Franks Diner History 101

In 1926, there was some real excitement in downtown Kenosha when six horses pulled Franks Diner to the spot where it stands today. The structure was built by the Jerry O'Mahoney company in New Jersey and shipped to Kenosha on a railroad flat car. Anthony Franks, who first learned of the unique restaurant opportunity through a magazine article, paid $7,500 plus $325 in shipping charges to launch his business. He added a dining room in 1935 and a larger kitchen in the mid 1940s. The Franks family operated Franks Diner until 2001. It is now owned and operated by Lynn Groleau and Chris Schwartz.

Throughout the decades, Franks Diner has hosted many celebrities, including The Three Stooges, Lawrence Welk, Bela Lugosi, Duke Ellington and Liberace. Recent superstar sightings include Food Network host Guy Fieri; actor Mark Ruffalo; Chicago news anchor Ron Magers; New York news anchor Lonnie Quinn; fiber artist Shari Urquhart; author Michael Schumacher; a rude member of The Monkees (rhymes with “dork”); and, an unconfirmed sighting of the Empire Carpet Guy.

Franks Diner has been featured in the New York Times, on the Food Network and in numerous travel and historical publications.