Murray Handwerker

Murray Handwerker (July 25, 1921 – May 14, 2011) was an American businessman who expanded Nathan's Famous, a fast food restaurant specializing in hot dogs, from a family-owned hot dog stand to a nationally franchised chain.^[1] The original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand was opened in Coney Island, Brooklyn, by Handwerker's father, Nathan Handwerker, in 1916.^[2]

Murray Handwerker was born on July 25, 1921, to Polish immigrant parents, Nathan and Ida Handwerker, in New York City.^[1] He often visited and worked at his father's hot dog stand as a child.^[1][2] Handwerker served in the United States Army during World War II.^[1] In 1947, he received a bachelor's degree in French from New York University.^[1]

Handwerker initially took over and renovated the Roadside Rest, a roadside restaurant in Oceanside, New York, during the 1950s. However, he soon returned to his family's hot dog business.^[3]

Handwerker expanded Nathan's Famous in the decades following World War II. In 1968, Murray Handwerker became the president of the Nathan's Famous chain.^[1] The company reached ten franchises, with 43 restaurants directly owned by the company, by 1977.^[1] Additionally, Handwerker wrote a cookbook, Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Cookbook, which was published in 1983.^[1] He sold the company to a group of investors in 1987.^[1]

Murray Handwerker died of complications from dementia on May 14, 2011, at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, at age 89.^[1] He was survived by his sons, Steven, Kenneth and William.^[2] His wife, Dorothy, died in 2009.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} "Murray Handwerker dies at 89; Nathan's Famous owner expanded nationwide". Los Angeles Times. 2011-05-22. http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings-20110522,0,3302141.story. Retrieved 2011-05-22. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Abelson, Reed (2011-05-15). "Murray Handwerker, 89, Dies; Made Nathan's More Famous". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/nyregion/murray-handwerker-who-made-nathans-more-famous-dies-at-89.html. Retrieved 2011-05-22. 
3. ^ Abbey, Alan D. (2011-05-16). "Former Nathan’s Famous owner Murray Handwerker, political activist Ben Masel". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/05/16/3087718/the-eulogizer-former-nathans-famous-owner-murray-handwerker-political-activist-ben-masel. Retrieved 2011-05-22. 

Persondata
Name	Handwerker, Murray
Alternative names
Short description	American businessman
Date of birth	1921-07-25
Place of birth	New York, New York, United States
Date of death	2011-05-14
Place of death	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States