by Javier Garcia with Joe Von Hatten and Alfredo Zamora
A 1964 Chevy Impala which collided with a mid 1960s International
Harvester Travellall 5-door full-sized wagon in service for the Joe A. Besteiro
funeral business will not be the subject of this revised Bronsbil Estacion
blogpost though admittedly there is quite a bit more that could be gleaned from this
photo. That might make an interesting discussion for another time.
Instead, we're going to take a look back at Bob's Coney Island hotdog stand
which was serving chili dogs on the corner of E Adams and 13th when this accident incident photo was
taken in 1966 by Brownsville Police Department photographer Ruben Garcia (who
later became a Captain).
When someone hears "Coney Island" they might automatically associate it with the amusement park and when you throw in hot dogs it connects it to the hot dog of the same name that probably originated there. We'll let the reader Google whatever knowledge about that they hunger for and stick to the point which is in Brownsville, Texas.
"Burglars hit Bob’s Coney Island hot dog stand again, this time for a dollar in change." Brownsville Herald Newspaper Archives June 22, 1979 Page 2
Recently, new information surfaced when this image was posted on the Vintage Brownsville, Texas and History Facebook page about "Bob," the original owner of the hotdog stand. According to U.S. Army Sergeant Alfredo Zamora, Bob Cohen was from New York city who left after his ex-wife divorced him and took him to the cleaners. Zamora worked at the hotdog stand during the summers of 76-78 to earn enough money to pay for his school clothes. By this time Cohen had been established on the corner of E Adams and 13th St for a bit more than a decade and was a heavy chain smoker probably in his 60's as Alfredo can recall.
The two met because they were neighbors living on the outskirts of town on Zena Dr and 5th Avenue (off E 14th a.k.a. South Padre Island Hwy).
Cohen embraced south Texas culture and frequented his favorite places across the border in Matamoros. Cohen's nickname for Zamora was "Little Chingaso" (which roughly translates to "little slugger') for his ornery disposition. Most interestingly is how Bob Cohen decided to land in Brownsville, Texas after leaving New York to start a new life. As Mr Zamora tells it:
"I asked him once how he came to Brownsville. He said 'I opened up a map of the USA, closed my eyes and pointed to one place and that place was Brownsville!' He [Cohen] loved the people down here."
c2004 The stand on E 14th between E Washington and Adams, a block away from the corner where it was Bob's Coney Island
Revised March 3, 2021 -- originally posted Sep 14, 2015
Passed through there not to long ago, and the little stand has been repainted and touched up. Wonder if they're selling it, or ready to reopen it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting hypothesis. It appears the owners of the lot also rent space to the li'l A-MEX business on the corner and very well might have found someone who is interested in opening it. Another reason might be to simply give it a touch-up -- perhaps the city persuaded them to take that initiative. The small structure has sure endured the years.
Delete311- You'll know by May what it will be reopened as
DeleteThanks, for the update!
DeleteBeen wanting to ask you if any trains ran by Fort Brown, or if you have any info. on a piece of rail sticking out of Taylor Ave in-between the back of Jacob Brown, and The Chamber Of Commerce? It is also visible on Google Street View if you wanna see it without making the trip. It is in-between the back entrance of Jacob Brown, and a tree.
That rail you mention may or may not have been a piece leftover from the time the 1877 Baldwin locomotive train sat by the Chamber of Commerce. I'd have to make a thorough search of old maps to study that which I ain't going to do LOL When you say railroad tracks through Ft Brown there might have been but as I stated, I do not know at this time. However, when the Ft Brown property was turned over to the city after the fort closed and later, Brownsville Compress leased the land for it's vast cotton plant and warehousing, there were definitely railroad tracks to haul all that cotton away. My aunt Francis "Frankie" Echeverria lived right in front of the tracks off E Jackson St between E 22nd & 23rd. Those rails were removed in the early 1990s and land was absorbed by property owners fronting that railroad way.
DeleteHello everyone. I'm so excited to announce that this place will be reopening soon. Many permits needed but with God in front this place will soon be open. Our goal is to serve our community some great grilled hot dogs. We look forward to announce this soon. Any media that would like further info contact Rebecca Rodriguez & Marita at 956-404-3748. Thank you
Delete... on the property that was acquired by the college, it is a parking lot next to small "Book Bee" building
ReplyDeleteAny information needed for what is upcoming at what used to be the Coney Island get with me at 956-404-3748. I am definitely excited and look forward to making great memories.
ReplyDelete