The Origin of Wienerschnitzel

Photo by Troy Holden

Open Forum:

John Galardi was just 23 when opened his first fast-food hot dog stand, Der Wienerschnitzel, in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles. Today, 50 years later, Wienerschnitzel (which dropped the “der” in 1977) has grown into one of the world’s largest hot dog chains, selling more than 120 million hot dogs annually through its 350 stores spread among 10 states and Guam. Galardi, who now presides over the Galardi Group, a Newport Beach, California-based company that also owns and operates The Original Hamburger Stand and Tastee Freeze franchises, spoke with Darren Dahl about how he turned 15-cent hot dogs into a multi-million-dollar fast-food empire.

Photo by Troy Holden.

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