Original Kasper’s, that tiny graffitied building in between Shattuck and Telegraph in Temescal, is soon to make a comeback in its original form. The hot dog shop at 4521 Telegraph Ave. has been around for ages before it closed in 2003, for what then-owner Harry S. Yaglijian intended to be a brief period of kitchen repairs but instead, the shop never opened back up.
In 2021, Yaglijian sold the building to Emil Peinert, a managing partner behind the team that brought Oakland’s Kingfish Pub & Café back to life in 2009. Peinert and his team made a huge effort to preserve Kingfish’s history and keep things as they were.
They intend to do the same with Original Kasper’s, albeit ensuring that the restaurant will be up to modern health and safety codes. Peinert tells Oaklandside that progress is being made on the building, so he anticipates reopening Original Kasper’s by this fall at the latest.
Soon enough, you’ll be able to order Original Kasper’s classic Chicago-style hot dogs and a few new additions in a brand new outdoor seating area. Stay tuned.
