Kalamazoo Coney Island Named Oldest Fast Food Joint in Michigan

Michigan is the birthplace of multiple fast food joints: Halo Burger, Zo's Good Burger, Big John's Steak and Onion, Leo's Coney Island, and Little Caesars - to name a few.

Which quick service spot has been around the longest though?

👇BELOW: INTERESTED IN MICHIGAN'S CULINARY HISTORY? CHECK OUT THESE MENUS FROM THE 1900S FEATURING POSSUM AND ANTELOPE... 👇

Spurred on by nostalgia, Lovefood.com went on a mission to find the oldest fast food restaurant in each state. Their picks "have stood the test of time, winning over generations with their signature flavors and no-frills charm."

When it comes to Lovefood's pick for Michigan, it's an iconic Coney Dog joint - and it's not in Detroit. The debate over the true origin of Coney Dog is endless, plus one of the biggest rivalries is between Detroit's American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island...

Kalamazoo Coney Island via Facebook

But according to Lovefood, the most historic fast food restaurant in Michigan is Kalamazoo's Coney Island Hot Dogs.

Located at 226 E. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo's Coney Island has been in operation since 1915.

The eatery serves their own Coney Island topping on a Koegel's Frankfurter. In addition to Coney Dogs and plain hot dogs, you'll also find Chicago Dogs, New York Dogs, Burgers, Gyros, Fries, and Chili Cheese Fries on the menu.

According to Kalamazoo Coney Island's Facebook page the restaurant has been owned by the same family all these years. A post reads,

Our grandfather who started Coney immigrated to this country from Greece through Ellis Island at a very young age and eventually settled down in Michigan. He was a remarkably kind man who lived to be 102. He loved his customers so much and I now watch my brother carry on this tradition with the same enthusiasm and beautiful heart.

110 years is certainly a long time to be in business- especially being run by the same family! But are there any older fast food joints in Michigan? I guess it depends on your definition of fast food... And also, do we mean restaurants that have been in continuous operation?

Here's what I found:

Both Jackson Coney Island (Todoroff’s Coney Island) and Virginia Coney Island opened in Jackson, Mich., in 1914.

From what I can tell Todoroff's Coney Island and Jackson Coney Island are one in the same, or at least were owned by the same family. It appears the original Todoroff's Coney Island location closed in 2008... but there is a Jackson Coney Island that briefly closed in 2015, but has since reopened under new owners. It does have "since 1914" on its website.

Virginia Coney Island is still in operation and recently got new owners. Jackson is just one of the locations that claims to be the birthplace of the Coney Dog.

Both Virginia Coney Island and Jackson Coney Island are more of what I would call "diners" (with full on breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus) rather than "fast food"...

In case you're curious, Halo Burger opened in Michigan in 1923. American Coney Island opened it's doors in 1917, but owner Gust Keros started selling hot dogs from a cart in 1910.

Anyway, what do you think? Is Lovefood correct and Kalamazoo's Coney Island is the oldest fast food restaurant in Michigan?

Strange Foods at Michigan Restaurants in the Early 1900s

Menus from Michigan restaurants from the early 20th century feature some interesting items. What's the weirdest to you? Possum? Antelope? Whatever "Clear Green Turtle" is?

Gallery Credit: Janna