Customers have lined up outside Pink’s for tasty hot dogs since 1939. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Motorists on La Brea Avenue can’t miss one of Los Angeles’ most famous roadside attractions – Pink’s Hot Dogs ­– which has been satisfying hungry customers since 1939.

Started as a pushcart by Paul and Betty Pink, hot dogs were 10¢ at the time and sodas were a nickel. The Pinks quickly attracted a stream of dedicated customers and secured a $4,000 loan in 1941 to purchase the property just north of Melrose Avenue. A permanent stand was constructed five years later and customers have lined up in front ever since for mouth-watering hotdogs, hamburgers, fries and onion rings. The iconic stand is still family-operated today by Richard Pink, his wife Gloria and sister Beverly Pink-Wolfe.

“I think that Pink’s is the reason why you get on Route 66 coming from the East Coast,” Pink said. “It’s a goal of many people. They know that they finally hit the West Coast when they hit Pink’s, that they have landed in Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world. There is nothing like a good chili dog at the end of a long ride on Route 66.”

Pink’s has more than 40 different hot dogs on the menu with a full complement of toppings, from mustard, chili and cheese to guacamole, jalapenos and bacon. Many of the hot dogs are named after celebrities who frequent the stand, and their autographed photographs line the walls of the indoor dining room. The Martha Stewart Dog is topped with relish, onions, three strips of bacon, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut and sour cream, and the Giada De Laurentiis Dog comes with grilled sauteed peppers and onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Pink said offering quality ingredients and staying true to the stand’s history are the secrets to longevity, as well as providing an “experience” for customers. He said people crave places like Pink’s because they are reminders of the past and provide a connection to a simpler time.

“There are very few places that have been in business for 86 years and it’s unfortunate that a lot of these places have not been able to survive as long as we have, but we’ve kept it going,” Pink said. “We kept the prices affordable, we kept the atmosphere interesting with the Hollywood connection and we have kept our staff that have all been with us for 30 years or more. Older establishments like Pink’s provide character, provide interest, provide a sense of belonging and a sense of connection. It is quintessential Los Angeles.”

People approach Pink daily to tell him they dined at the stand with their parents or grandparents and now bring their children.

“It’s a very emotional experience for most people because they have so many memories tied up with Pink’s. What I hear from our customers is a lot of gratitude, ‘Thanks for not changing things into something that has no character, thanks for keeping Pink’s the way it was when I came here with my grandfather many, many years ago,’” he added. “I think that people are very thankful for businesses that have been around this long and keep it going. It is a touchstone for them to come back.”

Pink’s is technically located a few blocks off Route 66, just south of Santa Monica Boulevard, and those who can’t make it to the stand at 709 N. La Brea Ave. have other options to sample the tasty hot dogs at satellite locations, such as the Pink’s Hot Dogs stand Universal CityWalk. Pink’s also has international locations in the Philippines and South Korea, and is planning to open its first stand in Tokyo, Japan later this fall.

“It would be hard to find another location with as much history and character,” Pink said. “It makes any trip worthwhile.”