Gray's Papaya

Gray's Papaya is marked by bright, high-contrast signage on the corner of West 72nd Street and Broadway. It is a long-standing New York City hot dog stand, known for its griddled all-beef franks and frothy tropical fruit drinks. Founded in nineteen seventy-three by Nicholas Gray, a former partner of the nearby Papaya King, the shop emerged as a destination for quick, inexpensive meals. The storefront remains a neighborhood staple, drawing lines of locals and visitors alike for a simple menu that has persisted through decades of city change.