Last evening I passed by Ted’s Hot Dogs’ new Chippewa location, and saw that the staff was participating in a training session. Today I learned that the restaurant is set to open this coming Monday (starting at 10:30am), marking the return of a Buffalo eating tradition that has been sorely missed since Ted’s moved out of the city in 1998.
“After 17 years away, our return to the city is well over-due,” said Peter Liaros, co-owner of Ted’s, whose father, Ted Liaros, started the business in 1927. “The history of Ted’s is rooted in Buffalo, and we are extremely excited to once again offer our customers in the city the food they’ve known and loved for nearly 100 years.”
Starting Monday, hamburger and hot dog lovers will once again be able to walk up the hardwood charcoal grill station as they shout out the orders and get busy preparing the food – with menu options that include breaded onion rings, French fries, sweet potato fries (new to this location), and chicken sandwiches. There will be seating for 50 people inside, with an additional seating capacity for 50 people on the patio. The Chippewa location is introducing a tablet-based ordering system and flatscreen menu boards, which means that customers will be able to place orders while waiting in line. An online ordering feature will be rolled out at the end of the year.
“The downtown business crowd will be a big part of our weekday lunch business, especially with the many new developments taking place around us. We want to give our customers every opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and delicious experience at Ted’s, while also allowing our customers who are on a timeline to get in and out quickly,” Joe Drust, Ted’s CEO, said. “In the evenings, when the nightlife scene picks up along Chippewa, Delaware and Elmwood, we want people to people to be able to pop in for their favorite late night craving.”
“Our customers have been loyal to Ted’s for almost 100 years,” said Ted’s Hot Dogs owner and president Thecly Ortolani, who is the granddaughter of Ted Liaros. “Whether they come in once a week or once a month, our focus is to make each customer feels welcome, comfortable and appreciated.”
Ted’s Hot Dogs | 124 West Chippewa Street, near Elmwood | The Chippewa Street location will operate from 10:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.