Birthplace of the Coney Dog
“Virginia Coney Island’s beginning is very vague. The best we know is that it was started by Peter Lester, later owned by Tannus Dimitri. It was then owned by my uncle Christ Boedgieff followed by my uncle Van Christoff. He had partners Tommy Boedgieff and Tom Ratchford, then Cousin Craig Christoff bought it and so on to the Potters and Mathews… then us.
We claim our heritage back to my grand parents and family since 1914.
The Coney lslands in Jackson started with George Todoroff — the Coney Island godfather himself! He then took on a partner, my grandfather, Atanas. He, among many other immigrants from Macedonia, came over during the 1910s as part of a mass exodus. They came through Ellis Island and were amazed by a food they saw at Coney Island, where German immigrants ate tubular meat on a roll. The term ‘hot dog’ didn’t exist then.
When they came here to Jackson, they were all entrepreneurs — started grocery stores and restaurants — and George opened the very first Jackson Coney Island, which is across the block over here. Then he partnered with my grandfather, his brother-in-law. From that point on, many others from the village got involved. We call them all family members because they came from the same village. The Lazaroffs eventually took over Jackson Coney Island.
My aunt married a man who owned Virginia Coney Island. We don’t know why it’s named Virginia — there’s a gap of about a decade in the story we’re not sure about.
The presence of Coney Islands have been here in Jackson since 1914; over 112 years now.
My uncle Van owned Virginia Coney Island while I was growing up, from the ’60s through the mid-’90s. He sold it to his son Craig, and Craig operated it for a decade or two. About 17 years ago, Craig sold it, and for the first time, no Macedonians owned the Coney Islands. What a sad, sad day for the Macedonian crowd!
Early in 2025, Virginia Coney came up for sale, and my wife and I bought the business. The previous owners were fantastic stewards of Virginia Coney for 17 years.
It’s been eye-opening to see how important this restaurant is to so many people. Before the days of fast food, this was fast food. It was made to be inexpensive, to feed the masses. The train station here brought thousands of people every day, overnight travelers and day travelers. They wanted to walk in, get something quick, and go.
People still come in because the food is fast and inexpensive, but more than that, Coneys feel like home. It fills that gap between eating at home and eating out without being an expensive venture. Then you add the warmth of friends, a place where everybody knows your name and your pictures are on the wall, and it doesn’t get much better than that.
It’s a gathering hall. One of the things that blows me away is how many people eat here regularly. Quite a few every single day. Many every week. Many every month. Some have to sit at the same table every time. This place is important to them and a regular part of their lives.
I look at that as a challenge and a responsibility. We have to make sure we produce what they’re expecting. We have processes to ensure our food tastes exactly like it did 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago, 70 years ago. Some people have moved away from Jackson, and when they come back to visit, their first stop is here. We hear it all the time: ‘We just got off the highway and came straight to Virginia Coney Island.’ With that kind of loyalty, the food better taste just like they’ve been dreaming about for the last six months.
There’s added pressure for my wife and me because of the family legacy. I have a lot of family members watching us. Fortunately, they’re all saying, ‘Fantastic! High five, Teddy!’ But we’re being held accountable. I know this restaurant is going to carry on beyond me. I’m just going to hold it for as long as I can. When you’re in business for this many years, it’s got to keep going.
It’s been an amazing ride. I really couldn’t do it without our staff, including a manager dedicated to keeping the legacy alive, and waitresses and cooks who have been here 10, 20 and 45 years.
Every week I learn more about how this restaurant and Coney Islands in Jackson have impacted so many people in this community. Coney Islands are a part of who we are.
I just want to say thank you to Jackson, to everyone who has supported Virginia Coney Island for so many years.”
—Ted Christoff, Virginia Coney Island 🌭
649 E. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201
Learn more about this and other coney dog locations in Jackson here.
Watch the 2025 episode of Under the Radar Michigan where they visited both Virginia Coney Island and Jackson Coney Island.
