Longest Running Show in Hollywood: A Hot dog Stand 🌭

Celebrities and Chilli Dogs 🧐

What are the nuggets? 💎

🌭 Origin Story: Pink’s started in 1939 when Paul and Betty Pink borrowed $50 to buy a used pushcart. Back then, hot dogs were a mere 10 cents each. Pinks parked their cart at the corner of La Brea and Melrose, and before you knew it, they had a line around the block. 

🌭 Expansion: In 1941, the landlord who owned the land their pushcart was on, raised the rent from $15 to $25 per month, and Paul and Betty were forced to either give up or find a way to acquire the property. Paul and Betty, convinced Bank of America to loan them $4,000 to purchase the land. “The loan officer ate lunch there every day, that’s why he gave us the money”.

🌭 Pivotal Moment: Pink’s hit a major turning point in the 1940s when Hollywood stars started showing up. Orson Welles famously ate 18 hot dogs in one sitting (the record). "They heard we had producers and directors who were coming, so they'd [young actors] tack their photos on the wall in the hope they'd get discovered,". This celeb magnet effect is what grew Pink’s into the empire it is today. 

🌭 Cultural Integration: Pink’s Hot Dogs is a cultural landmark that’s been woven into the fabric of Los Angeles. Over the years, Pink’s has hosted some wildly unique events that cement its status beyond just a food joint. In 2010, Pink’s served as the backdrop for a fashion show that was part of LA Fashion Week, and in 2019, the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Melrose Avenue, where Pink’s has operated for over 80 years, was officially named “Pink’s Square”. To top it all off, Bruce Willis proposed to Demi Moore at Pink's.

🌭 Strategic Location Expansion: Unlike many businesses that grow too fast and fizzle out, Pink’s has been methodical about its expansion. Instead of franchising wildly, they’ve chosen strategic locations that align with their brand—like inside Universal Studios and the aforementioned Paramount Studios. This kind of selective growth has allowed them to maintain quality and their celebrity status. 

🌭 Funding: Today, Pink’s is still a family-owned business with no debts hanging over its head. The business is cash-flow positive and has survived economic downturns, recessions, and even a global pandemic.

Laying Out The Figures 💵