Gray's Papaya

Gray's Papaya
	Gray's Papaya former midtown location.
Industry	Fast Food Restaurant
Founded	1973; 49 years ago in New York City
Founder	Nicholas Gray
Number of locations	2 (2017)
Area served	New York City

Gray's Papaya is a hot dog restaurant chain, with its flagship restaurant located at 2090 Broadway at 72nd Street.^[1] In June 2020, it had two locations operational during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] Several other locations had closed prior.^[1] Gray's Papaya is famous for its inexpensive (once sold for 50 cents, now, as of 2021, sell for $2.95), high-quality hot dogs,^{[citation needed]} considered among the best in New York City.^[3] The "papaya" in the name refers to the papaya fruit drink sold at the establishment. They also sell orange, grape, piña colada, coconut champagne (non-alcoholic), and banana daiquiri (non-alcoholic) fruit drinks.^{[citation needed]}

History[]

The chain was founded by a former partner of Papaya King, Nicholas Gray, in 1973,^[4] with its flagship restaurant located at 2090 Broadway at 72nd Street.^[1]

In the June 1, 2006, issue of Time Out New York, Gray's Papaya's hot dog was ranked first over its competitors Papaya King and Papaya Dog.^[5] On March 3, 2008, The New York Times reported that Gray's Papaya had endorsed Democratic candidate Barack Obama in his campaign for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election.^[4]

The former midtown location of Gray's Papaya closed in 2011 and the Greenwich Village branch closed in 2014 due to rent increases.^[6]^[7] The 402 Sixth Avenue at 8th Street and the 539 Eighth Avenue at 37th Street locations were no longer in operation as of 2014. For several years, the flagship location at 72nd street was the only location left.^[1]

A new midtown location opened in 2015,^[1] but then closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.^{[citation needed]} In 2016, Gray's Papaya signed a 20-year lease for a new location at 612 Eighth Avenue, between West 39th and West 40th streets. The location opened in spring 2017 but has also subsequently closed due to COVID.^{[citation needed]}

After shutting their flagship location for the "first time in 47 years" on March 30, Gray's Papaya reopened the location in May 2020, with a new version of its "recession special" that featured two franks and a tropical drink for $6.95 including tax, with frontline healthcare workers eating the special for free. The company, owned by Rachael Gray, said they planned on re-opening their Midtown location in May as well.^[8] It only reopened for delivery and window takeout.^[9] By June, it had up two locations, and Thrillist listed it as one of the best hot dog locations in New York.^[2]

Menu[]

Two hot dogs with sauerkraut and onions

Gray's Papaya is famous for its inexpensive (once sold for 50 cents, now, as of 2021, sell for $2.95), high-quality hot dogs. The "papaya" in the name refers to the papaya fruit drink sold at the establishment. They also sell orange, grape, piña colada, coconut champagne (non-alcoholic), and banana daiquiri (non-alcoholic) fruit drinks.^{[citation needed]}

The franchise has natural skinned franks.^[10] Gray's Papaya hot dogs are considered among the best in New York City.^[3]

Media[]

In Fools Rush In in 1997, one of the characters gets Gray's Papaya hot dogs delivered to him in Las Vegas. The film Down to Earth in 2001 with Chris Rock also featured the restaurant. In Die Hard with A Vengeance, a scene takes place across the street at 72nd and Broadway with the sign shown prominently.^{[citation needed]}