Statistically, it’s impressive to see a business stay open for a decade. Two is notable. A century is something we need to stop and really celebrate. This Sunday, August 25, Mamaroneck’s iconic little hot dog stand, Walter’s, will celebrate that incredible milestone with three days of fun, specials, and other ways of giving back to the community.
The last few years have seen a rapid expansion of the Walter’s brand, including two food trucks, new locations (modeled after the original, of course) in White Plains and Stamford, and most recently shipping prepackaged Walter’s dogs straight to consumers and local grocery stores. (Their famous mustard has long been available by the bottle, and we swear by it.)
On Sunday, all these new locations and mobile operations will shut down for the day, drawing employees and lifetime customers alike to the original Mamaroneck stand for an afternoon of live music, activities for kids and adults, a photo booth to immortalize your day, and all sorts of joyous revelry. Customers will receive a commemorative 100th anniversary cup with any small beverage or shake purchase, other limited edition anniversary merch will be available, and — running there and at all other locations through Tuesday — anyone who arrives wearing their Walter’s merch will receive a free hot dog.
The highlight of Sunday, however, will clearly be the hot dog eating contest. Competitors will gather at 3 p.m. to see who can wolf down the most delicious Walter’s dogs in just a few short minutes, while judges carefully watch and verify.
“With all our friends in the industry we thought we’d want to incorporate them and invite them with their families but also have them be the judges for the hot dog eating contest,” says Walter’s owner/operator Katharine Woodward. “It’ll be industry influencers, social media influencers, and chefs.”
The celebration continues well past the weekend, featuring $1 hot dogs at all locations for Customer Appreciation Day on Monday, August 26 (sorry, no puffies or puppies in that deal), and “Win at Walter’s Day” back at Mamaroneck on Tuesday, August 27, where every order comes with a spin of the prize wheel, netting guests all kinds of cool regular and anniversary Walter’s swag!
August 26 also marks the one-year anniversary of the opening of the brand’s White Plains location, and two years since the passing of Walter’s legend Eugene Warrington, son of the eponymous Walter and patriarch and steward of the family business for more than six decades.
“We literally do everything that we do thinking of our grandfather, because he taught us all our work ethics,” Woodward says. “All he cared about was family and the customers honestly, and he treated customers like family.”
“It’s been 100 years and we’re so proud of it. We’re so lucky we had the grandfather that we did and the relationship that we did, because that’s the most important thing to us, almost like giving back to him by carrying on his legacy.”
The Walter’s centennial celebration begins Sunday, August 25 at the original Mamaroneck location.
