After nearly 17 of ownership, Julie Rittmiller and Kevin Ervin, are selling the iconic Kenosha institution FRANKS DINER. The transfer of ownership to Pablo and Diana Escribano will be official at the end of July.
“Yes, the rumors are true. After nearly 17 wonderful years of owning Franks, Julie, and I are happy to announce that we will be selling our home, away from home on July 31st,” shares Kevin Ervin. “But fear not, America’s oldest continuously running diner, will be in great hands. Long time employee Pablo Escribano, and his lovely wife Diana, will become the new owners. Believe me when I say, they love Franks as much as we do. We wouldn’t have sold to him, if we didn’t believe that he had the right attitude, energy, and personality to keep this 100-year-old institution going strong.”
Famous for their homemade specials and enormous Garbage Plates, Franks is celebrating 100 years of business this year. This anniversary makes the train car diner it the longest continuously operating diner in America. Brought to Kenosha in 1925, and opened a year later by Anthony Franks, Franks has served delicious scratch made food to generations of Kenoshans and visitors alike.
The Escribano’s will be the sixth overall owners, and the third non-Franks family members to run the diner.
Kevin continues to share, “Before you ask…No! Nothing is going to change! It’s time to move on and pass the torch to the next generation. We’ve been at this a long time, and we’re getting a little tired. Pablo has been interested in the diner for about three years now, so it’s the perfect time to make the change over”.
“Julie, and I, have always considered ourselves the stewards of the diner. Keeping it going until the next person could take it and continue the legacy of Franks. Pablo and Diana are the perfect couple to hand over that mantel to.”
Learn more about the new owners in this article: https://bit.ly/vkFranksDinerNewOwners
Franks Diner was born in 1926, built by the Jerry O’Mahony Company — one of America’s original diner manufacturers out of Bayonne, New Jersey. After a short ride by rail and a very long haul by six horses, this lunch-car-style diner rolled into downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin. Locals watched in amazement as the original structure was hauled into place at 508 58th Street, where it still stands today. Franks Diner has been featured nationally as one of the best diners to visit and has been featured on dozens of television and radio programs.