Nathan’s legendary hot dog eating contest in Coney Island is coming to Fort Myers by live broadcast when Nathan’s Fort Myers hosts a simulcast of the competition at noon, Monday, July 4. Nathan’s is at 11150 S. Cleveland Ave. The event is free and open to the public.
Leading up to the July 4 contest, Ray Masciana, owner of Nathan’s Fort Myers, has launched a guessing-game program for patrons. With every purchase now through 12 p.m. July 4, patrons will receive an entry form to guess the exact combined number of hot dogs that will be eaten by the winner of the Women’s and Men’s divisions at the Coney Island contest. The form is then entered into a random drawing that Masciana will conduct immediately following the July 4 noon broadcast.
The first patron whose correct guess is drawn will win the grand prize of a 3-day trip for two to the Bahamas. Runners-up will receive an authentic Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest T-shirt. The event also features in-store giveaways. The contest winner must be 18 years of age or older. Nathan’s employees are not eligible to win.
To learn more about the contest, visit Nathan’s at 11150 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers.
The original Nathan’s Famous opened its second store in 1955 in Oceanside, NY. Growing up just down the block from this landmark, Masciana became a lifelong fan, which years later inspired him to bring Nathan’s to Southwest Florida, where he now resides. The Page Field Center location is Nathan’s first standalone restaurant in Florida. Its hangar-style architecture pays homage to Page Field Air Park, located directly across U.S. 41 in Fort Myers.
The restaurant houses a Yankee Clipper airplane with a 30-foot wingspan, that hangs from the roof joists and is suspended over the tables. Even its drive-through is innovative, featuring a video ordering system in which customers can see the person taking their order. Nathan’s offers something for every palate, with Nathan’s Famous hot dogs of all kinds, chicken sandwiches, burgers, fries, Philly cheesesteaks and much more.