The inside was a charred mess. The ceiling and booths were both scorched.
Monday it was a much different sight at the place famous for its Texas wieners!
Ted Karampilas' father started the business in 1923 after coming over from Greece with just three dollars in his pocket. Karampilas said his father, Steve, would be proud of the new look.
"He would be flabbergasted. He wouldn't know what to say if he ever saw this," Karampilas said.
Tom Moran now owns the business along Cedar Avenue. He said his $10,000 reward still stands to catch the firebug but he is trying to move forward.
He kept a singed money box and dollar bills as a daily reminder of his goal to rebuild.
"I've been looking at it every morning when I get into my car in my garage. I set it on the floor right next to my car. I've been promising myself, even this, we can't let it stop us. We have to overcome it," Moran said.
Like the owner, Donna Walsh is excited to get back to work. It will be her 11th year there. "It's our regular customers who keep us going but it's also the customer who comes in off the street. They see us from a historical point of view," said Walsh.
Something that the new Coney Island has the other one didn't is an extra cook station so someone could be in the front of the restaurant cooking all of the orders for the take-out customers and another chef can be whipping up some food for those who plan to eat in the dining area.
There is also plenty of space to enjoy the tasty Texas hot dogs and take in a little a piece of nostalgia.
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon