Braylon to Invest in L.A. Coney Restaurant: LA Wolverines to Rejoice

Submitted by SFBlue on

Braylon Edwards plus some L.A.-based Detroiters are opening a Coney on Sunset Blvd in L.A.  Maybe the first time in four years I kinda wish I still lived there. 

 

This link doesn't mention Edwards, but the front page of the Freep does.

 

http://www.shangrilafoodblog.com/shangri-la/2011/02/the-craft-beer-chro…

 

Question is: do they have Bells?  If "yes," I will seriously consider moving back down there. 

mGrowOld

April 13th, 2011 at 3:25 AM ^

I am fascinated by athletes and other mega rich celebrities that an obsession with opening restaurants. They almost never work out financially for them and few, if any, know squat about food service. If they just bought shares in an Index Fund or maybe bought some boring old interest bearing derivatives they would stay rich a hell of a lot longer than by trying their hand at Braylon's House of Awesome Hot Dogs. Who advises these guys anyways?

Jasper

April 13th, 2011 at 8:31 AM ^

Agreed.  I think there's a book opportunity there.  Learning about the types of parasites that prey on rich athletes would be entertaining and horrifying.  I'm sure there's plenty of overlap with lottery winners.

- - -

Unrelated: I might be in the minority here, but does it bother anyone else that a *Detroit* hot dog restaurant would name itself after an amusement park in New York?  Where's the regional pride?  As it is, the East Coast spends enough time telling the Midwest about how nothing interesting originates in flyover country.

Hoken's Heroes

April 13th, 2011 at 4:37 AM ^

when I visit clients in L.A.

Hopefully it works out for Binder as his directing/acting career has pretty much stalled. I am not sure how well that location will work out but best of luck to him and the investors.

vegasjeff

April 13th, 2011 at 7:21 AM ^

It's too bad LA doesn't have an NFL team because you know Braylon would be there in a minute.

(Disgruntled Cleveland Browns fan unhappy with Braylon's effort and many drops as a Brown)

Don

April 13th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^

I've wondered about this too. It goes back at least to the 1930s, as Jack Dempsey opened up his famous restaurant in NYC in '35.

I think the "perks" of owning such a place are key: they're public places that attract fans, and provide relaxed non-stressful opportunities for the athlete to enjoy the adulation all over again in a convivial atmosphere with plenty of booze and good food. It's another kind of performance.

rederik

April 13th, 2011 at 9:19 AM ^

According to the Freep article (which, for stubborn reasons I am not linking), comedian Mike Binder is the driving force behind the restaurant, along with celebrity investors INCLUDING Braylon, Tim Allen, Kris Draper, Sam Raimi, and Adam Sandler. FWIW, as one of many people involved in this project, my impression is that Braylon will be less involved than this thread is suggesting.

st barth

April 13th, 2011 at 10:06 AM ^

LA has the infamous illegal bacon hot dogs.  Why would anybody bother with a coney dog there?

Lloyd Carr's Braylon might as well open a vegan restaurant in Amarillo, Texas too if he really wants to waste his money.

In reply to by st barth

WolvinLA2

April 13th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^

Yeah, those dirty dogs are pretty fantastic.

On a related note, I went to Umami Burger for the first time for lunch yesterday - it lives up to it's billing as the best burger in the country (per GQ).  It was certainly the best burger I've ever had.  And for 10 bucks, it doens't break the bank like other gourmet burgers do.

In reply to by st barth

Butterfield

April 13th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^

It's astounding that you've never managed a single post that I can just pass by and ignore.  First "Hoke-dick" (trademarked), then "Cowhoke" (trademarked), now you're warring on coney dogs?  Of the people who have eaten them (and loose hamburgers), who doesn't love that stuff?  Pick a fight you can at least survive my man! 

Case in point.  Living in Phoenix for 6 years now, I had to get a coney kit sent over in dry ice last year from National just to satisfy my craving.  Brought some in for my native Arizonan co-workers and they loved em too, not to mention another Michigan transplant who I work with.....you would have thought it was Christmas.   

ryebadger

April 13th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^

Believe it or not this is a fairly crowded space in the LA food market. Despite its reputation for being obsessed with health and glitz, LA is almost peerless when it comes to junk food dives. Pink's, Tommy's, Carney's, Tail O' the Pup, Cassell's, The Apple Pan, even chains like In N' Out and Fatburger.  Then there are the countless roadside taco/burrito stands that quietly serve up a top shelf burger  (the one I used to go to near Koreatown, just east of Vermont, made one of the best burgers I've ever had).

Glad to see they are bringing this Detroit staple to LA. I'm quite familiar with Lafayette and we've always said a coney would do well here in New York. As alluded to in this thread it's not a business I'd ever get into. Especially in this town.         

Augger

April 13th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^

While focusing on the athlete squandering the money angle, you folks have missed out on the joy that is Coneys spreading across the country.  While I heartily agree stupid athletes and their money are often soon parted, and I have no idea whether this venture is going to work, I heartily endorse the spread of the coney.  It's my understanding a Leo's opened in Chicago last year and had lines around the block.  That's one thing Detroit has going for it, since everyone has left there are lots of Michiganders all around the country missing stuff from home.  I know many of my friends make Athens coney their first stop when they come in to town.

PS.  The one annoying thing I have noticed is that the worst coneys are the ones that tend to spread...Kerbys is god awful, National and Leo's aren't far behind...and yet those are the ones spreading like a virus all over the place.

Why All American, Lafayette or even Athens on Woodward havent spread is beyond me.

 

Aug