History of Fran’s Restaurant on College Street

Fran’s restaurant on College Street is the type of eatery that is found in many cities throughout the world. They are not necessarily known as famous gourmet destinations, but rather as places where people seek good food at modest prices. For several decades, Fran’s on College Street is where people grabbed a burger or sandwich with fries prior to a Leaf’s game at the Gardens, or enjoyed a coffee and slice of pie after a hockey game. Late-night inhabitants of the city visited the restaurant after imbibing generously in the bars and pubs on the Yonge-Street strip, in the days when it was Toronto’s entertainment centre. Women often met at Fran’s after shopping at Eaton’s College Street, across the road from the restaurant.

The Eaton’s College Street store is gone, the entertainment district has relocated, and the Leaf’s have departed from the Gardens. However, Fran’s still serves food to the breakfast, lunch and dinner crowds, and remains a destination for those who inhabit Yonge Street during the late-evening and early-morning hours.  

My earliest recollections of Fran’s are from the year 1957, when I worked at the British American Oil Company on the northwest corner of Bay and College. Each workday morning, I journeyed south on the Yonge Subway to the College Station. At that time, the subway had been in service for only three years. Walking west on College Street, I visited Fran’s to purchase two take-out coffees, one for a fellow worker and the other for myself. Visiting Fran’s was a pleasurable morning ritual.

In October of 2016, I revisited the restaurant to relive a few fond memories. On this occasion, the coffee and the clubhouse sandwich with fries, were just as good as ever. Although the dining room had retained its family-style atmosphere, major changes were visible. A street patio and open rooftop deck had been added. Thus, although the eatery had changed, it had also remained the same. Fran’s is still a vital part of the city’s restaurant scene for comfort food.

Fran’s Restaurants were opened by Francis (Fran) Deck, who relocated from Buffalo to Toronto in 1940. His brother Greg remained in Buffalo and managed his own chain of eateries. Fran brought  his experience from Buffalo to Toronto, and opened a restaurant that offered good food and low prices, available 24 hours a day. Along with his wife, Ellen Jane, Fran’s first restaurant was at 21 St. Clair Avenue West, a short distance west of Yonge Street. Containing only 10 seats, it was a small diner that specialized in hamburgers, steaks and wheat cakes. However, it soon became well known for its chili, rice pudding and apple pie. Late-night bottomless cups of coffee and over-sized breakfasts also became highly popular. The famous pianist, Glenn Gould was a regular customer at Fran’s on St. Clair, as he lived nearby.

Fran was reputed to have been the first to use the term “banquet burger,” which was a burger served with bacon and cheese. The term is now employed widely in restaurants throughout North America. He also created his own brand of coffee, which was sold in his establishments.

In 1945, Fran opened another site at 2275 Yonge Street, near Eglinton, another at 1386 Bathurst Street south of Vaughan Road, and the location on College Street near Yonge in 1950. Others were opened in the years ahead, including one in Hamilton and another in Barrie. The head office of the company was on Mt. Pleasant Road, north of Merton Street.

Fran Deck died in an automobile accident in Arizona in 1976. The business was sold to investors, but Joon Kim purchased the College Street site in 1997. The St. Clair and Yonge Street sites have now closed, but the business on College Street remains. In 2004, a Fran’s was opened on the northwest corner of Shuter and Victoria Streets. Fran’s had a booth in the Food Building at the CNE in 2014, when it offered deep-fried rice pudding.

On May 14, 2012, Leonard Cohen was awarded the Glenn Gould Prize in a gala concert in Massey Hall. Afterward, Cohen topped off the evening with a visit to Fran’s.

The source for much of the information for this post was derived from a display in a glass showcase in the entranceway of the College Street restaurant. Other sources were www.timeoout.com, and torontothenandnow.blogspot.com

                               A Fran’s menu from earlier years.

The camera is pointed west on College Street in 1981, from near the intersection at Yonge Street. The canopy of Fran’s Restaurant is visible in the distance, on the north side of College Street. Toronto Archives, F1526, File 0071, item 0065.

View looking east along College Street toward Yonge Street on May 31, 1981, Fran’s Restaurant is on the left-hand (north) side of the street. Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 0071, Item 0073.

View of Fran’s in October 2016, with rooftop area and a cafe on the sidewalk level.

               The neon sign on Fran’s, photo taken in October, 2016.

               Fran’s dining room on College Street in 2016.

                   Sketch of Fran’s on its 50th anniversary in 1990.

To view the Home Page for this blog: https://tayloronhistory.com/

For more information about the topics explored on this blog:

https://tayloronhistory.com/2016/03/02/tayloronhistory-comcheck-it-out/

Books by the Blog’s Author

“Toronto’s Theatres and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen,” explores 50 of Toronto’s old theatres and contains over 80 archival photographs of the facades, marquees and interiors of the theatres. It relates anecdotes and stories by the author and others who experienced these grand old movie houses.  

   To place an order for this book, published by History Press:

https://www.historypress.net/catalogue/bookstore/books/Toronto-Theatres-and-the-Golden-Age-of-the-Silver-Screen/9781626194502 .

Book also available in most book stores such as Chapter/Indigo, the Bell Lightbox and AGO Book Shop. It can also be ordered by phoning University of Toronto Press, Distribution: 416-667-7791 (ISBN 978.1.62619.450.2)

Another book on theatres, published by Dundurn Press, is entitled, “Toronto’s Movie Theatres of Yesteryear—Brought Back to Thrill You Again.” It explores 81 theatres and contains over 125 archival photographs, with interesting anecdotes about these grand old theatres and their fascinating histories. Note: an article on this book was published in Toronto Life Magazine, October 2016 issue.

For a link to the article published by |Toronto Life Magazine: torontolife.com/…/photos-old-cinemas-doug–taylor–toronto-local-movie-theatres-of-y…

The book is available at local book stores throughout Toronto or for a link to order this book: https://www.dundurn.com/books/Torontos-Local-Movie-Theatres-Yesteryear

Another publication, “Toronto Then and Now,” published by Pavilion Press (London, England) explores 75 of the city’s heritage sites. It contains archival and modern photos that allow readers to compare scenes and discover how they have changed over the decades. Note: a review of this book was published in Spacing Magazine, October 2016. For a link to this review:

spacing.ca/toronto/2016/09/02/reading-list-toronto-then-and-now/

For further information on ordering this book, follow the link to Amazon.com  here  or contact the publisher directly by the link below:

http://www.ipgbook.com/toronto–then-and-now—products-9781910904077.php?page_id=21