Kathryn Tsandikos

Co-owner, Coney Island Hot Dogs

[Coney Island] does [have an ipact on the community] and I that’s why I love it, you know the fact that my grandparents had it, the fact that my father worked here, the fact I can be here and kind of carry it on the best I can. I mean people still talk about my grandmother, and she’s the one who should be giving an oral history because she was remarkable. I don’t hold a candle to her and you know maybe someday I will, but she was just incredible. And they did an obituary for her in the Worcester paper, she was just like a really unique woman so, you know that’s what’s neat being able to keep that going.

Abstract: 

The interview of Kathryn Tsandikos focuses primarily on religious background, ethnic roots, and her present day occupation. Kathryn expressed a major aspect throughout her life was religion because of its prominence in her family. Her father is a Greek Orthodox Priest at St. Spyridon’s in Worcester, MA and also Co-owns the business that Kathryn runs today. She expressed that having her father involved deeply in the church shaped her life in various ways. Her ethnic roots also played a major role in her life from Greek organizations, the community she grew up in and her religious background all revolved around her Greek heritage. Lastly, she co-owns Coney Island Hot Dogs which is the leading hot dog restaurant in Worcester for over a century. Coney Island has been a staple landmark in Worcester and a major reason for this was Tsandikos and her family’s involvement in founding one of the most successful restaurants in the history of the city.

Interview
Interviewer: 
Interview Date: 
April 18, 2013
Interview Focus: