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Iconic Fran’s Country Grill Closes, Sold To New Owner
October 3, 2015
The iconic Fran’s Country Grill in Molino closed for good Friday night after a farewell and retirement party. The restaurant has been sold to nearby competitor Jimmy’s Grill and will reopen in a few weeks under that name.
“There is only one Ms. Fran,” said Roy Wiggins, who has been eating at Fran’s for about 30 years. Friday night — as he enjoyed his final Fran’s meal of fried catfish, hush puppies and baked beans — he reflected on all the things the landmark restaurant and owner Fran Hampton has stood for over the years.
“She helped may people who otherwise would have gone to bed without food; she gave away many free meals,” Wiggins said. “She was just an icon in the community.”
New owner Jimmy Carter, of Jimmy’s Grill fame, said he will be open in the former’s Fran’s location in about three weeks — after a little remodeling.
“We are going to keep a few of her things on the menu,” he said. “She’s agreed to share a few of her recipes.”
“And we are looking forward to the move,” Carter said.
Pictured top: A farewell dinner was held Friday night as Fran’s Country Diner in Molino closed for the very last night. Pictured inset: “The” Fran, owner Fran Hampton, is retiring. (Photos courtesy Roy Wiggins). Pictured below: Fran’s Diner has always been at the center of local and state politics, with candidates like Gov. Rick Scott, Sheriff David Morgan and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam campaigning in recent years. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
34 Responses to “Iconic Fran’s Country Grill Closes, Sold To New Owner”
My first dinner date!!! I’ll always remember this place….great memory!!!
Fran’s corn beef hash is the best in the world, I will certainly miss eating there!
WOW! What a shock! Molino just won’t be the same without Fran’s. Me and the Ashcraft clan will definitely miss your country cooking. Where will I get my lima beans at now???? LOL
Enjoy your retirement Mrs Fran and thank you Deneen for all your service as well. We always looked forward to you being our waitress and like Mrs Fran, you always tried to make everyone feel special and it worked! We will miss you both TERRIBLY!!
Mrs. Fran
My daughter worked for u 15 years ago it was her first jib at the Gonzalez location I also worked for u a few years I am truly happy that u will have the chance to enjoy ur retirement working in ur yard with ur flowers and all of ur farm animals we will greatly miss u in all you’ve done for me and my family with respect and love always!!!!!
Lynn C
Girl, doncha know Barry and I are gonna starve to death……who’s going to make all my carry-outs, sweet tea, onion rings and bread pudding???? Hope the new owner continues the good home cooked veggies and open-faced roast beef sandwiches!! Love and miss you already!
If we had known, kim & I would have been there eating liver & onions and a bowl of beans…we will miss you greatly, but you have earned a rest…stay active, we love you and your liver & onions and country good manners of you & all who work for you….my mother always liked your cooking too, she had her last eat out meal with me at your place before she went to the hospital & on to Heaven.
those jumbo bacon cheeseburgers are great too…
God bless you.
kevin & kim smith
Molino, fl
make sure jimmy gets your receipe book now ya hear…be good now.
jimmys has good food and good service- and keeping some of Frans recipes will help keep her clients. I think he will do well as long is he is able to give the people what they have come to like and expect. I think I am a pretty good cook and the only issue I see is he needs to make changes to his breakfast menu-his lunch and dinners are great- BUT breakfast needs to be improved on to be able to keep frans breakfast crowd. I would love to tell him what needs improving because I want to see him do well..
You and the diner will truly be missed, but no one deserves retirement more than you. You have worked some long hard years. You have helped the community in so many ways. Have so many good memories made when my husband and I
would come up there to eat. He loved you baked ham, and liver and onions. When he became so ill and could no longer eat some things, you tried to prepare something he could eat. When God took him home, you were so good to me and my family, sent food to my home. You will never know what that meant to me. Jimmy’s does have good food, but hope he will keep some of your specialties, like onion rings, your bone in fried chicken, and of course liver and onions. The community has been blessed with you and I pray you have the long blessed retirement you deserve.
Fran, Jennifer and I had no idea that you had sold the restaurant. But if there was ever anyone in the business that deserves to retire, it would be you. We were just coming back through Molino yesterday coming back from Georgia and I told Jennifer that we needed to bring the kids back up. Had we known that yesterday was your last day, we would have stopped then. You have done so much for people that have no idea that you were the one who sent their meal, bought their refrigerator, paid their utility bill etc… I can’t remember how many times you opened the kitchen up to all us deputies so we could eat after a Hurricane or some other Natural Disaster and there was no where else to eat. I still think about the time we caught the two kids that broke in and ended up doing some damage to he store. In lieu of an arrest, you made both of them work up there to work off the damage and the fact that one of them ended up working for you later for a very long time. You should be able to sleep well at night knowing that you’ve done so much for others. We wish you well in your much deserved retirement and hope that you stay in contact with us. We love and thank you very much for all that you have done for us as well as all the others that still to date, have no idea all that you’ve done for them. Mike/Jennifer/Michael Jr/ Raegan. Lyndsie and Jessica Amerson.
Happy retirement Ms Fran gonna miss you & Mrs.Deneen she was the best waitress. I love your liver& onion also. No one could cook it like y’all. I just hope Mr. Jimmy will think about people that watch their diet and will have wheat bread.Think of people that are watching their suger. Have plenty of vegetables to pick from! May Jesus bless you all.
I wish I would have known Fran’s was closing. We loved coming up to eat when we drove up to Molino to feed our horses. My son always got the corn dog and Fran would cut him up some carrots especially for him with a side of ranch. They always knew exactly what he wanted when we walked in. You will be sorely missed by Jacob and Rosie, Miss Fran! Congrats on your much deserved retirement!
We have been eating at Fran’s ever since she opened. Mrs. Fran is like part of our family. When my daughter Ciara was a little girl , her & her Daddy would go eat at Fran’s and her favorite meal was Liver , mashed potatoes , and turnip greens. Kim used to bring people to their table and say look what that baby is eating. That was what she always ordered. Mrs. Fran’s fried chicken on Wednesday was the best.
She has worked long and hard for this well deserved retirement. We wish you the best and you will be missed Mrs. Fran.
Sorry to hear this, as my sister and I love to eat there. Good old down home country cooking. But, I understand her wanting to retire. Enjoy your retirement. You’ve earned it.
Love Jimmy’s food…best catfish around. You never know about the service though. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes you place your order and don’t see the waitress again until she’s ready for her tip. Dined there the other day, just didn’t feel welcome.
My son and I went there every payday as a treat. One of my fav memories of him as a child. Thank you for the awesome food
Ms. Fran you were like a second mother to me this place will be missed so much. Congratulations on your well deserved retirement.
MS FRAN. YOU WERE A PART OF MY CHILDHOOD. I REMEMBER BEING WORKED UP FROM RIDING MY BIKE AND YOU WERE ALWAYS SWEET AND GAVE US A FREE DRINK. I CANT EVEN COUNT THE TIMES I SPENT THERE WITH MY GRANDFATHER, (MR ABBOTT) DRINKING COFFEE. YOU WILL DEFINATELY BE MISSED AND ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CHILDHOOD MEMORY AND INSPIRATION IN MY LIFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE MOLINO AREA.
WITH LOVE
KEVIN ENFINGER
Ms Fran will be missed. My grandchildren just loved Fran’s and loved Ms Lucy also. Only placed they would eat out..Great food and friends!!
Ms Fran… I am sooooo happy that you get to RETIRE, and relax for awhile! I’ve had some good memories at Fran’s over the last 15 yrs or so…God bless you!… BTW, I always say, your liver and onions are the BOMB!!
Well we are so HAPPY for you Fran … Then on another note, we will truly miss you !!! Ive ask numerous times … Fran, when are you going to retire ? You deserve it girl ! Things won’t be the same anymore without your good cooking and of course the best Cole slaw in the country but we all move on and you deserve nothing but the best retirement ever. You’ve worked hard for it ! Thanks for everything !! I love ya bunches !!
Will miss you Ms. Fran. Jimmy, I beg you to please keep “Chicken on the Bone” as a regular item on your new menu. That is so hard to find anywhere nowadays. Love you Ms. Fran. Have a blessed, happy and restful retirement.
End of an era.
Congratulations Ms. Fran on your retirement.
As everyone knows, Mrs. Fran is a special lady. Hopefully she’ll finally be able to relax and enjoy retirement. I wish I had gotten out to Molino more over the past few years. I’m going to miss her.
Ms. Fran. Do a google search for Fran’s Diner….. All those five star reviews are for you & your family. You are leaving a legacy that will never be replaced. You kept us warm, fed, and loved. Thank you for your service to your community. We love you & all the ladies of Fran’s!!! ❤️
Sad to see Fran’s close, and at the same time Glad to see the Location live on under Jimmy’s Grill!!!
14 years in the Molino area and hundreds of visits to Frans. This is a GOOD day. Not a sad day, for Fran has given her time to our area. Have a pleasant retirement. And may God bless you.
So happy for Miss Fran! Congratulations and Happy Retirement!
Sad to see Fran’s close but very happy it is in the completely capable hands of Jimmy Carter who has established himself in Molino with Jimmy’s Grill and the great food he serves, home of the famous Triple Pig! Also very highly rated on Yelp and Urbanspoon. I bid sweet Ms Fran a happy retirement. I also wish nothing but the best for Jimmy and I look forward to more good Jimmy’s Grill food.
I guess its time for her to say down her apron, she’s a sweet lady and will miss going there for all her good food.
Sad to see Fran’s is closing. I was employees at Fran’s Diner back in 2000 along with my daughter. And my daughter is employed there now. Mrs. Fran is a beautiful person and a very thoughtful and kind person. She deserves a wonderful retirement, as she has given so much to the community over the years. So…farewell to a true icon in the community… Mrs. Fran AND her diner! You WILL be missed! May God bless you with a truly blessed retirement!
Fran; You will be missed by the North Escambia County Community. You have maintained your high standards of good country cooking, and your establishment has been the center of many civic meetings and events. I just hope Jimmy’s will be able to maintain the same sense of “community” that prevailed under your ownership. Again, Fran, we miss you
Mrs. Fran will definitely be missed. My family has been eating there since she opened.
Always had great service and if you didn’t she made it right, The food was always delicious and where will I go to get Liver and onions now?
Deneen you will be missed too!
Congratulations to you Mrs. Fran and enjoy your retirement!
Ms Fran will be greatly missed. She had the best hamburgers, no one around could compete with those. Wonderful people working for her that knew our families and were always welcoming to customers.
The community has definitely lost one of the few local businesses in our area with true local ties. The ladies at Fran’s have always made their customers feel like they were coming ‘home’ for dinner. Whether bringing my students for their end of the year celebration, meeting with my colleagues for lunch, or enjoying a family dinner the experience was one of true southern charm. You will be missed.