May 2021
- NEWS FROM -
DOGGIE DINER
Hello Everyone!
I want to welcome all the new members to the Doggie Diner Newsletter. It is exciting to have the Doggie Diner fan base continue to grow every month.
Even after being closed for 35 years, Doggie Diner and the beloved Doggie Heads continue to generate emotions and reactions from people of all ages.
I want this Doggie Diner Newsletter to be for everyone. I welcome your input, your comments, and suggestions. Let me know what works or does not work. Most of all, I want to share your special Doggie Diner memories.
For example, I spoke with a gentleman recently about him being on the Doggie Diner Baseball Team. Yes, Doggie Diner company was a sports team sponsor. He said it was some of "his best memories". I sure hope he can find that photo of him in the team outfit!
During the years, I have heard many stories and comments about Doggie Diner. One of the most touching stories was from was a gentleman named Steve in San Francisco. His emotions for Doggie Diner are different from many hungry food-eating customer memories I hear. His Mother and Father "met" standing in line for lunch one day. He feels that without Doggie Diner, he would have never been born. His parents continued to be very fond of Doggie Diner for the rest of their lives too.
I met a gentleman who was raised in Oakland. He told me that when he was a little boy, his mother would drop off his older brother at his karate class. Since he was too young to attend too, his mother would take him to Doggie Diner. Together they would enjoy good food and conversation, until it was time to pick up the brother. This macho-type guy had a tear in his eye when he said that it always brings back very special memories when he sees a Doggie Head.
|
|
|
|
Located at -
View Level Concourse
|
|
We hope many people see our new billboard! |
|
Doggie Diner recently renewed our licensing agreement with the S.F. Giants for several Doggie Diner hot dog concession stands at the Oracle Stadium. In addition, you can see our new backlit billboard when you visit.
Don't be surprised in the future, if you hear of Doggie Days at the Oracle Stadium or other special events.
As you know, baseball and hot dogs are a winning team!
|
|
doggiediner.info
Check our website - doggiediner.info. We have recently made some improvements. New additions are Gallery Page, Archive Page, Zippy the Pinhead Page, and Opportunities Page. We plan to eventually have hundreds of vintage and current Doggie Diner photos accessible. Perhaps, seeing one of these photos will trigger a forgotten Doggie Diner memory? Don't be shy to share your stories with us.
If you have any suggestions on how we can improve the Doggie Diner website experience let us know.
|
|
NOW AVAILABLE
Doggie Diner Baseball Caps!
|
We have just received our inventory of Doggie Diner Baseball Caps and they look great! They feature a six-panel crown design, eyelets to promote breathability, adjustable Velcro closure on the back. One size fits most. The inner mesh lining allows for increased air circulation and more comfortable wear. With a two-color Original Doggie Diner embroidered logo on the front of a white color cap.
However, they have not yet been added to the doggiediner.info website shopping cart. Within the next week, you will be able to order your own genuine Original Doggie Diner Baseball Cap. Thank you in advance for your patience.
|
|
|
OUR FEATURED STORY
By Bruce Feldman
|
|
Bruce Feldman - former General Manager of Doggie Diner Company. Worked for the founder - Al Ross |
|
Carol Feldman - Bruce's lovely wife assisted him on many of his company projects and duties |
|
Here is Bruce with his old friend - Doggie Head.
For Doggie Diner fans -Bruce is to Doggie Diner like Ray Croc is to McDonalds.
He was not the founder,
but the guy who did a bit
of everything to make everything happen!
|
|
In 1954, as a Junior at El Cerrito High School, I passed a Doggie Diner on my walk home from school. I stopped for a hot dog every day. I asked the fry cook if he had to pay for his hot dogs? When he said he gets all he can eat for free, I asked how I could get a job? He told me the Commissary office was at 19th and San Pablo in the parking lot of another diner, but the employment minimum age was 16! I took a bus to 19th and San Pablo the next day. I lied about my age (I was only 15), was hired, and worked weekends during my Junior year. As a Senior, I worked the 6 pm – 2am shift, 5 days a week until I graduated at 17. This began an 18-year career with the company and my eventual promotion to General Manager.
I was promoted to manager after three years and managed three stores, including Walnut Creek. When the night supervisor position became available, I was immediately promoted. We had eight stores in San Francisco and ten in the East Bay, including the Commissary offices at 4700 Telegraph, in Oakland. Each night, I would determine what supplies were needed and deliver them to as many stores as possible. Delivery occurred in a VW camper with a gigantic dachshund dog head sitting on top of the van. The dog head (including a chef’s hat) stuck out over the front window and the tail extended two feet out the back. On windy nights when I drove over the Bay Bridge, the van would swerve across the lanes as the wind caught the tail and chef’s hat – very scary! After six months, the company purchased two station wagons for the day and night supervisors. The van was retired!
Over the years, when a new store opened, all the managers and supervisors would spend long hours cleaning and set up for the next day’s grand opening. Al Ross was always there to keep our tradition of spitting in the street, as the last thing we did before the opener. Most of the older stores had no doors to close, so many never closed (except for when there was a grease fire).
Al Ross required only the best ingredients. The Kaiser buns for the Biggie Burgers came from Los Angeles and the pastrami with cheese, on a rye roll, was a big hit. After many years, we offered char-broiled burgers rather than the grilled burgers. These included chopped onions that were cooked after flipping the burgers, to give it a flavorful fried onion taste.
Over time, Al Ross sold 21 stores to The Ogden Corporation located in New York. 18 of those locations were on land owned by Doggie Diner. Ogden ran them for many years and always at a profit. As the land became very valuable, Ogden sold one or two a year with the last one on Sloat Blvd., right across the street from the San Francisco Zoo. On August 11, 2006 (my birthdate), the city of San Francisco established that Doggie Diner dog head as landmark No. 254.
|
|
Doggie's Day of Pride!
August 11, 2006
San Francisco Historic Landmark #254
|
|
WANTED
Hot Dog Recipes to Share
|
It would be fun to feature a different hot dog recipe in each Newsletter. There are tons of recipes available online and in cookbooks. However, it would be more "special" to feature recipes from our Doggie Diner fans. Let's have fun with this. Please share your favorite hot dog creation with us!
Doggie Diner recommends:
MILLER BRAND HOT DOGS
|
|
|
ZIPPY THE PINHEAD
zippythepinhead.com
(visit for Zippy News, updates, and Zippy memorabilia)
CONTINUED FROM LAST NEWSLETTER
|
|
Doggie Head is setting an example about using a mask and being safe! |
|
Wow, this is an old Doggie Diner shirt! I'd love to find one for our company history archives. If anyone sees any original Doggie Diner company artifacts for sale, please let us know. |
|
Thank you for your interest and support
of the Doggie Diner project.
Stay tuned, we will keep you posted as news happens!
COMMENTS * SUGGESTIONS * IDEAS * MEMORIES
kip@doggiediner.info
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
