TAMPA, Fla. — After 50 years of serving some of the best Chicago-style hot dogs outside of the windy city, the owner of Mel’s Hot Dogs is looking to sell off his beloved business.

What You Need To Know

  •  Mel Lohn, owner of Mel's Hot Dogs in Tampa, is looking to sell his business after being next to Busch Gardens for the last 50 years

  •  Lohn, originally from Chicago, wants the next owner to continue selling hot dogs even after he moves on from the business

  •  Since his announcement, Lohn says he's already received several offers from people looking to buy his restaurant 

Mel Lohn, the owner of the shop, is originally from Chicago and in the 60s was in a band and touring around the country and ended up in Tampa with quite the appetite.

“Wandered around and went out to get a hot dog one day and could not believe there was not a hot dog place in this entire town,” Lohn said.

He would have never guessed that he would not only plant roots in the bay area but would then open up a hot dog stand similar to what he used to enjoy in the Midwest.

“I decided to open up a hot dog place between bands,” Lohn joked. “I’m still, officially, between bands.”

It’s been 50 years of being between bands but it’s also been a half century of producing hot dogs that so many people can’t resist.

Mel attributes that to using the best ingredients: Vienna beef hot dogs and that classic poppy seed bun all the way from Rosen’s in Chicago.

“What you can’t see but your tongue can taste is always the best and when you serve the best, you can’t lose,” Lohn said.

But even with a winning recipe like that, Lohn says he stopped working full time in the restaurant about five years ago.

After 50 years and at 76 and a half years old, Lohn wanted me to mention the half, he stressed that, he says he’s ready to pass the beef baton to someone new.

“It’s time. I’m old enough; it’s time,” Lohn said.

But Lohn doesn’t want his pride and joy to close and he doesn’t want his staff to start looking elsewhere for a job.

He’s currently seeking someone to buy the business who will then continue operating it as a Chicago-style hot dog joint.

“I’ve invested 50 years, five decades into building this up,” Lohn said. “I don’t want it to all of the sudden be closed because I didn’t have the foresight to plan.”

He says since he announced he was selling the place, Lohn already received several offers but they won’t be good enough for him unless they plan to continue building this Tampa institution.

“This has to continue on,” Lohn said. “This is my legacy. I’m not just going to let some mojo come in here saying ‘I’m going to change this, I’m going to change that,’ it ain’t going to happen.”

If Lohn has his way, there’ll be long lines of customers well after he steps aside, presumably so he can find new members of his band.

Lohn didn’t say how many people have reached out so far to try and purchase the business.

He doesn’t have a firm timetable on when his restaurant will switch owners, only that he only plans to sell it to a person who wants to continue cooking hot dogs.