Staff Reports | Business & Commerce
Ted’s Hot Dogs, a fourth-generation, family-owned restaurant with a long-standing presence in Tempe, is expanding its Arizona footprint with a new location in Chandler, marking its first move beyond its longtime home base.
The Chandler opening represents a new phase of measured growth for the nearly century-old brand, which has operated in Tempe for 45 years and traces its roots back to 1927 in Buffalo, New York, according to a press release.
The Arizona restaurants are led by fourth-generation owner Evan Ortolani, whose family brought the brand to Tempe more than four decades ago.
“Expanding our offerings into the East Valley to serve a broader base is part of our thoughtful and intentional next step for our family and our brand,” Mr. Ortolani said. “We were deliberate about growing in a way that preserves what makes Ted’s special, while allowing us to welcome larger groups of guests, deepen our connection to the community and plan responsibly for the future.”
The Chandler restaurant is at 2700 E. Germann Road and is a ground-up build, with completion anticipated in April. The location will include outdoor patio seating, park benches and space designed for families and groups. The design reflects an updated interpretation of Ted’s retro aesthetic while maintaining familiar elements from the company’s original location. The Chandler restaurant will also feature a drive-thru.
Ted’s Hot Dogs is known for its open-fire cooking method using hardwood lump charcoal and its use of regional ingredients.
The menu includes charcoal-grilled hot dogs, burgers, sausages, scratch-made onion rings and milkshakes made with ice cream. The restaurant uses all-natural casings for its hot dogs and prepares sauces in-house using cast-iron grills and open-flame cooking techniques. New menu items, including steak sandwiches, are expected to debut at the Chandler location.
Founded in Buffalo by Greek immigrant Theodore Spiro Liaros, Ted’s Hot Dogs began as a hot dog stand near the Peace Bridge on Massachusetts Avenue. Liaros arrived in the United States in 1913 without money or knowledge of English before launching the business that would become a family enterprise.
Ted’s Hot Dogs plans to continue expanding across Arizona, with future growth centered on consistency, quality and community connection.
