Tail O’ The Pup WeHo is now open at its new West Hollywood home at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd. The beloved hot dog stand had a soft opening this past Friday with limited hours from 4pm to 10pm. A grand opening is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20th with new extended hours from 11am to 10pm.
The employees say there will be special surprises for their grand opening that they can’t speak of at this time.
Workers say community members are excited to have the hotdog shaped stand back in West Hollywood.
However, some fans of this WeHo classic are expressing disappointment because the menu does not fully stick to the original.
For example, Tail O’ The Pup version-point-2022 has vegan corn dogs and a vegan burger option–which was non-existent in the 1940s.
Tail O’ The Pup WeHo – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Tail O’ The Pup WeHo – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESThe original hotdog stand first opened in 1946. Dennis and his Father Eddie Blake owned the hotdog stand since 1976. It originally stood on the northwest corner of Beverly and La Cienega boulevards. The opening of Sofitel Hotel in the 80s moved it down the street to the northwest corner of Beverly and San Vicente boulevards. It would move further north to a Cedars Sinai parking lot on San Vicente, before vanishing in 2005. It’s been in storage since and rumored that it was reopening at various locations dating back as far as 2016.
Tail O’ The Pup owners Eddie and Denis Black – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Tail O’ The Pup West Hollywood – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Tail O’ The Pup West Hollywood – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Tail O’ The Pup WeHo – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESThe California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) states that the hot dog stand applied for a liquor license transfer at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd. TOTP WEHO LLC applied on October 1, 2021.
According to ABC the Hot Dog Stand Opens with the following restrictions:
- No alcoholic beverages shall be consumed on any property adjacent to the licensed premises under the control of the licensee(s) as depicted on the ABC-257 dated DATE and ABC-253 dated DATE.
- Entertainment provided shall not be audible beyond the area under the control of the licensee(s) as defined on the ABC-257 dated DATE and ABC-253 dated DATE.
- The quarterly gross sales of alcoholic beverages shall not exceed the quarterly gross sales of food during the same period. The licensee shall at all times maintain records which reflect separately the gross sale of food and the gross sales of alcoholic beverages. Said records shall be kept no less frequently than on a quarterly basis. It shall be made available to the Department on demand.
Tail O’ The Pup hotdog stand is opening at a property that is no stranger to historical significance. The property has a plaque at its entrance stating that this is where The Doors recorded L.A. Woman in 1971.
The 5,000 Square Foot property was listed for sale in 2020 according to Loop.net. The most recent incarnation was an Italian Restaurant called Blackship. The owners announced its closure in August 2020. “Due to Covid-19, Blackship has permanently closed,” reads the last business update on Yelp. The two-story commercial property was built in 1958.
According to tailothepup.com, 1933 Group purchased the Tail o’ the Pup facade some time in 2018/19 and has been looking for a location in West Hollywood.
It’s more look and less substance in my opinion. It relies too heavily on the gimmick. The only way this place is going to survive is if those hotdogs are delicious. Make a good burger and they will come. I also don’t know about those vegan corndogs. That sounds pretty nasty.