On National Hot Dog Day, New Britain takes title of ‘hot dog capital’

Never mind Fenway Franks, Chicago Red Hots or even Nathan’s Famous on Coney Island: The title of “hot dog capital” belongs to New Britain.

At least, that’s the story from Mayor Erin Stewart, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Gov. Ned Lamont.

Celebrating National Hot Dog Day outside the popular Capitol Lunch on Wednesday morning, Stewart and Blumenthal proclaimed that New Britain — long known as the Hardware City — deserves the title of America’s top spot for hot dogs.

“There are no other communities in this state that have a story like ours when it comes to hot dogs. This is a place where weenies have been a way of life for generations,” Stewart said as she announced Lamont had sent a proclamation naming New Britain as Connecticut’s hot dog capital.

Wearing a colorful beach hat emblazoned with hot dog icons, Stewart drew TV cameras and several dozen downtown merchants to her declaration — only slightly tongue in cheek — that Hard-Hittin’ New Britain deserves the title of alpha dog in the hot dog world.

After all, Capitol Lunch has been an iconic hot dog spot since 1929, and just a few blocks away, Martin Rosol’s has produced some of the region’s best-known dogs since 1928.

Police closed a block of Main Street outside Capitol Lunch so downtown merchants, community leaders and hot dog aficionados could hear Stewart’s proclamation. Visitors got souvenir t-shirts and bottles of Wiener Water, an orange-and-lemon soda custom made for Martin Rosol’s by Avery’s Beverages, another New Britain company.

“Here we are, a gathering of hot dog lovers and glizzy goblins — we are here for a very special announcement. New Britain is home to well-known names in the hot dog industry, historic names like Martin Rosol’s, Riley’s, Sahadi’s, and of course Capitol Lunch,” Stewart said.

As the oldest hot dog outlet in New Britain, Capitol Lunch has served generations of customers in central Connecticut. Despite being in a shopworn storefront on a faded commercial strip, it has been popular among state lawmakers, police, mayors and even governors and congressmen. U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy has a post-election tradition of visiting to thank voters and pick up its most popular menu item, a variation on the chili dog.

The “cappy dog” comes with mustard, onions and a Greek-style meat sauce from a family recipe that current owner Art Ververis said hasn’t changed since founders Sophia and Peter Lampros opened the business 95 years ago.

“It’s a trifecta of flavors,” Ververis said.

The Lampros family’s timing was ideal: They opened in 1929 serving only hot dogs, soda, coffee, pies and doughnuts, each costing just five cents. The bargain menu was a hit with workers from nearby hardware factories, and became even more popular when the Great Depression struck just months later.

In the decades that followed, Rosol’s and Capitol Lunch became a part of New Britain culture and tradition, Stewart said. So even though Blackie’s began in Cheshire in 1928, Frankies started in Waterbury in 1937 and Augie and Ray’s of East Hartford dates to 1946, New Britain deserves the title of Connecticut hot dog capital because no other city has a combination of a historic producer and a historic retailer, Stewart said.

Lamont agreed during a recent visit, and declared New Britain as the top spot for hot dogs.

“You haven’t had a good hot dog experience if you haven’t made your way to New Britain, that’s a fact,” Rep. Emmanuel Sanchez said. “On National Hot Dog Day, let’s be clear New Britain is the hot dog capital of Connecticut and the United States of America. We’ll take on anyone any time, Hard-Hittin’ New Britain style.”

State Rep. Bobby Sanchez, his uncle, promised the crowd Wednesday morning that he’ll introduce legislation to officially designate New Britain as the Connecticut’s hot dog capital.

“I’m going to take it a step further. I will submit formal legislation to make New Britain hot dog capital of the United States,” Blumenthal said, drawing a roar of applause. “People here in New Britain know how to eat. New Britain is on the map for its hot dogs and so much else.”

Blumenthal said he anticipates push back from New York, Chicago and elsewhere.

“But we know it will be bipartisan in Connecticut and we’re going to make it bipartisan around the country. I will bring any colleague who has any doubts or opposition right here to New Britain, we’re going to take them to Capitol Lunch and Martin Rosol’s and Riley’s, and if they can’t eat they can’t vote.

“Some of the most nutritious and delicious food is made here in New Britain,” he said. “It is inspiring to see a small business succeed with a really great product.”

Teddy Rosol, general manager of Rosol’s and great grandson of the founder, said New Britain has a tradition of supporting local businesses started by immigrants. His great-grandfather brought sausage recipes from Poland and Rosol’s has been following them ever since.

“We bring in thousands of pounds of beef, pork and veal every week,” he said. “New Britain has a history of legacy businesses.”

Rosol’s has been the supplier to Capitol Lunch from the beginning, and also sells to the city’s other hot dog restaurants.

Gus Ververis Sr., who owned Capitol Lunch for 40 years before his son took over two years ago, said that tradition is vital.

“When I bought it, it was already here for 50 years. We added fries and a couple things, but everything is the same,” he said. “They way they made the sauce in the ’50s and ’60s is how we made it in the ’80s and ’90s, we’ve never changed it. Rosol’s has always been our hot dog. The one word I’d use is consistency: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”