That's great. So it seems it can be safely said that Tom did not invent the Coney, as the article in the OP states (if these places were indeed selling what we know as Coney dogs at the time, and I take that to be the case.)

So was the Cincinnati chili (Greek chili) really his idea, or did that also come down south through Detroit, Toledo, etc. In other words, was the chili Tom created at Empress distinctive from the chili at these other places? Was the Greek cinnamon/clove spicing his idea? Or was it just a natural progression. I guess the conclusion I'm coming to is that Empress's contribution was putting Greek chili on spaghetti, and selling it various "ways."

Binko wrote:So was the Cincinnati chili (Greek chili) really his idea, or did that also come down south through Detroit, Toledo, etc. In other words, was the chili Tom created at Empress distinctive from the chili at these other places? Was the Greek cinnamon/clove spicing his idea? Or was it just a natural progression. I guess the conclusion I'm coming to is that Empress's contribution was putting Greek chili on spaghetti, and selling it various "ways."

Sorry, I don't know enough about Cincinnati chili to say anything worthwhile.

Rene G wrote:Here are my posts on some pre-1920 Coney doggeries:

Coney Island Hot Dog (1919), Toledo OH

Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island (1917), Detroit MI

Coney Island Lunch (1915), Kalamazoo MI

Todoroff's Coney Island (1914), Jackson MI

Another post: Coney Island Wiener Stand (1914) Fort Wayne IN

Here's another real old one that was unknown to me until recently. Phillip's Coney Island in Columbus OH opened in 1912 and is currently run by the fourth generation of the founding family. Unfortunately we were there on a Sunday when they are closed.



Phillip's Original Coney Island
450 W Broad St
Columbus OH
614-221-8288
http://www.phillipsconeyisland.com