Tomlinson's | Our Story
A Bridgeport legend since the 1930s
Tomlinson's started as a hot dog stand at Seaside Park and grew into one of Bridgeport's most enduring neighborhood restaurants. Ninety-plus years later, the food is still fresh, the service is still fast, and the line still forms.
The original stand
Harry Tomlinson set up a small hot dog stand at Seaside Park in the 1930s. Business was good enough that by the early 1940s he moved to Noble Avenue and Concord Street — right across from the GE factory running three shifts.
How it became The Greeks
After Harry passed in 1947, Greek immigrant Platon Vlamis bought the business and kept the Tomlinson's name. Locals heard the thick Greek accents behind the counter and started calling it The Greeks — a nickname that stuck for generations.
Built on consistency
Lines wrapped around the stand in the rain, in the snow — people came anyway. The reputation was simple: fast service, honest food, and no surprises.
From stand to restaurant
When Platon passed in 1986, his sons Nicholas and Constantinos carried the family business forward. On November 11, 1999, Tomlinson's reopened as a full-service restaurant — same corner, bigger menu, and a new drive-thru — open until midnight every night.