I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California in the town of Sherman Oaks – wow, that was more complicated than I thought it was going to be! Growing up we didn’t have a lot of money and I don’t know if that made us appreciate certain things in life or not, but it seemed to be the logical reason. There was this hot dog joint in Sherman Oaks (on the corner of Ventura Blv. and Kester) that was the bomb! We loved it and when we moved that was one place that was highly missed. I would always try and stop in when visiting old friends, but as time went on and friends moved away as well, visits to the Valley happened less and less… So, my trips to the good old Wiener Factory became less and less… Until I just didn’t make the side trip for a dog any longer. I would drive past and point, “That’s the Wiener Factory where my mother, brother and I loved to eat!”

Recently my brother heard from his childhood pal, Anthony, who still lives in southern California – that our treasure that was the Wiener Factory had closed. Our hearts sank as our childhood memory of the best hot dogs on earth was gone… All the feelings came flooding back as I gave remembrance to the Wiener factory. How so excited we would be when our mother would say, “Let’s go to the Wiener Factory.” The power and joy of growing up and being able to take ourselves to grab a dog. The fuzzy childhood blanket of comfort food had been ripped off and even though we didn’t visit our old friend the Wiener Factory, we still held a love and a passion for everything that once was.

Pinkberry – a fancy new hip frozen yogurt joint with a ton of extra money totally raped the Wiener Factory of its land! The Wiener Factory had only leased the land, and the Pinkberry Gods outbid Wiener Factory for the land… kicking the Wiener Factory’s ass out! Sadness grew over the valley as Wiener Factory closed their doors on December 31, 2007 at 6pm, never to serve another hot dog again… The kick in the teeth was after all was said and done, goddamn Pinkberry decided the lot was too small and there was not enough parking

! What?! You buy land and then figure these things out after??? What the hell is wrong with people?! Shoving out an awesome hot dog joint that had been there since 1971 -  before I was born! Not fair and I hope Pinkberry chokes on a berry!

A recent trip back to the old stomping grounds, we decided to hit Pink’s and see what all the noise was about… It just made me want to cry, because it was nothing special and we had to wait in line for thirty minutes before getting to order. I was hot and by the time I got my food I didn’t want to eat anymore. Plus, it just made me sad because Wiener Factory was SO much better and I couldn’t go have an awesome chili, cheese and onion dog… *pout*

My brother and I would love to have the money to buy the land, buy the Factory and get schooled on the ways of the Wiener from the previous owners – then reopen her as the sweet little hot dog stand that everyone knew and loved.

I sent my brother a picture while visiting the abandoned Factory and he asked me to go back and get part of the building. I went back but there was nothing I could simply rip off, so I called him with the sad news there was nothing – without serious toolage anyhow. While I was chatting with him I realized a little bit of stucco wall that was cracked and I told him to hold on while I got out of the car and broke it off the building! I got a piece of the Wiener Factory! Though it will never be the same, we will have the memory of the best Wieners on earth!  Thank you Wiener Factory for all the thirty-six years of awesomeness – you guys were truly the best!

*I Love You* Wiener Factory!

I got a piece of the building!

It’s not the size that matters – it’s the memory within.

Good-bye Wiener Factory… Good-bye…

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