Papaya King Finally Opens at its New Home

After Papaya King was saved from extinction followed by years of awaiting a reopening nearby, the day has finally arrived: On Saturday, Papaya King finally reopened at 206 East 86th Street, Upper East Site first reported.

Last spring, Papaya King was saved from extinction with Eater reporting the owners had found a new home for the hot dog institution across the street at 1535 Third Avenue. The news followed reports dating back to 2020 that the old Papaya King headquarters had long been marked for demolition to build new luxury condos.

It’s been a long, dramatic time coming for the 90-year-old hot dog royalty. In January 2024, despite the new location appearing ready to open, plans for the relocated Papaya King were plagued by legal trouble, as the landlord was in the process of suing Sajid “Sid” Sohail (a franchise owner in other businesses like Au Bon Pain) for $4.4 million, claiming breach of contract, according to the Daily News. Sohail, who is still involved in the latest iteration, ditched the space, finding a new alternative.

This is but one chapter in the dogged history of Papaya King. Constantine “Gus” Poulos, originally from Athens, Greece, opened Papaya King in 1932, before Wayne Rosenbaum purchased it around 2010, telling Grub Street: “Papaya King will be here for another 178 years.” At one point there were Papaya King outposts — not to be confused with Papaya Dog — in Downtown Brooklyn, the East Village, and the Roosevelt Mall on Long Island, plus California and Pennsylvania. Only the Upper East Side remains.

Update: July 8, 2024, 2:39 p.m.: This story has been updated to correct Papaya King’s new address.