The historic hot dog-shaped restaurant Tail o’ the Pup is reopening in West Hollywood, located at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd.
A beloved city icon, the dramatic 18-foot-wide by 9-foot-tall eatery was first established in 1946, and in 2005, the giant hot dog was moved into storage until a new caretaker was found. In 2018, Tail o’ the Pup was officially acquired by the 1933 Group, and owners Bobby Green, Dimitri Komarov, and Dmitry Liberman have spent the past three years searching for the perfect location. The trio has decided on a walkable corridor along Route 66 for its new 2,700 square-foot property, opening in early 2022.
“We are reveling in the charm of nostalgia with the return of Tail o’ the Pup,” Green said in a press release. “I can’t think of a better way to put a smile on another’s face than to bring back the whimsical, giant hot dog stand that people would go out of their way to see as much as they would search for the Hollywood sign. We are honored to rescue one of America’s most iconic roadside attractions and hope that people see this comeback as another love letter we’ve written to Los Angeles.”
The newly located Tail o’ the Pup will feature a new beer garden and al fresco dining areas. The giant hot dog will move into the former home of Benvenuto Cafe. Before the cafe, this property was used as a music studio, most famously where The Doors recorded “L.A. Woman” in 1971. While the new location won’t be familiar to its loyal customers of 75 years, the iconic hot dog will return for more photographs and hot dogs from both visitors and celebrities.
On the backend, this isn’t the first restoration for the 1933 Group. With a mission to preserve and protect historic Los Angeles, the group takes pride in saving L.A.’s dining intuitions, restoring old buildings, and reviving some of the city’s most memorable hangouts. Their current portfolio includes ten other restaurant and bar venues that span East to West across Los Angeles, including Idle Hour, Highland Park Bowl, Formosa Cafe, Harlowe, Oldfield’s Liquor Room, Bigfoot Lodge, Bigfoot West, Thirsty Crow, La Cuevita, and Sassafras Saloon.
