TAIL O’ THE PUP
RETURNS TO WEHO IN EARLY 2022

One of L.A.’s most famous and beloved hot dogs is making its return to town.

That’s right, the Tail o’ the Pup—the historic hot dog-shaped restaurant—is coming back to Los Angeles in early 2022.

Tail o’ the Pup marks the 1933 Group’s fourth landmark restoration of historical and cultural significance. It will be the eleventh venue they own and operate in L.A., and the first fast casual dining destination.

A favorite city icon, the dramatic 18-foot-wide by 9-foot-tall eatery was first established in 1946, and in 2005 it was moved into storage and has since been hibernating away from public view, waiting for the right new caretakers to adopt it.

1933 Group co-owner and lead designer Bobby Green says, “We are reveling in the charm of nostalgia with the return of Tail o’ the Pup. I can’t think of a better way to put a smile on another’s face than to bring back the whimsical, giant hot dog stand that people would go out of their way to see as much as they would search for the Hollywood sign. We are honored to rescue one of America’s most iconic roadside attractions and hope that people see this comeback as another love letter we’re written to Los Angeles.”

The Pup was officially acquired by the 1933 Group in 2018, and the owners have spent the past three years searching for the perfect location—positioned on a corner along a major street and near its original location 75 years ago on La Cienega Boulevard near the Beverly Center. This time around, they chose 8512 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood as its new home. Positioned along a walkable corridor of Route 66, the 2,700 square foot property offers a can’t-miss façade for the walk-up food stand and will include al fresco dining areas complete with a beer garden. The WeHo building itself offers additional backstory for the new Pup. Dating back to 1958, it once operated as a music studio where The Doors recorded its classic song “L.A. Woman” in 1971.

Tail o’ the Pup reinvigorates a sentimental memory for native Angelenos and tourists alike. Originally billing “Tasty hot pups—you’ll like ‘em!” as its catchphrase, the classic example of roadside programmatic architecture has been memorialized by celebrities, artists, and pop-culture moments. A roster of Hollywood stars became longstanding fans, often photographed in front of the Pup, including actresses Sigourney Weaver and Betty White as well as band members of Devo and The Go-Go’s. It has made several television cameos—showcased by Jim Henson in a 1987 episode of The Muppet Show, featured in George Benson’s music video for his 1980 Billboard hit “Give Me the Night,” and lured culinary legend Anthony Bourdain during a 2002 episode of his travel and food series “A Cook’s Tour”. It was also included in films like Body Double and Ruthless People.

With a mission to preserve and protect historic Los Angeles, owners Dimitri Komarov, Bobby Green, and Dmitry Liberman formed the 1933 Group more than two decades ago and have since been championed for saving L.A.’s dining institutions, restoring old buildings, and reviving some of the city’s most memorable hangouts. Many have been spared from demolition—such as North Hollywood’s Idle Hour, a giant whiskey barrel and one of the last remaining pieces of programmatic architecture in the city, as well as the city’s oldest bowling alley dating back to prohibition, Highland Park Bowl. In June 2019, the group completed the two-year restoration of legendary old Hollywood Café, Formosa Café.

Tail o’ the Pup will be located at 8512 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and will open in earlyl 2022.

Story By: Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: Tail o’ the Pup