BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A food truck turned restaurant owned by twin brothers from the Town of Tonawanda is the grand prize winner of a nationwide small business promotion.
Barclays US Consumer Bank announced Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs, located at 707 Kenmore Avenue in Buffalo, as the winner of its “Small Business Big Wins” promotion which celebrates small businesses that best inspire others to succeed in the challenging COVID-19 business climate.
Frank and Paul Tripi, who started the company in 2013, beat out thousands of small businesses across the nation to become a finalist. They topped nine other finalists to receive the grand prize of $50,000.
The winner was selected following a public voting period that took place from December 4 to December 14.
“Things like this never happen to my brother [Frank] and I,” said Paul Tripi, co-owner of Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs. “We’re blessed to have had the opportunity, and we’re thankful for everyone involved.”
When the pandemic forced restaurants to close this past spring, the Frank team packed and delivered more than 13,000 meals to frontline workers from Buffalo to Rochester.
“The small business community has suffered so many devastating blows over the course of 2020,” said Nancy Parnella, Director of US Business Cards at Barclays. “At Barclays, we understand that small businesses are the economic and cultural heart of their communities. This contest is our way of helping those businesses and in turn each of their respective communities.”
