Richmond's perennial favorite: Casper's hot dogs

Casper's Famous Hot Dogs has sat on the corner of Macdonald Avenue and Civic Center since the 1940s, serving up classic foot-long hot dogs to generations of Richmonders who come from all corners of the city for this lunch-time favorite that, for many, comes deeply steeped in nostalgia.

When Kasper Koojoolian moved to California from Chicago, he brought with him the idea of opening hot dog stands. Kasper's (yes, with a "K") started as a cart business in 1930s Oakland. Operated by Koojoolian, an Armenian-American who knew a thing or two about sausage, business was good. So good, in fact, that when word of Koojoolian's success got back to Chicago, other family members were inspired to head out west and join the hot dog cart business – which eventually led to several restaurants and the letter deviation of Casper's (now spelled with a "C").

By the late 1940s, the East Bay was dotted with both Casper's and Kasper's Hot Dog restaurants, which were no longer sold out of carts but were now housed in modest buildings with modern decor.

Richmond's own Casper's opened at its current location around 1947, with its familiar orange mid-century architecture and furnishings that include counter seating with brightly colored kid-favorite swivel chairs, along with a few tables scattered throughout the interior of the restaurant.

With more of a diner feel than a restaurant, the vibe is warm and friendly; this comes from both the cheerful staff and the trademark steamed buns each Casper dog is ensconced in.

The menu is comfortable and predictable, just like the service, and customers come and go at regular intervals, greeting familiar faces from around the neighborhood while ordering possibly the same thing they have ordered for years – some since childhood.

According to Casper's, their hot dogs are a mix of beef and pork, which provides the famous old-time flavor. The buns are fresh and pulled from the steamer as the customer orders, specifying the condiments they want on their made-to-order dog.

According to Yelp, Casper's cheese dog is a go-to favorite for many, as are the ketchup dog and mustard dog, along with a bag of chips and a fountain drink to round out the meal.

"I've been coming here since I was 8. My parents used to take me 2-3 times a month, and I always asked for a plain cheese dog (Jr. hot dog, I believe). Little did I know I was missing out on the toppings because I was picky. Fast forward 30 years, the quality is still just as great, and now I get to bring my own family here. I still see the same colored seats and all, it's nostalgia for me," one Yelper wrote.

Casper's prices are fair: regular hot dogs are $6.29, cheese dogs are $7.29, and chili cheese dogs are $8.39 each. Many rave about the chili dog, while others say it's a Casper's dog with "everything" that's their meal of choice – and everything means mustard, onion, tomato, and relish, and nothing else. But most consistently, it's the memories the diner provides that people say keep them coming back time and again.

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