Mel’s Hot Dogs, a Tampa-iconic restaurant with a 50-year legacy, is up for sale

Mel’s Hot Dogs, a beloved Chicago-style hot dog restaurant in Tampa for the past 50 years, is up for sale as owner, Mel Lohn, prepares for retirement.

The legendary eatery’s legacy is important to Lohn and he seeks a buyer who will maintain the restaurant’s authenticity.

To this end, potential buyers will undergo a careful vetting process that includes evaluation of their restaurant management experience.

Mr. Braccia of Bay Street Commercial is the broker handling the sale and confirms that prospective buyers will also be personally evaluated by Lohn. Interestingly, Lohn opened the original establishment, Mel’s Red Hot Ranch in 1973, after failing to find a decent Chicago-style hot dog in Tampa while on tour with his band.