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MacPherson's Drive-In [gone]
Long Beach, CA |
Giant Burger
Max & Erma's
Pittsburgh, PA |
Giant Burger
Max & Erma's
Columbus, OH |
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MacPherson's Drive-In originally had a giant burger over the roof. Later, when they switched to specializing in fried chicken sometime around 1940, they simply plaid-ed over the whole building. They also changed the name to MacPherson's Tom-O-Shanta.
The Pittsburgh Max & Erma's features this giant burger above the entrance to their restaurant downtown. It was installed in 1998. The one in Columbus is installed on the back of their building in order to be visible from I-71. Max & Erma's has about 78 locations, mostly in the Midwest. There is another giant burger in Cincinnati, OH.
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Giant Burger
Seymour, WI |
Giant Burger
South of the Border
Dillon, SC |
TV Cafe
Los Angeles, CA |
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The Seymour Burger is a replica of the World's Largest Hamburger that was cooked here in 1989. The hamburger fed 13,000 people and was cooked on this 5,000 pound grill. Seymour is known as the "Home of the Hamburger" and a statue of its inventor, Hamburger Charlie, is just across the street. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The SOB Burger fits right in with all the other oversized figures, neon and carnival atmosphere of South of the Border. There are two giant ice cream cones nearby as well (and a giant spark plug at the gas station). For more about the place, see this page.
The TV Cafe features a giant burger, soft drink and fries, as well as an elephant and a giraffe, on its roof. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Giant Sandwich
Oscar's
North Myrtle Beach, SC |
Major's BurgersUnion Gap, WA |
EZ's Burger DeluxeWenatchee, WA |
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Oscar's Sandwich is part of the restaurant's signage. The 3-D sculpture features every imagineable sandwich filling. It is approximately 6' long.
Major's Burgers features a giant burger, fries and cup of Pepsi on the roof of their building. Major's has another location with a similar giant meal. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
EZ's Burger Deluxe has been here since 1992. For more, see this website.
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| Henry's Drive-inCicero, IL |
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Henry's Drive-in opened here in 1950. Just down the street from Henry's, there was another restaurant known as Bunyon's that had a Muffler Man holding a giant hot dog. This place closed and the statue was moved to Atlanta, IL in 2003. For more, see this website.
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Fast Track
Chicago, IL |
Pal's Sudden Service
Bristol, TN |
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Fast Track features this giant hot dog sign. It may have been inspired by the Henry's hot dog which is not that far away. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
Pal's Sudden Service was started in 1956 by Fred "Pal" Barger with a drive-in in Kingsport, TN. The company now has 18 locations in VA and TN. In 1984, this drive-thru-only building was designed. The original napkin sketch included this stair-stepped front with the giant burger, hot dog, fries and drink. The first of these blue buildings opened in 1985 in Kingsport, TN and there are more than 15 of them now. For more about Pal's, see their website.
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| Tail O' the Pup [in storage]Hollywood, CA |
Top Dog
Portland, CT |
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The Tail O' the Pup is a 17' long hot dog. It was designed by architect Milton J. Black in 1938 and built in 1945. It was nearly destroyed in 1985 before it was moved one block east. The original location had chrome bar stools in front. In 2005, the restaurant closed and the giant hot dog was moved into storage. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Top Dog hot dog stand is a converted 16' Airstream trailer. In 1981, when Andrea Spaulding fantasized about opening a restaurant, her husband bought this trailer and transformed it for her. Al also restored the 1972 Checker Cab which sits next to the trailer and tows it to state fairs and such. Although the giant weenie is topped with relish and onions, Andrea is famous for her two types of meat toppings. The hot dogs are produced in Maine. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Coney Island Dairyland
previously in Aspen Park, CO |
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Coney Island Boardwalk
now in Bailey, CO |
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The Coney Island Dairyland building is 42' long, 15' tall and made of concrete and steel. It weighs 14 tons and seats ten at the stools inside. The stand opened originally in Denver, CO in 1966 as the "Boardwalk at Coney Island". The design was patented that same year with plans to open another 15 stands like it in Denver. However, this stand closed in 1968 and it was moved to a mobile home park for a couple years. It was then moved to Aspen Park, CO where it reopened in 1970 as the Coney Island Dairyland. Around 2005, the land on which it stood was sold and plans were made for a new bank. In 2006, it was moved to Bailey, CO where it was restored. It reopened in 2007 as the Coney Island Boardwalk. For more, see this website.
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Between the Buns
Orlando, FL |
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The Between the Buns hot dog stand is located at a Chevron gas station. I believe it opened in 2005. The trailer transformation was done in Boston, MA. For more, see this website.
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former Red's Hot Dogs
Los Angeles, CA |
Taxi Dogs
Seattle, WA |
Village Liquor & Market
Burbank, CA |
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Red's Hot Dogs moved into this building in the late 1990s and only lasted a few years. I believe they are the ones that installed this fiberglass hot dog on the roof. Thai Town Express moved into the building in 2007 but moved out in 2008. Rumor has it that the building may be demolished for new development and the fate of the hot dog is unknown. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Taxi Dogs is a food stand in Pike Place market. Their giant hot dog is about 6' long. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
This third hot dog is installed on the roof of Village Liquor & Market.
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Giant Hot Dog
Aberdeen, WA |
Giant Hot Dog
Lindstrom, MN |
Giant Hot Dog
Minneapolis, MN |
Hefty's Coney Island
Redford, MI |
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The Aberdeen Hot Dog is located on the roof of the Dog House, a hot dog stand. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Lindstrom Hot Dog is installed on the roof of Deutschland Meats. For more, see this website.
The Minneapolis Hot Dog is located inside at the Gaviidae Common Food Court. For more, see this website.
Hefty's Coney Island has a rooftop giant hot dog.
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Tanner's Big Orange
Greenville, SC |
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Tanner's Big Orange has been around since at least the 1950s. This sign, which includes a giant hot dog, looks like it's from the 1960s.
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