Murray Handwerker
Encyclopedia
Murray Handwerker was an American
businessman who expanded Nathan's Famous
, a fast food
restaurant
specializing in hot dog
s, from a family-owned hot dog stand
to a nationally franchise
d chain. The original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand was opened in Coney Island
, Brooklyn
, by Handwerker's father, Nathan Handwerker
, in 1916.
Murray Handwerker was born on July 25, 1921, to Polish
immigrant parents, Nathan and Ida Handwerker, in New York City
. He often visited and worked at his father's hot dog stand as a child. Handwerker served in the United States Army
during World War II
. In 1947, he received a bachelor's degree
in French
from New York University
.
Handwerker initially took over and renovated the Roadside Rest, a roadside restaurant in Oceanside, New York
, during the 1950s. However, he soon returned to his family's hot dog business.
Handwerker expanded Nathan's Famous in the decades following World War II. In 1968, Murray Handwerker became the president of the Nathan's Famous chain. The company reached ten franchises, with 43 restaurants directly owned by the company, by 1977. Additionally, Handwerker wrote a cookbook, Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Cookbook, which was published in 1983. He sold the company to a group of investors in 1987.
Murray Handwerker died of complications from dementia
on May 14, 2011, at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
, at age 89. He was survived by his sons, Steven, Kenneth and William. His wife, Dorothy, died in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who expanded Nathan's Famous
Nathan's Famous
Nathan's Famous is a company that operates a chain of U.S.-based fast food restaurants specializing in hot dogs. The original Nathan's restaurant stands at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in the Coney Island neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-History:Nathan's began as...
, a fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
specializing in hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
s, from a family-owned hot dog stand
Hot dog stand
A hot dog stand is a food business stand that sells hot dogs, usually from an external counter on a public thoroughfare such as a road, street, ballpark, mall, or food court....
to a nationally franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
d chain. The original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand was opened in Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, by Handwerker's father, Nathan Handwerker
Nathan Handwerker
Nathan Handwerker was a Polish-American entrepreneur known for creating the Nathan's Famous brand of hot dogs.- Biography :Handwerker, a Polish Jew, immigrated to the United States in 1912...
, in 1916.
Murray Handwerker was born on July 25, 1921, to Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
immigrant parents, Nathan and Ida Handwerker, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He often visited and worked at his father's hot dog stand as a child. Handwerker served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1947, he received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Handwerker initially took over and renovated the Roadside Rest, a roadside restaurant in Oceanside, New York
Oceanside, New York
Oceanside is a hamlet located in the south part of the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,109 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, during the 1950s. However, he soon returned to his family's hot dog business.
Handwerker expanded Nathan's Famous in the decades following World War II. In 1968, Murray Handwerker became the president of the Nathan's Famous chain. The company reached ten franchises, with 43 restaurants directly owned by the company, by 1977. Additionally, Handwerker wrote a cookbook, Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Cookbook, which was published in 1983. He sold the company to a group of investors in 1987.
Murray Handwerker died of complications from dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
on May 14, 2011, at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
, at age 89. He was survived by his sons, Steven, Kenneth and William. His wife, Dorothy, died in 2009.