Primanti Bros. Wants Joey Chestnut To Sample Its Sandwiches

PITTSBURGH, PA —Joey Chestnut might not be able to competitively stuff his face with frankfurters on the Fourth of July this year, but a Pittsburgh-based restaurant chain has offered him another dining option.

Primanti Bros. would like Chestnut, the current and longtime Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, to feast upon the restaurant's Almost Famous sandwiches.

Chestnut, 41, has won the hot dog eating competition 16 of the past 17 years. But the Major League Eating organization overseeing the event announced he would not participate this year after shunning Nathan's and cutting a deal with the plant-based company Impossible Foods.

Primanti Bros. CEO Adam Golomb said that Chestnut was put in an impossible situation.

"He's got a vegan beef with the hot dog world," he said.

Golomb said Primanti Bros. would be honored if Chestnut chose to celebrate Independence Day by scarfing down multiple Primanti Bros. sandwiches, on which cheese, french fries and coleslaw are standard. He is confident Chestnut could set the record for the most sandwiches downed at once.

“At this point, I think the most I’ve ever seen anyone eat in one sitting was five," he said. "I feel like Joey’s got that beat.”