“It is with deep gratitude and heavy hearts that we announce the upcoming closure of Baba’s Original New York System,” the company wrote. “For the past 9 years it has been our greatest honor to share meals, memories, and traditions with you. This decision was not made lightly, but it comes with immense appreciation for the unwavering support you have shown us throughout the years.”
Hot wieners (or weiners as some, including Baba’s, spell it) are one of Rhode Island’s signature dishes. They are veal, pork, and beef sausages slathered in mustard, covered in a special meat sauce, and topped off with chopped onions and celery salt.
Ordering one of these in a steamed bun with all the fixings is called “all the way.” Outsiders who don’t know any better might call it a hot dog, or even ask for ketchup. They’ll be quickly corrected.
Baba’s isn’t the only spot for hot wieners, but they claim to have been the first to sell them in Rhode Island. Some Rhode Islanders swear by Olneyville New York System, which was opened in 1946 by the same family that operates it today and was named an “America’s Classic” by the James Beard Foundation in 2014.
Smith Hill’s Original New York System was founded in 1927 by Augustus Pappas, a Greek immigrant who moved to Rhode Island from New York. quick forward to 1970, and his grandson Gus Pappas took over the business. Around 2016, the restaurant closed. That’s when Toprak decided to purchase it, and added “Baba’s” onto the name.
In 2024, Toprak told the Globe that Baba’s was losing about $10,000 to $15,000 per month, and inventory costs were rising rapidly.
“I give it about six months — maybe more, maybe less — before I need to sit down and have a conversation with my family about what comes next,” he said at the time.
The establishment is historic and nostalgic for many locals.
Like Baba’s, other hot wiener joints have also struggled to stay afloat: Weiner Genie in Lincoln, a family business that opened in 1976, closed last year after 47 years in business after years of struggling to maintain staff. Olneyville New York System sold earlier this year to Heritage Restaurant Group, a restaurant group based in Newport that has been rapidly expanding.
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.
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