About
An American icon since 1946, Hot Dog on a Stick is 100% owned
and operated by its employees. What began as an
entrepreneurial dream on the beaches of Southern California has
flourished into an organization of over 100 stores in 11 states.
Dave Barham opened his first store in 1946 on the beach in
Santa Monica, and the location was originally called Party Puffs.
This original location changed to Hot Dog on a Stick, and is still
selling sizzling hot dog on a stick and fresh, delicious lemonade
to beachgoers today.
Dave’s first products were ice cream cones and lemonade. Then,
using his mom’s delicious cornbread recipe, Dave perfected the
hot dog on a stick! Next, he took these products on the road and
started selling them at the county fairs. Dave hooked up portable
hot dog stands to his Lincoln Continental and introduced
fairgoers to Hot Dog on a Stick.
The fair atmosphere is where he perfected his lemonade and
created his pride and joy, the uniforms! After trying polka dots
and berets, straw hats and knee length shorts, Dave finally
decided on our present day uniform of stripes and the hat! He
called it “red, white and blue, with a splash of lemonade”!
In 1973 Dave opened his first mall location in Salt Lake City,
Utah. Eleven years later, Dave had opened over 25 stores in nine
different states. This growth has continued all over the United
States, from Hawaii and Alaska to Wyoming and New Mexico. Hot
Dog on a Stick is now an incredible organization serving
customers across the country with 100+ locations…and even
though our menu has expanded, we are still selling Dave’s
famous hot dog on stick, and delicious fresh lemonade!
Dave Barham passed away in 1991 and left 100% of this unique
company to his employees. On June 18, 1991 Hot Dog on a Stick
officially became an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). Dave
believed the people working for him made this company what it
was. This is his greatest gift to his employees!
We proudly wear Dave’s trademark uniforms and continue to
follow his mission, “To serve the highest quality product, by the
friendliest employees, to the greatest number of people”.