Nicholas Gray, Founder Of Iconic UWS Gray's Papaya, Dead At 86

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Nicholas Gray, an immigrant from Chile who founded the New York City hot dog institution that is Gray's Papaya, died Friday last week at the age of 86, according to the restaurant.

He died in a Manhattan hospital because of complications from Alzheimer's, reported the New York Times.

"It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of a New York icon and our founder, Nicholas Gray," Gray's Papaya wrote on its Instagram. "An immigrant who opened Gray's in 1973 and the sweetest, funniest, most eccentric boss, father, husband, and brother."

Gray did not start out as a hot dog man.

After growing up in Chile in 1937 and attending school in England and Canada, he first worked in New York City as a Broadway production assistant and stockbroker.

But one day in 1973 when he found himself walking through the city not happy with his Wall Street job, he walked past Papaya King at East 86th Street and Third Avenue, reported the New York Times.

He was struck by the happiness inside the eatery and how the papaya juice-hot dog combination reminded him of Chile, the New York Times added.

Gray quit his job soon after and set up a franchise deal with Papaya King to open a restaurant under the same name at the still standing location at West 72nd Street and Broadway.

After two years of working under the Papaya King umbrella, the franchise contract ran out and Gray chose to go independent and renamed the Upper West Side eatery Gray's Papaya.

Gray's Papaya has been making food and drink ever since from the Upper West Side street corner, becoming especially popular for its wildly affordable 50 cent hot dogs.

The eatery would go on to offer a variety of affordable deals over the decades, including the "Recession Special," which was $1.95 for two hot dogs and a juice.

Over the years, other Gray's Papaya outposts opened across the city, but all besides the original 72nd Street and Broadway location have since closed due to rent increases.

Gray lived the majority of his life on the Upper West Side near the 72nd Street location.

The iconic spot is still run by his family.

"Long live Gray's Papaya," Gray's wife Rachel told the New York Times.