National Coney Island
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Genre | Coney Island |
| Founded | |
| Founder | James Giftos |
| Headquarters | |
Number of locations | 14 (2026)[1] |
Area served | Metro Detroit |
Key people | Tom Giftos (President & CEO) |
| Products | Coney Island hot dogs; Hani sandwich; chili sauce; Sanders sundaes |
| Website | nationalconeyisland |
National Coney Island is an American regional restaurant chain based in Roseville, Michigan. Founded by James Giftos in 1965, the company operates restaurants in southeastern Michigan and specializes in Detroit-style Coney Island hot dogs and other diner food.[2] The chain is also known for the Hani, a chicken-finger pita sandwich developed at one of its Detroit restaurants in 1985.[3]
The company grew from a small restaurant at Macomb Mall into one of the larger Coney Island restaurant chains in the Detroit metropolitan area. By the time of Giftos's death in 2011, National Coney Island had approximately 20 restaurants in southeastern Michigan.[4] The company later contracted to 14 locations.[2]
History
Founding and expansion
National Coney Island was founded in 1965 by James Giftos, who opened the first location at Macomb Mall in Roseville.[2][4] The original restaurant seated approximately 40 customers and offered a limited menu consisting primarily of Coney Island hot dogs, loose hamburgers, sandwiches, potato chips and soft drinks.[5]
Giftos opened a second restaurant in St. Clair Shores in 1969 and a third in Detroit in 1971.[5] The restaurants initially followed a similar format to the Macomb Mall location. The company later broadened its menu and developed larger, family-oriented restaurants.[5]
National Coney Island expanded substantially from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, growing to 11 restaurants. Some of the newer locations incorporated drive-through service or beer and wine sales.[5]
By 2011, the chain had grown to 20 restaurants in southeastern Michigan.[4] Giftos died in February 2011 at the age of 72. At the time, the Michigan Food and Beverage Association had recently named National Coney Island its Family Restaurant Company of the Year.[4]
Leadership of the family-owned company subsequently passed to later generations of the Giftos family. Tom Giftos serves as president and chief executive officer.[6]
COVID-19 pandemic
In April 2020, National Coney Island temporarily closed all of its restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan. Tom Giftos said the decision was made as the public-health situation in the Detroit area worsened and out of concern for employees and customers.[6]
The company began reopening locations the following month, initially offering curbside pickup, drive-through service and delivery.[7]
National Coney Island celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025.[8]
Menu
Coney Dogs
National Coney Island's principal specialty is the Detroit-style Coney Island hot dog, typically consisting of a hot dog topped with meat-based chili sauce, yellow mustard and chopped raw onions. Its restaurants also serve hamburgers, Greek salads, breakfast dishes and other American diner food.[5]
Hani
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One of the chain's best-known menu items is the Hani, a pita sandwich containing fried chicken tenders, lettuce, tomato, cheese and mayonnaise.[3]
According to Eater Detroit, the sandwich originated in 1985 at the National Coney Island restaurant at Mack Avenue and Seven Mile Road in Detroit. It was created by a line cook named Hani, whose name was subsequently used for the sandwich.[3] Similar chicken pita sandwiches later became common on the menus of other Coney Island restaurants in the Detroit area. National Coney Island has taken steps to protect its use of the Hani name.[3]
In May 2023, the company opened Pop's Hani Shop on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, a fast-casual concept centered on variations of the Hani sandwich.[3]
Packaged chili
National Coney Island also sells its chili as a packaged retail product. Canned versions of the company's Detroit-style chili have been sold through its restaurants and through retail outlets including Walmart.[9]
Locations
National Coney Island operates 14 restaurants in southeastern Michigan, with locations in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.[10] The majority of the chain's restaurants are located in Macomb County, where the company was founded. Its locations include restaurants in Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Clinton Township, Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Warren, Fraser, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield, and Grosse Pointe. The chain also operates a location in the Evans Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.[11]
The chain's number of restaurants has varied over time. By 2011, National Coney Island had expanded to 20 locations in southeastern Michigan.[4] As of 2026, the company lists 14 locations.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ https://www.nationalconeyisland.com/about
- 1 2 3 "About". National Coney Island. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Daniels, Serena Maria (June 15, 2023). "Oops, All Hanis! Introducing the Spin-Off of Another Iconic Detroit Coney Dish". Eater Detroit. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Founder of National Coney Island, Pointer James Giftos, Dies at 72". Patch. February 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "About Us". National Coney Island. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- 1 2 "National Coney Island temporarily closing all locations amid coronavirus". WXYZ-TV. April 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- ↑ "National Coney Island reopening with curbside pickup, delivery options". WXYZ-TV. May 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- ↑ "National Coney Island celebrates 60 years in business". ClickOnDetroit. March 8, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- ↑ "National Coney Island". National Coney Island. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- 1 2 "Locations". National Coney Island. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- ↑ "DTW – Evans Terminal". National Coney Island. Retrieved August 17, 2026.