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| products = [[Hot dog]]s
}}{{Infobox restaurant|street-address=118 Lexington Ave|city=[[Mansfield]]|state=Ohio|country=United States|website={{URL|https://www.facebook.com/p/Wiener-King-Restaurant-100058683737411/|Facebook}}|current-owner=Jimmy Smardjeff|coordinates={{Coord|40.75019|-82.51888|format=dms|display=inline,title}}|food-type=[[Fast food]]|established=1976|previous-owner=Christ Smardjeff}}
'''Wiener King''' is a [[Hot dog|hot-dog]] company that currently operates one restaurant located in [[Mansfield, Ohio]]. Wiener King was formerly a [[Franchising|franchise]], but has since closed all but one of their restaurants.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Markovich |first=Jeremy |date=July 20, 2023 |title=The Ballad of the Wiener King |url=https://www.ncrabbithole.com/p/the-ballad-of-the-wiener-king |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=North Carolina Rabbit Hole |language=en}}</ref> The chain was founded in 1970 by Ronald W. Howard, in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. Wiener King was once one of the fastest growing restaurants in the United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Actionsdower |first=Zap |date=2019-12-02 |title=No Good Thing Ever Dies |url=http://www.brokenchains.blog/2019/12/no-good-thing-ever-dies.html |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=Broken Chains |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> It was well known for its advertising and publicity.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Calhoun |first=Bobbie |date=May 21, 1975 |title=Some Up In Air Over Balloon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/622734935/ |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |pages=6}}</ref>
== History ==
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In 1982 the presiding [[bankruptcy]] judge overseeing Wiener King's case concluded that Howard had made false statements and subsequently removed him from his position as president of the company. Allegations surfaced, prompting an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation into claims of [[tax evasion]] and the [[misappropriation]] of funds for sustaining the business. A consultant recommended the sale of the company, expressing reservations about Howard's suitability in its management. Creditors harbored hopes that [[liquidation]] could be avoided.<ref name=":0" />
In 1983 a [[Pennsylvania]] couple acquired the entire company through auction proceedings for $100,000 and relocated its headquarters to their hometown of Easton. They had aspired to revive the Wiener King brand, albeit its prominence waned in the ensuing years. Several Wiener King franchises in Charlotte remained operational but operated under different brand identities.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10" /> By this time, the company had substantially diminished to only 40 stores. Notably, approximately $2.5 million of the company's debts remained outstanding and were never repaid.<ref name=":0" />
=== Post-acquisition ===
Several Wiener King franchises opted to alter their identities due to discontent with their corporate affiliation, choosing to operate independently. For instance, in 1978, four Wiener Kings located in [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] rebranded themselves as "Sally's." These locations maintained the same menu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coore |first=Billy |date=2009-05-07 |title=Memorable city businesses are history |url=https://greensboro.com/editorial/memorable-city-businesses-are-history/article_16fff001-11ea-5e1a-8205-a751ec78d4b1.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Greensboro News and Record |language=en}}</ref> Similarly, in 1987 several Wiener Kings changed their name to Wiener Works, subsequently breaking away from the parent company. Some of these locations remain open.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiener Works on Madison Avenue – Home of the Wonder Dog Great dogs, sausages, and burgers. Fresh cut fries. Huge selection of beer. Huge portions, and a great place to hang out with your friends while you watch some sports. |url=https://www.weinerworksmadison.com/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=www.weinerworksmadison.com}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Wiener Works |url=https://www.gogastonnc.org/places/wiener-works |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=Go Gaston NC |language=en}}</ref> This trajectory appears to have been followed by multiple Wiener King establishments in the [[Fayetteville, North Carolina|Fayetteville]] region, originally established in 1973.<ref name=":0" /> As of 2024, many former Wiener King establishments continue to operate under their changed names.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Taylor |date=December 15, 2023 |title=50 years of Wiener Works: Behind the hot dog empire Fayetteville's 'wiener king' built |url=https://www.aol.com/50-years-wiener-works-behind-100832896.html |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=AOL |language=en-US}}</ref>
One store in [[Mansfield, Ohio]] still operates under the Wiener King name,<ref name=":1" /> as do several [[hot dog cart]]s in [[North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiener King |url=https://roaminghunger.com/wiener-king/ |website=Roaming Hunger}}</ref> The location in Mansfield still operates similarly to how it did when it first opened in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2016 |title=Wiener King chuckles at mafia rumors |url=http://www.richlandsource.com/2016/03/27/wiener-king-chuckles-at-mafia-rumors/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=Richland Source |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-12-25 |title=Wiener King owner talks mafia, heart attack and a big 2016 for business |url=https://www.richlandsource.com/2016/12/25/wiener-king-owner-talks-mafia-heart-attack-and-a-big-2016-for-business/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Richland Source |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Whitmire |first=Lou |title=Wiener King in danger of closing; operator launches fundraising drive |url=https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2018/07/31/wiener-king-danger-closing/872345002/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Mansfield News Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> The restaurant is owned and operated by Jimmy Smardjeff.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=August 9, 2018 |title=Owner of Wiener King fears closing, launches fundraiser |url=http://www.richlandsource.com/2018/08/09/owner-of-wiener-king-fears-closing-launches-fundraiser/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=Richland Source |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitmire |first=Lou |date=November 17, 2016 |title=Friends run Wiener King as owner recovers |url=https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/11/17/friends-run-wiener-king-owner-recovers/93881418/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Mansfield News Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2018, the location was at risk of closing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitmire |first=Lou |date=July 31, 2018 |title=Wiener King in danger of closing; operator launches fundraising drive |url=https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2018/07/31/wiener-king-danger-closing/872345002/ |access-date=May 1, 2024 |website=Mansfield News Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitmire |first=Lou |title=Efforts to save Wiener King continue: October event planned at Mansfield Motorcycle Club |url=https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2018/08/27/wiener-king-mansfield-fundraiser-planned-buy-business-state/1109024002/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Mansfield News Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":12" /> It has a 4.9 star rating on [[Yelp]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiener King Restaurant - Mansfield, OH |url=https://www.yelp.com/biz/wiener-king-restaurant-mansfield |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Yelp |language=en-US}}</ref> and a 4.5 star rating on [[Tripadvisor]]<ref>https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g50599-d8667396-Reviews-Weiner_King-Mansfield_Ohio.html</ref> as of August 2024.
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