Pittsburgh hot dog shop part of city's cultural history

SAN JOSE (KGO) -- Tonight's game is really critical for the San Jose Sharks because they certainly don't want to come home down two to nothing.

For now, they're still in enemy territory at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

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As the sign says, there is an Oakland in Pittsburgh and it may be hard to believe, but it's true. Oakland is pretty much swallowed up by the nearby University of Pittsburgh.

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Actually, when it comes to swallowing, we need to tell you about this place and their hot dogs and fries. "The best hot dog and french fries, ever," one woman said.

ABC7 News stumbled into Pittsburgh's Original Hot Dog Shop, also known as the "O." After eating, here, we may be staggering out.

When asked how many calories are in the hot dogs, owner Terry Campasano said she didn't know because it's a treat. "It's not worth living without a treat," she said.

Campasano is the daughter of Essie and Sid, who look on from hot dog heaven, having founded the establishment in 1960. "He would be very proud," Campasano said.

He would be proud of the loyalty, the consistency, the culture, yes the culture. "I knew i it has cultural significance, but I had no idea that almost every person who comes in has some sort of emotional tie to this place," employee Kaitlyn Buss said.

From former college students to baseball fans from when the Pirates played at Forbes Field about a block away. They call a huge basket of fries a small order.

The amount is big, some would call the basket the Mount Rushmore of potatoes, blanched twice, they said and piled high, with no shortage of hubris.

"They're better than any fries ever, anywhere, it's a treat," Campasano said.

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