Many know that in the United States, people love fast food and fried food. One of the favorite dishes of Americans is Fletcher’s corny dogs. They have gained popularity not only because of their taste but also because they are associated with one of the country’s biggest festivals, the State Fair of Texas. Since the event takes place annually at Fair Park, Fletcher’s corny dogs are considered a signature dish of Dallas. Find out more at i-dallas.
The story of brothers Neil and Carl Fletcher
For many years, brothers Neil and Carl Fletcher were comedians who performed in a show called The Drunkard. In 1938, they decided to change professions and try something different together. At that moment, acquaintances offered Carl to manage one of the food stands at Fair Park. He immediately agreed and also convinced his brother to start their own business. The Fletchers decided to seize the opportunity and offer visitors to the fair a new kind of treat.
The Fletcher brothers found a local baker who sold unusual hot dogs. His products were unique because he baked sausages in a corn flour batter and shaped them like corn cobs. The hot dogs turned out incredibly tasty, but the process of making them took a lot of time. Experimenting with the recipe, Neil and Carl decided to try frying them in oil instead of baking. It became clear that the hot dogs were cooked much faster and tasted better.
The new corn dogs first appeared at the State Fair of Texas in 1942. At that time, the cost of one treat was 15 cents. Since they were not well-known, there were few people who wanted to try them. The Fletcher brothers then decided to improve their product. They put the hot dogs on sticks, cut them in half and offered them for free. The residents of Dallas and the city’s guests really liked the new dish after trying it. After a while, people lined up at the Fletchers kiosk.
For the next 12 years, Neil and Carl tried to improve the recipe for the hot dogs, which began to be called Fletcher’s Corny Dogs. Initially, they worked on the dough but eventually left it unchanged. It is said that the secret of the legendary corn dogs lies in the method of kneading the dough and the water temperature. However, nobody knows the whole truth except, of course, the Fletcher family.
The Fletcher family tradition
In 1988, after the death of Neil Fletcher’s older brother, part of the business was passed on to his sons. They managed to expand the range of traditional corn dogs. Thus, cheese, vegan and many other types of corn dogs appeared on the menu.
Since 2017, the company has been owned by the wife, children and grandchildren of one of Neil Fletcher’s sons. Other relatives also contribute to the development of the family business, but they perform additional tasks.
The cancellation of the State Fair of Texas in 2020 was the biggest obstacle for the Fletchers. The business owners had to quickly come up with an alternative way to prevent a drop in sales. Considering the circumstances at that time, a decision was made to introduce the option for online ordering. At first, only large companies used this innovation when they gathered for some kind of holiday. However, later, ordinary families also began placing orders when they wanted to have something tasty for dinner. Within a few months, the demand for Fletcher’s corny dog deliveries had grown so much that the company’s income remained the same as during the Texas Fair.