The History of
Mel's Hot Dogs
During the early 1970s, Mel embarked on a tour of Florida with his Rock ‘n’ Roll band, sporting their picked afros and packing American flag unitards (yes, there are photos to back it up). Traveling from one gig to another in a hollowed-out old school bus, Mel and his eclectic group of musicians made their way through the Sunshine State.
After a particularly late night, Mel found himself in Tampa, craving the comfort food of his hometown: the Chicago-style hot dog. However, his quest turned futile as he discovered not a single hot dog stand in the entire city. This absence surprised Mel, accustomed to the abundance of hot dog stands lining the streets of Chicago. Ever the entrepreneur, Mel saw an opportunity. On July 3rd, 1973, Mel’s Hot Dogs opened its doors on the corner of 42nd Street and Busch Boulevard…
After 50 years, Mel decided to sell his hot dog shop
When the Szabos heard the Tampa landmark was for sale, they, along with many other Tampa natives, were concerned that the new owners might change what everyone loves about Mel’s.
The Szabo family moved to the Tampa Bay area in the 1970s. Shortly after, brothers Steve, Doug, and Mark were introduced to Mel’s Hot Dogs along with their parents, Steve Sr. and Jan. Coincidentally, Steve’s wife Pamela and her family moved to Tampa around the same time, and have also been enjoying the Chicago-style dogs since then. Now all with families of their own, the tradition of going to Mel’s has continued, with four generations of Szabos stoppping in for their hot dog fix.
After small comments were made here and there about the future of Mel’s, the Szabos truly began to talk about what if… and the discussion grew into everyone wanting to continue Mel’s legacy as Tampa has known it. On September 6, 2023, the Szabos purchased Mel’s Hot Dogs and since then, they have been learning all about what it has taken to make Mel’s so special for the last 50 years. Make sure to come by whenever you are in the Tampa area to enjoy a hotdog served by the best staff around. You never know when you might see Mel himself! The Szabos look forward to serving up the best Chicago-style dogs in the Tampa area for another 50 years.
