Historic Levis' Sign Being Relit For National Hot Dog Month
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's National Hot Dog Month, and to honor the occasion, one of the most famous South Street delicacies will get a salute tonight.
Abe Levis started Levis' Hot Dogs back in 1895 with a pushcart near Third and South Streets. Eventually he opened a store on nearby South Sixth Street, and it soon became the place to be.
"It was a place that was open all night -- people hung out there," notes South Street historian Joel Spivak, who says that Levis' hot dogs and cherry sodas were legendary.
"They created this thing called 'The Combination,' which was a hot dog and a fishcake. Some say it is the original surf and turf."
To pay tribute to the Levis history on South Street, the boldly lettered Levis sign is being re-hung (at the South Street Magic Shop, 517 S. 4th St.), and the familiar red glow will light the sky every night for a month, starting tonight at 6pm.
But there won't be any hot dogs. For those, you'll have to go to the new Levis', in Jenkintown, Pa. (www.levishotdogs.com).
