FRANKIE’S – A Waterbury Tradition
I remember when I was a young boy back in the late 70’s, riding with my parents to the Frankie’s on Lakewood Road. It was always a treat going to Frankie’s on a Friday night, to have a deliciously extra-long hot dog on a toasted bun, with mouth-watering steak fries all crispy and golden brown.
Every now and again, we would stop by the Frankie’s on Watertown Avenue on the way to a game at Municipal Stadium or coming from the annual fireworks display during the summer. There was nothing like the hot dogs served at Frankie’s, not then, and not now.
At that time, when we stopped by the Frankie’s on Watertown Avenue, I had no idea that we were partaking of a tradition that predated even my parents.
The original Frankie’s hot dog stand on Watertown Avenue opened up in 1937 during the Great Depression as a business venture that originated with local barber Frank Caiazzo and his brother Paul. After coming up with the idea of a super hot dog – extra long with a special bun – the business took off and the Caiazzo brothers expanded their operation to include a sit-down restaurant on Lakewood Road.
Today, the original Frankie’s hot dog stand still sits on the corner of Watertown Avenue and Aurora Street, attracting hundreds of loyal customers each year. The Lakewood Road Frankie’s restaurant has relocated to Chase Avenue, and there are two other Frankie’s locations in Waterbury – one further down on Watertown Avenue, and one across town on Reidville Drive. There are even Frankie’s located across Connecticut and beyond – in Naugatuck, Bristol, Madison, West Haven, and Tampa, Florida.
The best thing about Frankie’s is that hot dogs are not the only great menu offering they have. Fresh flame-fried burgers, clam strips (my wife’s favorite item to order – only from Frankie’s), shrimp, and fish fillets are only a small sampling of the great cuisine that Frankie’s has to offer.
Courtesy of William James Walton, Sr. , Realtor, WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group
Serving northern New Haven and southeastern Litchfield Counties (Waterbury, Wolcott, Prospect, Naugatuck, Middlebury, Southbury, Watertown, Thomaston and Plymouth)
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Now there's a great tag line: "Come in and eat or we'll both starve." Love it.
Hi William:
I agree with Russel. That is a great little slogan, and very true. A good hot dog is timeless. Maybe I'll stop by there one day.
:)
Matt
So I have been a loyal franky dogger since I could eat solid food. However, I am also a Tampa native and only get to my beloved franky's when visiting family at the bottom of the hill by the stadium. You can imagine my excitement when driving around Tampa I saw it, standing in the distance.. a Franky's. Yum Yum. I could not get parked fast enough! And here, is where my excitment ended. They had rotten hot dog rolls, plain old, buy them in the store down here hard rounded side hot dog buns. They hot dogs were only small ones (again, store bought) and greasy hamburgers. I was dismayed, but I continued on. THE RELISH IS NOT FRANKYS! I have this stuff shipped to me twice a year and only the delish chunks keeps me from drinking it. I. Was. Heartbroken. When I asked the manager (who was working the front counter) about these obvious transgressions he didn't care. He told me they COULD NOT GET the good stuff. I even offered to buy a case and give him a few jars and he still simply didn't care. He told me they couldn't get it and that was that, sorry. Then he simply walked away. I was crushed. So, while I will still enjoy my Franky-Dogs when I can get them.. I won't return. Anyone who reads this and has been to the real deal don't go, you will cry. If you haven't been to the one in CT. Don't go, you will never have any idea why they have such a loyal following, and you will find yourself looking at us strange and going to 7-11 for your next hot dog fix.