damnlines.comdamnlines.comThe last surviving location of a 50-year-old NYC hot dog chain, serving cheap franks-and-tropical-drink combos at the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street.
No camera at Gray's Papaya yet — these are the closest live lines we cover.
damnlines hasn't pointed a lens at Gray's Papaya yet. The most-wanted lines get a camera first.
Wikipedia describes the 72nd Street stand as a draw that "attracts tourists from around the world," noting that "the line can be out the door" even though service moves quickly — a reflection of Gray's Papaya's status as the sole surviving outpost of what was once a 50-year-old, multi-location chain.
The guide site Sideways.nyc puts it more bluntly: "No matter the hour, there always seems to be a line" at the counter. The same source notes the stand was long known for selling "cheap hotdogs 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year," but that current listed hours show it closing around 10–11 p.m. depending on the day — a shift from its round-the-clock past.
There's no way to skip the queue by booking ahead: Gray's Papaya is walk-up, order-at-the-counter service, and neither Wikipedia nor the venue's own site (grayspapaya.nyc) references reservations, priority ordering, or a wait list. The upside, per Wikipedia, is that despite the line, "it moves fast."
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: None. Gray's Papaya is walk-up counter service; no booking system is referenced on the venue's official site or in Wikipedia's account of the business.
Walk-ins: Yes, order-at-the-counter only. Per Wikipedia, the line "can be out the door" at times, but it moves fast, so walk-in customers are typically served within minutes.
Sideways.nyc describes Gray's Papaya as historically known for selling "cheap hotdogs 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year," but notes current listed hours show a close around 10–11 p.m. depending on the day.
Wikipedia reports that the line at the 72nd Street stand "can be out the door," though it "moves fast" since it's a quick, walk-up hot dog counter. Sideways.nyc adds that "no matter the hour, there always seems to be a line," suggesting queues aren't limited to one peak period.
No. Gray's Papaya is a walk-up hot dog stand with no booking system referenced on its official site (grayspapaya.nyc) or in Wikipedia's account of the business.
Yes — it's order-at-the-counter only. Per Wikipedia, the line "can be out the door" at times, but it moves quickly, so most walk-in customers are served within minutes.
Sideways.nyc notes Gray's Papaya was historically known for selling "cheap hotdogs 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year," but reports current listed hours closing around 10–11 p.m. depending on the day, indicating the round-the-clock schedule has changed.
Wikipedia attributes the draw to the stand being the last surviving location of a 50-year-old NYC hot dog chain that "attracts tourists from around the world," while Sideways.nyc describes a line that persists "no matter the hour."
Sources: Wikipedia · Sideways.nyc · Gray's Papaya official site
