Original Der Wienerschnitzel Among 2 LA Roadside Food Stands To Be Designated Historic Landmark

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — For more than half a century, the sight of a brightly colored A-frame has meant one thing to Southlanders: Wienerschnitzel hot dogs.

The world's largest hot dog chain was started by John Galardi back in 1961 on the Pacific Coast Highway on Wilmington.

Now, the original Der Wienerschnitzel - which is still operating today - is one of two LA roadside food stands to be designated a historic landmark.

"He named it Der Wienerschnitzel and then 30 years ago, they eliminated the 'Der', " said Cindy Galardi Culpepper, John's ex-wife and the current CEO and chairperson of Wienerschnitzel. "People in Southern California, they still call it Der."

She took over when John died in 2013.

Culpepper appeared on Sunday's "Undercover Boss."

She told CBS2's Entertainment Reporter Crystal Cruz, while the new role has had its challenges, for the most part it's been a lot of fun.

"Hot dogs are fun. It's the all-American brand. I mean, who doesn't need a hot dog," she said. "So automatically, just coming in and running the company, it has to be fun. We're not a lettuce wrap. We're a hot dog."

Cindy says the fun has parlayed into profit with 85 of their 330 stores breaking all-time sales marks in March.

Recently, she put her CEO title aside and went behind the Wienerschnitzel scenes. Her episode of  "Undercover Boss" was the show's 1ooth.

Her assessment of how she did?

"I didn't do anything terrible. I just couldn't do any of the jobs well," she said. :Apparently, I wouldn't make a good crew-member. I think they'd probably fire me."