Franks Diner

Franks Diner in Kenosha, Wisconsin is a Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company lunch car diner built in Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1926, the dining car was transported on a railroad flat car to Kenosha. It was then pulled by six horses to the downtown spot, near the shoreline of Lake Michigan, where it stands today. Anthony Franks, who first learned of the restaurant opportunity through a magazine article, paid $7,500 plus $325 in shipping charges to launch Franks Diner. Over the years, there have been few changes in the structural appearance of the Franks Diner. The original lunch car has an open grill and counter with 18 stools. A small dining room, which now contains seven booths, was added in 1935 and a larger kitchen in the mid-1940s. The Franks family operated Franks Diner continuously until 2001 when they sold it to Lynn Groleau, Chris Schwartz and Kris Derwae. Derwae sold her share to Groleau and Schwartz in 2006. In December 2010, Kevin Ervin and Julie Rittmiller purchased the restaurant and said they have no plans for changes in Franks Diner's operations.

Many renovations have been completed on Franks Diner since 2001. The original kitchen, then pantry, was renovated into an additional dining area. The arched wooden ceiling and much woodwork was restored. Removing layers of paint uncovered the original “FRANKS DINER” hand-lettered sign painted on what was the outer side of the original dining car, now facing the inside of the main dining area.