FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The sign outside the legendary downtown establishment labels itself as “Ft. Wayne’s Famous Coney Island,” and that’s not just local pride talking.
The name is backed by loyal customers who have lined the counter and frequented the tables for generations. The hot dog stand also attracts visitors from around the world — including, in recent years, seats filled by food influencers traveling to the Summit City for a taste of the recipe that has been served up since 1914.
But before the age of social media, and even before Coney Island was founded, there was National Geographic. The magazine now has its attention on the historic restaurant in the form of a July 2 feature highlighting its status as the longest-running hot dog stand in the country.
The Coney Dog: Fort Wayne’s obsession that spans over 100 years
It all started with an email — but when co-owner Jimmy Todoran saw the message from National Geographic in his inbox a few months ago, he thought it was a scam. Intent on pursuing a story, the outlet gave Coney Island a call to follow up.
“We just do what we do every day. We take one day at a time,” Todoran said, explaining his initial surprise at the outlet’s interest in coverage. “Sometimes we just get lost of the big picture, so it’s really nice to get an accolade like that.”…