Made on Long Island: Charlie's Legendary Hot Dogs in Islip Terrace
After returning home from World War II, Charles needed a way to support his family, so he turned to food.
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In Islip Terrace, there’s one spot where the hot dogs aren’t just food, they’re a family tradition. For generations, Charlie's Legendary Hot Dogs has been serving its iconic franks, topped with the famous onion sauce for generations.
Jeanne Becvar is the owner of Charlie's Legendary Hot Dogs. For Jeanne, it’s always been about family and good food. Her dad, Charles Summa, of Brentwood, and his wife, Rosemary, started Charlie's Legendary Hot Dogs in 1963. “He started in the front of the house. We had a house in Brentwood. First, he started with a little pushcart, and then he graduated to a truck," said Jeanne. She says this went on for many years.
After returning home from World War II, Charles needed a way to support his family, so he turned to food. When Jeanne lost her parents, the business closed for about a decade. But her dad's famous recipe sparked an unexpected comeback. She started bottling her dad's onion sauce.
“I worked a corporate job for ten years. Got laid off. I started to sell the onion sauce. I cooked 200 pounds a week of onion sauce and sold it out of my house,” said Jeanne. Now she has her trailer at 16 Lowell Avenue in Islip Terrace. "My customers are very happy to have me back. And they remember my dad and my mom so fondly.”
For many, it’s more than just a quick bite, it’s a taste of nostalgia, and a reminder of how family-run businesses leave their mark on a community. “Everything was about family and customers. I’d say customers are family,” said Jeanne. Jeanne hopes to continue serving Long Islanders hot dogs while carrying her father's legacy.
You can buy Charlie's Legendary Onion Sauce at the trailer or at Pat's Marketplace in East Islip.
