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| Steve Vasil (right) with son Scott. |
Steve Vasil, who operated the Famous Lunch at 111 Congress Street in Troy for more than a half-century, has died at the age of 88.
Vasil, a Greek immigrant known for serving his miniature hot dogs with meat sauce, owned the business with his brother, Nicholas, and served customers from 1955 until he retired in 2006. He died on Friday at the Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home.
The Famous Lunch began in 1932 under the name Quick Lunch. The brothers changed the name to Famous Lunch after a brief brush with fame in 1958 when a local Marine posted at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow ordered a round of hot dogs to be sent there to mark the American ambassador's birthday.
Vasil delighted in posting online other brushes with fame -- comedian Jay Leno ordering 250 minidogs, a mention in the newspaper USA Today, and numerous mentions in various national publications among them.
Vasil is survived by his wife, Christina, daughter Paula, son Scott, and grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and godchildren. His funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in Troy. Burial will follow at the Elmwood Hill Cemetery on Belle Avenue, Troy.
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