Chris' Famous Hotdogs Interesting Facts:
- Christopher Anastasios "Mr. Chris" Katechis, a Greek immigrant, opened Chris' Hotdogs on May 1st, 1917
- Chris' building was built in 1900 and was originally the Post Office Cafe & Fruit Stand because it was next to the old post office. It did not have doors on the building until the 30's or 40's
- The restaurant offered curb service until the 60's
- Largest hotdog order was 2600 hot dogs for the commissioning of the USS Montgomery on September 10th, 2016 down in Mobile, AL . The previous record was 2000 hot dogs for the 1963 campaign rally for George Wallace
- Our (now famous) chili sauce has been shipped to Australia, Germany and Alaska
- Our famous chili sauce recipe (known by two or three living persons) is the result or trial-and-error attempts by Mr. Chris
- We make approximately 10 gallons of chili sauce every other day
- Chris' Hotdogs is the oldest family owned and operated restaurant in Montgomery, Alabama
- F. Scott Fitzgerald (author of The Great Gatsby) and his wife Zelda Fitzgerald (native of Montgomery Alabama) were regular customers of Chris' Famous Hotdogs in the 1920's.
- Chris' Hotdogs has been serving Coca-Cola since 1917 and is the oldest continuous customer of Coca-Cola in the State of Alabama.
Chris' Famous Hotdogs Montgomery, Alabama
OUR HISTORY
Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, Alabama has been the backdrop for some of the most significant moments in American history. From the telegram that sparked the Civil War to the launch of the nation’s first electric streetcar system—the “Lightning Route”—in 1886, this storied street has long been a crossroads of change. It was here that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. accepted his call to ministry, and just steps away, Rosa Parks made her courageous stand that ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
And through all of it, one constant has remained: Chris’ Famous Hotdogs. Founded in 1917, this Montgomery landmark has served generations of guests—locals, travelers, presidents, celebrities, and everyday folks alike. Its hotdogs and hamburgers have been enjoyed by people from every walk of life: rich and poor, Black and white, young and old. Notable patrons include Franklin D. Roosevelt, Presidents Bush 41 and 43, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and every Alabama governor since 1917.
A visit to Chris’ Famous Hotdogs is more than a meal—it’s a step into Montgomery’s living history. Here, you can savor our classic hotdogs and hamburgers in a warm, welcoming space that has brought people together for over a century. We invite you to join the countless guests who have made Chris’ part of their story and experience for yourself why our hotdogs have earned legendary status.
The legacy began in 1917 when Greek immigrant Chris Anastios Katechis opened the Post Office Café—today known as Chris’ Famous Hotdogs. Over the decades, these walls have hosted presidents and governors, fed Elvis backstage in 1977, catered George Wallace’s 1976 campaign, and served 2,600 hotdogs for the commissioning of the USS Montgomery in 2016.
Hank Williams Sr. wrote “Hey Good Lookin’” at the bar. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald danced upstairs. Rosa Parks worked just a block away. Dr. King stopped in every Sunday to visit with Mr. Chris. For more than three generations, the Katechis family carried forward that tradition of hospitality.
In 2025, the Katechis family entrusted the next chapter of this beloved institution to longtime Montgomerians Morris and Leslie Capp, devoted caretakers committed to preserving the history, heart, and hometown spirit that have made Chris’ Famous Hotdogs a Montgomery treasure for more than 100 years.