Dixie Chili and Deli facts for kids
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| Private chain | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1929 in Newport, Kentucky, USA |
| Headquarters | 733 Monmouth Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071 |
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Key people
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Spiros Sarakatsannis, CEO; Nicholas Sarakatsannis, Founder |
| Products | Cincinnati chili, deli |
Dixie Chili and Deli, first known as Dixie Chili, is a chain of three restaurants in Kentucky. These restaurants are famous for their special Cincinnati chili. They also serve delicious hot dogs called coneys and tasty sandwiches.
A Greek immigrant named Nicholas Sarakatsannis started the first restaurant. He opened it in 1929 in Newport, Kentucky. This city is just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Today, Dixie Chili also has locations in Erlanger and Covington. You can even buy their canned chili in supermarkets in the Cincinnati and Kentucky areas.
The Story of Dixie Chili
Nicholas Sarakatsannis's Journey
Nicholas Sarakatsannis came to the United States from Greece in 1912. He was 15 years old and looking for a new life. He worked many jobs in restaurants and the food industry. Eventually, he arrived in Cincinnati.
In 1928, Nicholas started working at Empress Chili. This was the first place to serve Cincinnati-style chili. On his very first day, he made nine gallons of chili!
Opening the First Restaurant
Nicholas soon felt he could create his own chili recipe. He wanted to open his own chili restaurant. He searched for a good spot that would not compete with Empress Chili. He traveled on buses between his work shifts to find the perfect place.
He found a great location in Newport, Kentucky. It was on Monmouth Street, which was the main business area. The first Dixie Chili restaurant opened its doors in 1929. This was the same year the Great Depression began in the United States. Dixie Chili is still a family-owned company today.
