Nick's Coney Sauce in Packets

How Nick's Coney Sauce Came to Be

Nick's Original Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce® made its way to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1920 with Pappas — better known as "Nick" — after he had spent several years working beside a Coney Island hot dog vendor in Philadelphia. Eventually Pappas' son Bill took over the business. When Bill later chose to sell the restaurant, the tightly guarded sauce recipe proved to be the most valuable asset in the entire deal.

Nick's Coney Island hot dog sauce served over a hot dog — Nick's signature sauce in its classic form

A New Owner Learns How Widely the Sauce Was Known

Fred Beaudry, a Fall River native, bought Nick's in 2002. He soon discovered what had driven the restaurant's success for decades: the sauce had built a following far beyond the city limits. Even though Fred had grown up just around the corner from Nick's, he was still amazed to hear how many visitors — some coming from as far away as Japan — made Nick's a required stop, taking the sauce home in plastic containers they had brought along for the trip.

Why Nick's Sauce Now Comes in Packets Online

Out-of-town customers kept urging Fred to set up a website so they could order the sauce online. Heeding those requests, Fred partnered with his son-in-law, Chuck Conniry, to bring Nick's Original Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce® to a wider audience. Following extensive research and development, Conniry carefully converted the sauce recipe into a dry spice mix — one that, once combined with water and hamburger, recreates the sauce in its original form and flavor. Today, Nick's fans near and far can enjoy the rich taste of Nick's "secret sauce" whenever and wherever they like.

Packet of Nick's Coney Island hot dog sauce spice mix — The sauce, now packaged as a dry spice mix

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Common Questions

What is Nick's Coney sauce in packets, exactly?

It's a dry spice mix version of Nick's Original Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce®. As the story above explains, the recipe was carefully and precisely reduced to a dry spice mix that, when combined with water and hamburger, produces the sauce in its original form and flavor.

How do I make the sauce from a packet?

The dry spice mix is combined with water and hamburger to recreate the sauce in its original form and flavor. For detailed preparation steps, visit the Preparation page.

Why did Nick's start selling the sauce online?

Out-of-town patrons consistently urged owner Fred Beaudry to set up a website so they could purchase the sauce online. Responding to those requests, Fred worked with his son-in-law, Chuck Conniry, to bring Nick's Original Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce® to market.

Where did Nick's Coney sauce originate?

Nick's Original Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce® was brought to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1920 by Pappas ("Nick"), who had worked with a Coney Island hot dog vendor in Philadelphia for several years.

Can the sauce be used for more than hot dogs?

Nick's Coney sauce is described as a Coney Island hot dog sauce. For ideas on other ways to use it, see the Other Recipe Ideas page.

Preparation Other Recipe Ideas

Whether you're a longtime regular or discovering Nick's for the first time, the packet version makes it easy to bring the original Coney Island flavor home. Pair it with the Preparation guide for step-by-step instructions, or browse Other Recipe Ideas for new ways to serve it.