Eat the diner way! Eat at Franks Diner! We sit down and grill Kevin Ervin, the owner of Franks Diner with this exclusive Q&A.
Q. How did you get into the restaurant business?
A. By chance. The previous owners of Franks Diner, wanted to sell, My wife and I were friends with them. Julie (Rittmiller, my wife) and I loved the place and also knew we were looking for a change in our careers. They asked if we’d be interested in buying the joint and after some back and forth we made a deal and the rest as they say, is history.
Q. What is your favorite part about owning and running a restaurant?
A. The creativity, from coming up with new menu items, to the little creative touches that Franks is known for. That, and joking with customers.
Q. What is the most challenging part of your job?
A. HA! The whole year of 2020 was a challenge. Covid, riots, killer wasps.
Q. With the challenges of the current economy, what steps have you taken to continue to drive businesses forward?
A. 2020 was filled with constant change and adaptation for us… Switch to take-out only, then back with limited seating. Coming up with ways to increase efficiency, to serve to-go orders better, and increasing our social media presence. These were ways we came up with in order to combat everything 2020 threw at us.
Q. How often do you eat at your own restaurant? And what’s your favorite dish?
A. 5 days a week! Chorizo garbage plate!!!
Q. What makes your restaurant stand out from others, and makes it particularly unique?
A. Well our diner is a very unique place. There aren’t many like it in the world. It’s the oldest diner of its type in existence, so people come to see it, but then are impressed by our food. 90% of what we make is scratch made.
Q. What advice would you give other entrepreneurs that are starting out in the restaurant business?
A. Have a good concept, have a good business plan and prepare to change and adapt.
Q. What is your restaurants signature menu item?
A. The garbage plates, which are a base of hash browns, green peppers & onions, you choose 2 or 5 eggs, choose your meats from sausage, bacon, spam, corn beef hash, ham, or chorizo, add cheese – American, Swiss, cheddar, mozzarella, hot pepper jack or feta. We mix it all together and add jalapeños if you like. We also serve it with our homemade bread, which is world famous.
Q. Anything new and notable you’d like us to share with us?
A. Once covid settles down we hope to host a number of special diners, with price-fixed menu and limited seating.
Franks Diner is located at
508 58th Street in Downtown Kenosha
262-657-1017
Visit their website at www.FranksdinerKenosha.com
Like them on Facebook at HERE
Follow them on Instagram @franksdinerkenosha
Interview by Donny Stancato
Photo Credit – Franks Diners Facebook page and Donny Stancato
