BRIEF HISTORY
(Downtown Spokane Franks Diner)
During the golden days of railroading, Barney-Smith and Pullman vied for supremacy of the elegant rail car business. In 1906, Barney Smith manufactured this car as an “observation car”. It remained unsold until 1909, when it was purchased by the Northern Pacific Railroad and remodeled to suit their needs as a private car for the president of the railroad.
Car NO. 1787 (this car) served as a presidential car until it was replaced in 1931.
Stranded in Seattle at the height of the depression, NO 1787 found a new home. Franks Knight, the brother and sometime partner of jack Knight of Spokane, bought the presidential car and converted it into a diner car in 1931.
With over 80 years of dining elegance we are proud you have chosen to share your day with us.
(North Spokane, Newport Highway)
Visit this beautiful 1913 Laketon NO 4216 – With all the presidential elegance of its older brother NO 1787…
AWARDS…
Franks Diner has won BEST DINER and BEST BREAKFAST 14 out of the past 15 years by The Inlander’s People Choice Awards.
Franks Diner has also won Coeur D Alene Living Magazines ‘BEST BREAKFAST AWARD” for years.
We have also won Best Breakfast and Best Diner in KREMs “BEST OF” each year since it was founded.
Gage Lee shown above won the local nomination for the highly desirable ”Silver Spoon Award” by The Washington State Tourism Association in 2008. She then went on and won The National Silver Spoon Award for best service in Atlanta, Georgia. Gage has been with our downtown location since we opened in 1989. Standing next to Gage is James. He has been one of Franks long time opening Chef’s and is part of our culinary team that has won numerous Best Breakfast & Best Diner Awards for Franks Diner.
Ken Belisle, Franks Managing Partner and his wife Christy and youngest daughter Ava are seen above.
Business partners Larry and Jan Brown also live, work and play right here in Spokane, Washington.
All of us at Franks thank you for visiting our web site and we hope to see you and your family soon.
This site is still under construction