Iconic Pink's Hot Dogs Reopens After Two-Month Closure

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) - After a nearly two-month closure, longtime Los Angeles food landmark Pink's Hot Dogs reopened Monday.

The iconic hot-dog-shaped stand on La Brea Avenue near Melrose Avenue closed at the conclusion of business Jan. 3 "in order to keep our patrons and staff safe from the current COVID surge," Pink's announced in January.

Pink's co-owner Richard Pink says the voluntary closure was the best option for the future.

"The more you keep your customers safe, the more you make them feel comfortable, the more they will come back and support you," he said.

The landmark business started as a push cart in 1939 by Pink's parents.

Since then, it only shut down twice: 5 months last year and two more in 2021 because of the pandemic.

Last month, the LA County Economic Development Corporation reported more than 400,000 jobs were and 7,500 businesses permanently shuttered last year when the pandemic upended the local economy.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)