Paul’s Daughter

Coney Island has a 61-foot-tall lighthouse; however, if I was sailing nearby, what would attract me to dock there would instead be the larger-than-life rooftop statues of a man holding a hamburger and a girl holding a soda. No shade to lighthouses, but a 200 pounder burger and an XXXXL soda would certainly brighten my day! The statues stand atop Paul’s Daughter, an iconic Coney Island institution that’s graced the boardwalk for over six decades, making it one of the oldest continually operating businesses on Coney Island. 

Originally opened in 1962 by Greek immigrants Gregory Bitetzakis and Paul Georgoulakos, in 2009, it was handed off to Tina Georgoulakos, Paul’s daughter (bet you didn’t see that coming!). 

At this renowned boardwalk spot, locals and visitors alike can find all the classics: corndogs, hot dogs, Italian ices, knishes, soft serve, funnel cakes, sausages, cotton candy, clams on the half shell, fries, lobster rolls, and beer — served ice cold in plastic cups, a quintessential element of the Coney Island boardwalk experience. 

This famous burger (and clam and lobster and funnel cake, etc.) joint and its special family legacy are impressive enough on their own, but Paul’s Daughter’s resume even has TV and film credits! You can spot it in The Wiz, Spider-Man 3, and HBO’s Just Like That… I couldn’t help but wonder, when is the next time I can hop on the Coney Island-bound Q train and grab a cold beer, take in the nostalgia of this spot, and wave “Hi!” to my statuesque rooftop friends?