya King has added a sign that it has moved, but the website and phone numbers are still down. Google and Yelp are a bit behind the times, still listing the restaurant at its original address. Yelp’s hours were updated three months ago, and the last review is from March. It’s like they’re stuck in a time warp, and the only way out is through a hot dog-shaped wormhole! Eater has contacted Papaya King for more information, but they’re probably too busy grilling up deliciousness to answer.
The corner spot serving snappy hot dogs and tropical drinks is a cornerstone of Manhattan lore. It’s the place where Constantine “Gus” Poulos, originally from Athens, Greece, opened in 1932. But Papaya King had to move because Extell, the developer behind billionaires’ row near Central Park, bought the location and hinted that the restaurant and other buildings would be demolished. It’s like King Kong swiping at buildings, but with less fur and more real estate contracts.
Business owner Wayne Rosenbaum bought the brand around 2010, with nephew of Gus Poulos, Alexander, working the grill. At the time, Rosenbaum told Grub Street, “Papaya King will be here for another 178 years.” That’s longer than the shelf life of a hot dog, folks!
Papaya King has had more lives than a cat in a hot dog costume. In addition to its renovation more than a decade ago, the restaurant has tried to expand to Downtown Brooklyn, the East Village, and the Roosevelt Mall on Long Island, plus California and Pennsylvania. The menu has grown, too, to include curly fries, onion rings, fried Oreos, knishes, cheesesteaks, and other items. It’s like a buffet of deliciousness that’ll make you say, “I’ll take one with everything!”
No word yet on whether they’re going to bring the original sign across the street, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed and our buns toasted. In the meantime, let’s raise a glass of papaya juice to the king of hot dogs—long may it reign!
The post Papaya King Lives first appeared on FriendsEAT.