Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dogs in Raynham Has Returned

A seasonal hot dog and sausage stand that closed down last fall after a quarter century in business is back with what appears to be a new owner.

A comment posted in an earlier article here mentions that Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dogs in Raynham "is back for the 26th season. We have the same menu with some new items on the way!" A check on its Facebook page shows an earlier post saying that "someone will be taking over Smokeys...and yes I will train him which means I will be back for a short time, but knowing myself it will be tough to stay away." Last November we reported that the owner of Smokey's was shutting down the cart and considering retiring from the business, though he was also looking to have a new owner possibly taking it over.

Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dogs, which is set up in the Raynham Shopping Plaza (also known as Raynham Crossing) on Route 44, has been around since 1992.

[Earlier Article]
Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dog/Sausage Stand in Raynham Has Closed

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Smokey's Almost Famous Hot Dog/Sausage Stand in Raynham Has Closed

A seasonal hot dog and sausage stand south of Boston has closed after a quarter century in business, though there may still be a ray of hope that it returns.

According to its Facebook page, Smokey's Almost Famous in Raynham shut down on Saturday, with the owner thanking his customers and saying "I don't know the status of my trailer...will someone buy it return as a new Smokey...unknown right now...But remember this there is only one Smokey ---ME Thanks everyone bye." A more recent post hints that the owner will actually be renewing the permit for the place, but he states that it "doesn't mean I'll return...Later this month and the winter will tell me more." Based on earlier posts, it appears that the reason for the trailer shutting down is because the owner has been hoping to retire.

Smokey's Almost Famous, which started out in 1992, offered hot dogs and sausages along with burgers, chicken, and drinks from its cart, which was set up in the Raynham Shopping Plaza (also known as Raynham Crossing) on Route 44, usually from March 1 to November 30 each year.

[December 6 update: A new Facebook post indicates that the trailer that housed the now-closed Smokey's Almost Famous is up for sale, though the owner emphasizes that it is the trailer--and not the business--that is for sale.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Rubi's Hot Dogs Is Opening within Huntington Wine and Spirits in Boston

A gourmet hot dog stand is on its way to Boston, and it will be located in a rather unusual spot.

Eater Boston is reporting that Rubi's Hot Dogs will open within Huntington Wine & Spirits, a nearly 40-year-old liquor store that is near Northeastern University and Symphony Hall. The article says that the hot dog stand, which will be operated by store owner Steven Rubin's son, Sam, and will be a separate business from the store, will be set up by the front entrance, and that it could eventually feature popcorn and pretzels as well at some point. If all goes as planned, the rollers at Rubi's Hot Dogs could be operational in two weeks or so.

[September 21 update: A message from the place indicates that Rubi's Hot Dogs is now open.]

The address for Huntington Wine & Spirits (and the new Rubi's Hot Dogs) is 301 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115. The Twitter page for the liquor store can be found at https://twitter.com/hwsboston while the Twitter page for the hot dog stand is at https://twitter.com/rubishotdogs

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Guilty Pleasures from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

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Fred's Franks Is Back in Wakefield

A hot dog cart north of Boston that was forced to leave its home a few months ago is back in the area, and at least for now, it is apparently located very near its former home.

According to a Facebook post, Fred's Franks has returned to Wakefield, with the note saying "Starting Monday [today], we will be re-opening in Wakefield, hopefully on the corner from where we used to set up, from 11:30 - 1:30. Then, we may re-locate and open from 4:30 - 6:30. I will 'pin point' our location on google maps and send a tweet with our location." Fred's was kicked off the property at the northern edge of Lake Quannapowitt back in June and has been looking for a home ever since. Recently, the hot dog stand was set up in Medford, but that appears to be over for the time being, though the owner hints that Medford could become a possibility once again at some point.

The website for Fred's Franks can be found at http://fredsfranks.com/

[Earlier Article]
Fred's Franks in Wakefield Kicked Off Property; Owner Seeks New Location

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Fred's Franks in Wakefield Kicked Off Property; Owner Seeks New Location

Last week we reported that a hot dog stand north of Boston had to reduce its hours, apparently because of a new law that only allowed it to conduct business for two hours at a time before having to move to a new spot. Now we have learned that the situation for the stand has taken a turn for the worse.

According to a post on its Facebook page, Fred's Franks has been booted from the northern edge of Lake Quannapowitt, with the note saying that on Sunday, "a Wakefield police officer...informed me that I was not to conduct business there any longer that I was trespassing and if I do I would be arrested." Because of this, the hot dog stand is now closed while the owner decides what to do. One option appears to be a move that would likely take it out of Wakefield, though a new note on the Facebook page mentions that the owner is "Seeking legal council today...Especially being on state property with proper documentation!"

More updates on the status of Fred's Franks will likely be on the way, so keep checking back for updates.

[June 23 update: A new post on the Fred's Franks Facebook page says that a private hearing will take place tonight after the town Selectmen's meeting, looking into the situation concerning the removal of the hot dog stand from the property on the northern edge of Lake Quannapowitt. (Stay tuned for more updates as early as tomorrow.)]

[August 22 update: A reply to a Facebook post this week indicates that Fred's Franks is still looking for a permanent location, though the thread also mentions that Fred's is still around and can be found at various spots, including the Medford Farmers Market and the Feast Italia in Wakefield.]

[September 17 update: Based on new information within the Fred's Franks Facebook page, it looks like there could be not one, but two locations of the hot dog stand on the way; starting Monday September 22, Fred's will be at The Hyatt Place parking lot in Medford Square (more details to come on exact hours and days), and they are also hoping to open a permanent location in Wakefield that would be open year around.]

Thanks to a source for initially bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
Fred's Franks in Wakefield Cuts Hours After New Law Apparently Takes Effect

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Fred's Franks in Wakefield Cuts Hours After New Law Apparently Takes Effect

A couple of years ago, we wrote that a hot dog stand in the northern suburbs of Boston was reportedly paid a visit by someone who claimed to be a representative of a state agency and told that the stand may need to move. That never happened, though now the hot dog stand appears to be facing another similar problem with its location.

According to a Facebook post from the stand, Fred's Franks in Wakefield has had to reduce their hours apparently because of the following: "Due to a new law in Wakefield, Fred's Franks is only allowed to conduct business for 2 hours at a time. After 2 hours we must move 100 ft which is a difficult task for us due to the fact that we have 2 fired Big Green Eggs. So, we will be conducting business from 11:30-1:30ish daily till further notice." It is not known why they need to move their stand after two hours, but the ruling appears to be in effect immediately, as another note on the Facebook page says "The police came down [Tuesday] and said they are going to enforce it starting [yesterday]."

Fred's Franks is located on the northern edge of Lake Quannapowitt, just south of the Route 128/129 intersection. Its website is at http://fredsfranks.com/

Thanks to one of our readers for bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
Fred's Franks in Wakefield May Have to Move

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Fenway Franks Hot Dog Stand Coming to Lansdowne Street in Boston

It looks like a new hot dog stand is on its way to Boston, and its name is a very familiar one.

Universal Hub is reporting that a stand called Fenway Franks will be coming to Lansdowne Street by Fenway Park, with the Boston Red Sox being the operators of it. The article mentions that the stand will be running whenever the Sox are not playing, with hot dogs, burgers, and soda being served (beer will not be available). It is not yet known what hours the Fenway Franks stand will have, though Red Sox attorney Dennis Quilty indicates that the food-serving license for the organization technically allows food to be served as late as 2:00 AM.

The Red Sox are also apparently looking to set up a food truck on Yawkey Way, according to UH, though plans appear to be in the early stages, with the organization getting a formal request ready for the proposed truck.

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve More Starters and Sides from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Boston Super Dog Plans to Open a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in the Fenway Neighborhood (Again)

In late 2010, we reported that a landmark hot dog wagon in Boston was possibly going to expand, with a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the works for the Fenway section of the city. A year later, these plans fell through, but now we have learned that they are back on again.

Eater Boston is reporting that Gregg Gale, who is the owner of Boston Super Dog (formerly Speed's Famous Hot Dog Wagon) in Newmarket Square has a space in Fenway secured, with a Twitter post from the Super Dog page saying that he is "looking for an investor for a brick and mortar have building already by Fenway." It is not yet known what the exact address is, though the earlier plans from 2010 had been to open on Peterborough Street; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

The website for Boston Super Dog is http://www.bostonsuperdog.com/

[Earlier Articles]
Update: Speed's Hot Dogs Will Apparently Not Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood
Speed's Hot Dogs to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

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Area Four in Cambridge's Kendall Square Opens a Hot Dog Cart

An eclectic restaurant and bar in Cambridge's Kendall Square that also includes a bakery/coffeehouse now has something else for diners--a hot dog cart.

The Chowder blog of Boston Magazine is reporting that Area Four at 500 Technology Square has set up a cart outside of the restaurant, with hot dogs being sold at lunchtime on weekdays. Chowder mentions that the cart is selling BN Ranch grass-fed all-beef hot dogs (the only place on the East Coast that does this), with toppings including jalapeno-pineapple relish and pickled banana pepper relish.

Area Four first opened its doors in May of 2011.

The address for this Area Four (and its hot dog cart) is 500 Technology Square (Main Street), Cambridge, MA, 02139. Their website can be found at http://www.areafour.com/

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Fred's Franks in Wakefield May Have to Move

It looks like a hot dog stand near the northern edge of Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield may have to move to another spot, though it remains open in its current location for the time being.

The Wakefield Patch is reporting that Carl Galasso of Fred's Franks was paid a visit by someone who claimed to be a representative of a state agency. The man told the owner of the hot dog stand that he would not be able to stay at his present location because it resides on a state-owned highway right of way, and that Galasso would face daily fines if he stayed at the site, which is just south of the intersection of Route 128 and 129. According to the article, Galasso did not know which state agency the man represented, and that he will continue to operate Fred's Franks at its current spot until he receives a formal letter about the issue.

If the owner of Fred's does have to move, the Patch says that one option may be to move a short distance over to town land. Galasso is hesitant to move closer to the lake, however, stating that "I don't want to be an eyesore."

Fred's Franks offers all-beef natural casing hot dogs as well as kielbasa, chorizo, and linguica. The food stand has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as an under-the-radar spot that is worth checking out. A link to the review can be found below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/FredsFranks.html

The website for Fred's Franks is at http://fredsfranks.com/


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Boston Speed Dog to Change Its Name to Boston Super Dog

A landmark hot dog wagon in the Newmarket Square section of Boston now has a new truck and a new menu, and it is also getting ready to have a new name.

Based on information from their website and Twitter page, Boston Speed Dog is going to become Boston Super Dog at the end of May. The Chowhound site has much speculation for the name change this week, though no specific reason has been confirmed as of yet.

[May 9 update: Based on posts from their Facebook and Twitter pages, it looks like Boston Speed Dog is now known as Boston Super Dog.]

In addition to the upcoming name change, the new Boston Speed Dog/Boston Super Dog truck is being introduced this week (weather permitting), and their new menu will include such items as Grillo's deep-fried pickles, steak, chicken, and more, according to their Twitter page.

The address for this hot dog truck is 42 Newmarket Square, Boston (Roxbury), MA, 02118. Their website can be found at http://www.bostonspeeddog.com/

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Update: Speed's Hot Dogs Will Apparently Not Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

About a year ago, we reported that a landmark hot dog wagon in Boston was planning to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Fenway section of the city. Over the past few months it appeared that this was becoming less and less likely, and now it seems that the chances of it happening are about zero.

According to posters on the Chowhound site, one of the people behind Boston Speed's Famous Hot Dog Wagon in the Newmarket Square section of Boston is apparently saying that they will not be opening on Peterborough Street in the "restaurant row" block of Fenway after all. An article that was written on this site in December of 2010 mentioned that Speed's had been looking to open along with several other restaurants on this stretch of Peterborough that burned to the ground in January of 2009, but now it looks like the plans have fallen through.

The address for the original Speed's is: Boston Speed's Famous Hot Dog Wagon, 54 Newmarket Square, Boston (Roxbury), MA, 02118.

[Earlier article]
Speed's Hot Dogs to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

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Speed's Hot Dogs to Open Across from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro

It appears that an award-winning hot dog wagon in Boston that has been in business for more than 30 years is going to be opening a second cart, and football lovers will probably want to take note of this one.

A note on their Twitter page indicates that Boston Speed's Famous Hot Dog Wagon in Newmarket Square is planning to open another cart across from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. The new wagon could be open by July, according to the note posted on Twitter.

Last December, we had reported that a bricks-and-mortar location of Speed's had also been in the works, with the place planning to open on Peterborough Street near Fenway Park in Boston at about this time, but we have not heard any updates on that spot of late.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing the opening of Speed's in Foxboro to our attention.

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Lawton's May Re-Open in New Lawrence Location; Lawrence Famous Frankfurters to Open in Old Lawton's Space

It look like a decades-old hot dog stand in Lawrence that recently closed may be opening in a new location within the city, and a new hot dog place will be opening in the space where Lawton's used to be.

According to the Eagle-Tribune, the owner of Lawton's, which had been at the corner of Canal Street and Broadway for approximately 80 years until closing over the winter, is hoping to re-open the place at the corner of South Union Street and Jamaica Street, with the new name being Lawton's Famous Frankfurters. The article states that if all goes as planned, the new Lawton's will look much like the old one, albeit with an upgraded interior and a little more space. The spot where Lawton's used to be is going to become a new eatery called Lawrence Famous Frankfurters, which will feature hot dogs as well as sausages, salad wraps, BBQ chicken, lobster rolls, and more.

For more information on the opening of these two hot dog stands in Lawrence, please go to the Eagle-Tribune link below.

Weiner wars: Landlord reopening Lawton's hot dogs under new name

Thanks to a poster on Chowhound for bringing this to our attention.

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Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive -Ins, and Dives Is Featuring Merritt Canteen in Bridgeport, CT, Tonight

Food Network host Guy Fieri is back in New England, this time featuring a roadside restaurant in Connecticut on his show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," with the episode airing tonight.

According to the Food Network's website, Merritt Canteen in Bridgeport, CT, is being featured this evening, with the Main Street dining spot being one of three places mentioned on tonight's show (the other two being Katie's Restaurant in New Orleans and Jersey Cafe in Carmel, IN). It appears that Guy Fieri will focus on the hot dogs, burgers, and seafood served at this eatery, which our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) featured awhile back. (The blog entry is at this link: http://www.hiddenboston.com/blogentries/nyc-ct-restaurants-0207.html)

The show can be seen from 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM tonight on the Food Network, and again from 12:00 AM to 12:30 AM.

The address for the Merritt Canteen is: Merritt Canteen, 4355 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06606.

For more on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" (as well as the Food Network in general), please go to the following link:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html

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Speed's Hot Dogs to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

It looks like a landmark hot dog wagon in Boston is preparing to open a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in the Fenway neighborhood of the city.

According to the Serious Eats site, Boston Speed's Famous Hot Dog Wagon in the Newmarket Square section of Boston is planning on opening on Peterborough Street in the "restaurant row" block that burned to the ground in January of 2009. The article on the website mentions that the new spot may have an expanded menu that could include different types of sausages as well as alcohol, though food and drink options have apparently not been confirmed as of yet.

If all goes as planned, the new Speed's in the Fenway neighborhood could be open sometime in the late winter or early spring of 2011. Also, the Serious Eats site states that the Speed's cart will indeed be staying open in Newmarket Square. [February 14, 2011 update: Based on information from Theo Associates and Universal Hub, the new Speed's on Peterborough Street might be opening in June of 2011, along with all the other restaurants within the block that plan to open/reopen.]

Other restaurants that expect to open in the block that was hit by last year's fire include El Pelon Taqueria, Rod Dee Thai Cuisine, and Thornton's Fenway Grill.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for initially bringing this to our attention.

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Lawton's in Lawrence Is Closing; May Reopen Elsewhere

A landmark hot dog stand in Lawrence that temporarily closed awhile back because it was in danger of falling into the adjacent canal is closing for good at its present location, though it may be reopening in another location at some point in the future.

According to the Eagle-Tribune, Lawton's on Canal Street is planning to close at the end of 2010 after being in business for more than 80 years. The article states that reasons for the hot dog stand's pending closure include both present and upcoming construction projects in the immediate area. The future construction project, which will focus on stabilizing the canal wall, brings to mind the reason for Lawton's temporary closure last year--the ground around Lawton's was unstable and had to be shored up, which kept the restaurant closed for several months.

The article mentions that the owners of Lawton's are hoping to open elsewhere in the area if they can find a location that will work out.

Lawton's, which features rippers (deep-fried hot dogs), is a restaurant that has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants). The review can be found here:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/Lawtons.html

For more information on the apparent closing of Lawton's in Lawrence, please go to the Eagle-Tribune link below.

Lawton's could be gone for good Dec. 31

[January 3, 2011 update: According to a new article in the Eagle-Tribune, Lawton's has officially closed, though as mentioned above, the co-owners of the hot dog joint are looking for a new space.]

[April 19, 2011 update: According to the Eagle-Tribune, it looks like Lawton's may be reopening in another part of Lawrence, and a new hot dog stand called Lawrence Famous Frankfurters will be opening in the spot where Lawton's used to be.]

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Results of Our Twitter Hot Dog Poll

As some of you may know, we have been doing informal food polls on the Twitter site of late, with Santarpio's in East Boston winning the pizza poll, Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Cambridge winning the burger poll, and Neptune Oysters in the North End winning the lobster roll poll. Our latest Twitter poll looked at best hot dogs in the Boston area, with the results being as follows:

1) Spike's Junkyard Dogs, various locations (22%)
2) Fenway Park, Boston (18%)
3) Trina's Starlite Lounge, Somerville(14%)
4) Formaggio, Cambridge and South End (9%)
4) Fred's Franks, Wakefield (9%)

Some other spots were picked in the Twitter hot dog poll, including Costco (various locations), Lawton's (Lawrence), Lower Depths (Kenmore Square), Speed's (Roxbury), Sullivan's (South Boston), and Windy City Eats (Weymouth).

Thanks to those of you who voted in the Twitter hot dog poll. We will have another poll within the next few days, so keep checking back on our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/hiddenboston.

Lawton's Update: Reopening Will Now Be Late November

A renowned hot dog stand in Lawrence that had been in danger of falling into an adjacent canal is still slated to reopen, but the opening date has been pushed back. According to the Eagle-Tribune, Lawton's will not be able to open until sometime around Thanksgiving because work around the dining spot is taking longer than previously expected. The hot dog stand had originally been hoping to reopen around the end of July. [December 18 update: According to several sources, Lawton's is now open.]

Lawton's, which is known for its deep-fried hot dogs, closed a few months ago because the ground that the structure was on became unstable, putting the hot dog stand in danger of falling into the canal below.

For more details on the delayed reopening of Lawton's, please go to the Eagle-Tribune link below:

Lawton's slated for Thanksgiving grand reopening

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this update on Lawton's to our attention.

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Lawton's in Lawrence to Re-Open Soon

It appears that Lawton's in Lawrence will be able to start serving hot dogs once again.

According to the Eagle-Tribune, workers will be stabilizing the embankment that the hot dog stand is on, as well as rebuilding the adjacent sidewalk. Work should be done by the end of July, which means Lawton's may be open for business within a couple of weeks. The building had been forced to close awhile back because the ground it was on seemed to be shifting, putting the structure in danger of falling into the adjacent canal.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.

Lawton's is a Lawrence institution that is famous for its "rippers," or deep-fried hot dogs. The hot dog stand has been in business since the early part of the 20th century.

For more on the pending re-opening of Lawton's in Lawrence, as well as detailed information on the work being done in and around the place, please go to the Eagle-Tribune link below:

Work begins on Lawton's sidewalk; hot dogs soon