Here is an oral history of the early founders of the Coney Islands of Detroit | Eater Detroit
"Born out of the family’s ties to the coney supply business, National Coney Island was founded by James Giftos in 1965 at Macomb Mall after his involvement with the National Chili Company; the chain and its president, Tom Giftos, trace their roots to an earlier chili company founded around 1930, and National is credited with inventing the 'Hani' sandwich in the 1980s (an item so tied to the brand that a visiting cousin learned 'Hani' as one of his first English words)." - Serena Maria Daniels
