Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana Places

Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island

131 West Main Street, Street View photo from Google Maps

Hot dog restaurant serving Fort Wayne since 1914 with the same coney recipe, famous chili, and the steamed buns. They also have a Gift Shop for themed merchandise. Website: https://www.fortwaynesfamousconeyisland.com/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortWayneConeyIsland/

VisitFortWayne.com blog - Taking a Tour of Fort Wayne’s Historical Restaurants! by Heather published January 10, 2013.
Fort Wayne landmark celebrates 100 years of business by Kate Taylor published March 7, 2014 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.
My Town Fort Wayne: Coney Island a Federated Media video published March 25, 2014
Join Charly Butcher as he visits Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island!
March 19, 2014 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Check out the new banner!
April 11, 2014 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Whoot! They're in! We had many requests for the 100th logo on our mug... Come and get it.... $7 including tax.
September 3, 2014 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Who can tell us a fact about this trusty old thing? Comment below!
September 22, 2014 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

This beautiful lady is 100 years old! Just like our restaurant! #100at100

— at Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island.
Alton Brown at Coney Island today!
Posted by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Thursday, March 26, 2015

Thursday, March 26, 2015 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Alton Brown at Coney Island today!

[ Alton Crawford Brown Jr. is an American television personality, food show presenter, food scientist, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. Wikipedia ]
March 3, 2016 post by Visit Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Welcome to Fort Wayne, Jay Leno!

Great choice picking Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island for lunch.
March 3, 2016 post post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Operation #Coneys4Jay was a success! Jay Leno at Fort Wayne Famous Coney Island. Thanks to everyone.

— at Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island.
Here's a cartoon I did that is dedicated to all my downtown worker friends in Fort Wayne :)
Posted by Steve Smeltzer on Monday, June 11, 2018

June 11, 2018 post by Steve Smeltzer on Facebook:

Here's a cartoon I did that is dedicated to all my downtown worker friends in Fort Wayne

[ And this is our hermetically sealed break room for employees who choose to breing back food from Power's or Coney Island. ]
February 11, 2022 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Flash back to where it all began!
April 26, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

There are several factors that can draw a community together; one of the most powerful is food. One of the oldest restaurants in Allen County was started in 1913 on Calhoun Street by Greek immigrants and since 1914 Coney Island has been a fixture at 131 West Main Street. Vasil Eshcoff, a Macedonian immigrant, purchased an interest in the restaurant in 1916, from one of the three original Greek owners. In 1958 Russ Choka, Eshcoff’s son-in-law, began working on his behalf at Coney Island, taking over in 1961. By then the restaurant had already weathered decades of local and national ups and downs, retaining stability through it all. Elements that contribute to the now over 100 year tradition for this remarkable restaurant are the servers who take orders without writing them down, kid-favorite stools that spin, no-nonsense signs, hand chopping 75 pounds of onions daily, and cases of Cokes “in the little bottle” in the corner. Jimmy Todoran started working at Coney Island at just 15 years old. Russ Choka was like a second father to Jimmy and he worked alongside of Russ, literally 7 days a week. Today, you'll still find Jimmy working 7 days a week, overseeing the operation, chatting with customers and still serving dogs during the busier lunch rushes. Todoran runs Coney Island with his business partner Kathy Choka. Notable as the atmosphere, tradition and service are, most people love the hot dogs at Coney Island. The famous coney sauce is still made from the original recipe concocted in 1913, and today the spices are mixed by only Jimmy himself. The neighborhood has had a multitude of businesses: shoeshine stands, rough bars, candy stores and, at one time, at least ten or twelve other hot dog stands. For 106 years Coney Island remained opened, it was even the only downtown business to stay open during the Blizzard of 1978; however, in November 2020 the restaurant closed for the first time in its history to allow several days of cleaning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coney Island has long stood the test of time and looks to a bright future. #sociallyhistory
September 28, 2023 post by Mayor Tom Henry on Facebook:

Did you know baseball legend Mickey Mantle once ate coney dogs in downtown Fort Wayne?

On today's podcast, I talked with Jimmy Todoran about the proud history and future of Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island.

Listen here: Episode 104: Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island by Mayor Tom Henry Podcast
December 23, 2023 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Spice up your holiday reading list Many Fort Wayne and Indiana books can be found in the gift shop or online!
Congratulations to King Alex!!! After winning our Coney Dog eating contest in 2014, eating 19 Coneys in 10 Minutes…TEN...
Posted by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Tuesday, July 9, 2024 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Congratulations to King Alex!!! After winning our Coney Dog eating contest in 2014, eating 19 Coneys in 10 Minutes…TEN years later he is crowned the champion of the Inaugural Powers Hamburgers slider eating competition eating 20 in 10 minutes!!!

[ See Powers Hamburgers ]
Step back in time with a bite from Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island 🌭🕰️
Posted by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Thursday, July 11, 2024

Thursday, July 11, 2024 post by Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island on Facebook:

Step back in time with a bite from Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island

[ Very few tables! ]