Jimmies of Savin Rock

In 1925, by the side of an unpaved road, a modest little stand opened for business. It was the brainchild of one Jimmie Gagliardi and his family, who had invested their life savings in hopes of enticing pleasure-seeking Savin Rock goers to try their invention- the split hotdog. A sign on the stand said "Moxie". "Moxie" was what it took to open another food stand at Savin Rock, a pleasure-center already half-century old that featured more that it share of well-established restaurants, snack bars and other eateries.

The stand opened, nonetheless, and the word spread. Before he knew it, Jimmie had outgrown the stand, as gourmets and gourmands lined up six deep to sample his specialties.

Sons Sal and Johnny and sister Carrie contributed much to the early success of Jimmies, and before they knew it, the stand was being expanded again and again.

Soon all of West Haven, the New Haven, then all of Connecticut were split hotdog fanatics. People came from everywhere to bite into one of Jimmies finest.

Many foreign visitors, including the wealthy, the famous, and the mighty, have made it a point to visit Jimmies when in the West Haven area. And customers from all over the have introduced themselves here and told the family that they've heard much about Jimmies famous split hotdog.

From the little HOT DOG stand, Jimmies has grown into a completely new and modern restaurant, opening just a year short of a half-century from its first beginning.

We welcome you to the new Jimmies and hope you will enjoy your visit and return again and again. We promise to keep the best of our "old” Jimmies, and serve our friends the specialties they've come to know and love, in the most comfortable and beautiful surroundings form many, many years to come.