It’s been more than a year since the Rivard Report broke the news that Austin-based gourmet hot dog restaurant, bar, and live music venue, Frank, had plans to open in Southtown in Spring 2015. But because the historic former church/music venue on South Alamo Street remains unopened and November – and October for that matter – are decidedly not spring months, I called co-owner Daniel Northcutt for a status update.
“We had to handle some curveballs,” Northcutt said. He was obviously in the middle of something when he answered my call, but his voice was the same, mellow-yet-stoked tone it was when I spoke with him last year. They’re planning on opening up December or January – “ish.”
(Read more: Frank Finds a Home in Southtown Church)
“We wanted to get it right. I’m a methodical dude,” he said. “All the heavy lifting is done, now we’re (working on) some cosmetics. … We’re picky.”
He declined to say what “curveballs” were thrown at him and fellow owner Geoff Peveto, but whatever they were, they will not stop Frank from opening at 1150 S. Alamo St. in the King William Historic District.
In the meantime, Frank will be a vendor at the upcoming Untapped Festival at the Lone Star Brewery this Saturday, Nov. 21.
“(The festival) is a way to get in the mix of San Antonio’s (music and beer) scene,” he said. “We’re going to sling sausage and party.”
To open Frank’s second location, Northcutt has moved his family to the San Antonio area from Austin to be more hands-on with the business and neighborhood. For now, they’re in Terrell Hills, but they’re looking to buy something in or closer to Southtown.
A group of San Antonio and Austin investors purchased the church and formed an limited liability company, which is managed by Greg Porter. Porter lives and typically invests in Austin but he saw great potential in the former Alamo Methodist Church that was built in 1912.
“Frank is a perfect fit (for Southtown),” Porter told the Rivard Report in October 2014. He’s leasing the space to the restaurant/concert venue. “A casual, affordable restaurant is really ideal – it’s accessible to anybody (and) it continues the spirit of what some of the previous tenants were doing.”
After a previous music venue ran its course, San Antone Cafe and Concerts opened in 2008 as Casbeers at the Church but it closed in May 2011 due to the then-owners’ medical issues. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, hasn’t been a church since 1968.
*Top image: The future location of Frank located on South Alamo Street. Photo by Scott Ball.
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Hot dogs are an incentive ! After decades of deferred maintenance there is suddenly a flurry of activity on parts of the 1200 block of South Alamo !
As an area resident and vegetarian I’ve been eagerly awaiting Frank’s arrival and am happy the menu offers a selection of yummy foods us vegheads can eat.
Love that he’s rocking his ship’s ballcap (FFG 33 USS Jarrett) and wearing jeans and a chambray shirt looking very much like a sailor! Looking forward to December or January-ish.