We’re all well aware there are two hot dogs chains with the letters “aspers” in their name. One starts with a “K”, and the other starts with a “C”.
What’s the difference?
We wrote about this back in 2009, and here’s what we discovered.
Caspers opened in 1934, but after a disagreement between family members (possibly between brothers) it split into Kasper’s and Caspers.
Caspers with a “C” currently has 7 locations throughout the Bay Area, and Kasper’s with a “K” has 4.
RELATED STORY: Caspers Hot Dogs Announces Closure Of Walnut Creek Restaurant
With a “K” was the original and single family owned, I think. On Telegraph, in Oakland if I remember correctly. ???
I thought it was on Broadway. The upper part …how you used to have to travel from Claycord area to Oakland or San Francisco before the freeway went . ( yes after going through the Caldecott Tunnel you ended up on Upper Broadway and followed it all the way down to MacArthur where you would turn right and head towards the Bay Bridge. This was the 1960s before that section of the freeway was put in
Casper’s with a “C” opened in 1934. Kasper’s with a ” K” opened in 1929. Not related in any way business wise. However, in the 80’s a Casper offspring married a Kasper offspring. My family knows both families.
Yayyyy. Now, then. Was the Mel’s on Telegraph the original Mels? How about the Doggie Diner on 12th (?) and Broadway?
Thanks for that info? Now, do they eat hotdogs at family gatherings?
I was told meat company executives don’t eat hot dogs. I actually saw an episode of how hot dogs were made a couple weeks ago. Pretty gross although a lot of people commented it made them hungry hehe
@SCHMEE.…My first union job my last year in highschool in the early 70s was at a German meat company in Oakland. Their frankfurters were killer, the butcher’s and employees of the place all took a special run of them home, a company perk. I did before I moved out of my parent’s house and changed jobs but for that year we ate a lot of those premium hot dogs in my family. I know they were the ones that Chris’ Hot Dogs sold on Broadway in Oakland.
Chris & Johns in Oakland was the best!!
Used to go there with my father after the Seals games.
@IGNATZ…..yep and going to Candlestick park. If I was lucky and the moons aligned, a quick stop at Fenton’s on the way home.
Casper’s is night and day difference better.
Been going to the PH one since the 70s.
Went to a Kasper’s once and never went back.
Well, did you hear about the Hamburger who married the Frankfurter? True.. it was a German couple . The man was from Hamburg and the woman from Frankfurt. I went to the wedding and people were all laughing about the fact of their Origins.
Sorry, they’re closing. No one likes to see a business close up. But, IMO Casper’s in Pleasant Hill is better.
The obvious difference is The friendly ghost.I
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The original is Kaspers with a K, the original location was on Telegraph opposite Hoopers Chocolates on the Oakland/Berkeley border. Harry was the original owners son and ran it until that location closed (after he had been robbed one to many times i understand). The building was unique in that it was a wedge shape building. Harry was a great guy, was wonderful in the community, it was a sad day when the closed.
I heard there was a family rift over the business so the business was split in two. Some stores kept the C and some stores getting a K.
If memory serves, the difference is in the hotdog.
Casper’s hotdog is beef and pork
Kasper’s hotdog is all beef
The difference between the 2 is this: IT’S NOT EVEN A CONTEST!
The Casper’s in Pleasant Hill is ALWAYS BUSY! Service is EXCEPTIONAL, and it’s just perfect.
The Kaspers is NEVER BUSY! To this day my dad and I don’t see how the Kaspers stays open. You can drive by it a million times and see maybe 2 or 3 people in there A WEEK!
You could offer me 100 TRILLION dollars to not eat at the Casper’s ever again, but eat at the K one. I’d say NOT A CHANCE!
Casper’s is a winner EVERY TIME!!
Here’s a good Caspers Hot Dog product story. ….. My family is very familiar with the whole Casper’s (with a C).
We have been buying the hot dogs at Safeway for about 5 years now after deciding that we like our own way of preparing the finished product. BUT; the last 4 or 5 packets we got had extra thick “casings” that made the whole experience much less enjoyable. Very thick and harder to chew; and even digest. I sent and email to their website and left a message on their office phone. The President/Owner actually called me and explained why the casings are thicker in the winter months because of how the weather affects the thicknrdd the pork tissues. He was so congenial and enjoyed my stories about my families connections with their stores from way back in the 1940’s. He also sent us some great samples of their products within 5 days 👏 👍