Hot dog chain en route to W. Phila.

Papaya King hot dogs are so good that Regis Philbin himself makes it a point to grab a few each month.

And, according to top University real estate official John Greenwood, Penn students will soon be able to enjoy the famous New York hot dogs -- just like Philbin.

The New York-based food chain Papaya King -- which presently boasts three Manhattan restaurants -- is currently in negotiations to open a store at 216 S. 40th Street, the former location of the Camera Shop, Greenwood said last week.

Peter Poulos, president of Papaya King Corporation, said that the New York dining establishment boasts award-winning hot dogs and fruit juices.

"It's a very tasty, quality product," Poulos said. "We feel quite proud."

Papaya King, considered by many a New York attraction, draws tourists from throughout the country to sample its offerings, Poulos said. This will be the company's first site outside of the New York area.

Poulos said that the company looked to Penn because it wanted to expand to somewhere near New York and wanted to go to a university.

"A nice offer came up, and we said why not," he said.

The business -- whose hot dogs have attracted customers for 69 years -- has been featured on Seinfeld, the movie Crossing Delancey, and New York Magazine. The Papaya King hot dog recipe, which Poulos said was a franchise exclusive, recently received the "Best Frankfurters in the United States" award by the Food Network.

And, Poulos said, even Julia Child herself approved of Papaya King dogs.

"We have a picture of us shaking her hand," he added.

"We're a New York landmark," he continued. "A lot of customers call from throughout the country."

Although the lease with Papaya King is still being negotiated between the store's lawyers and the University, Greenwood said last week that he was "highly confident" that the negotiations would go smooth and the restaurant would open.

"It's going to be a really terrific addition for 40th Street," he said. "Students from New York city are likely to know them."

Poulos added that he thought the store would be ready for business about three months after the lease is signed, something he also anticipated would happen soon. Greenwood said he hoped that the store might be open when students return for the fall semester in September.

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