An Allentown real estate developer is bringing a New York icon to the city’s downtown.
Nat Hyman, who has built 700 apartments in downtown Allentown, on Aug. 30 received zoning approval to build a Nathan’s restaurant at 328 W. Linden St., the southwest corner of Linden Street and American Parkway, across from American Plaza.
The eatery, scheduled to open next spring or summer, would be the Lehigh Valley’s first freestanding location of Nathan’s, the famous hot dog brand that was established more than a century ago in Coney Island.
Hyman, the eatery’s franchisee, said he is pursuing the venture because he sees a “real need for a quick-service restaurant” in Center City.
“In all of downtown Allentown from the Lehigh River to 30th Street and from Tilghman Street to Martin Luther King Drive, there are only two drive-thru restaurants which aren’t coffee places,” he said. “There is a real dearth of fast-service food to serve the Allentown customer.”
Nathan’s, which is also famous for its annual televised hot dog eating contest, was established in Coney Island in 1916 by Nathan Handwerker with a $300 loan from two friends and his wife’s secret spice recipe, according to the company’s website.
In 1987, the Handwerker family sold the business to private investors, who then expanded franchise operations around New York.
Today, Nathan’s products are marketed within its restaurant system and throughout a broad spectrum of other food-service and retail environments nationwide and within 16 foreign territories and countries.
In total, Nathan’s products are marketed for sale in approximately 78,000 locations, including supermarkets, mass merchandisers and club stores.
In Allentown, Hyman is planning to construct a 1,300-square-foot Nathan’s restaurant, which will have a drive-thru and walk-up window but no indoor seating.
Hyman operates three apartment complexes — The Adelaide, The Tribeca and The Bindery — within a block of the forthcoming restaurant, and he believes the dining venture will be a great amenity for not only his tenants but all of the people living and working in downtown Allentown.
“Nathan’s will appeal to all of the former New Yorkers who relocated here,” Hyman said. “It is a New York institution which brings back fond memories to a lot of people who grew up loving their Nathan’s hotdogs.”
The Allentown restaurant will serve Nathan’s full menu, which includes hot dogs, angus burgers, chicken tenders and sandwiches, hot wings, crinkle-cut fries, onion rings and milkshakes.
Customers also can order “Nathan’s Premium Heroes,” featuring authentic flavors and a half pound of meat. Selections include the New York cheesesteak by Pat LaFrieda, 3-cheese meatball parmesan hero and pastrami, Swiss and sauerkraut hero.
