The Franklin Bar Tale Of The Tape
Posted by Foobooz on June 22nd, 2009
Photo via Phoodie.info
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. opens to the public tonight in the former Bar Noir space on 18th Street.
The Story
- Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. was known for being the center for the largest alcohol ring in the country during prohibition.
- Max “Boo Boo” Hoff ran the ring.
- Hoff pushed 10,000 gallons of liquor a day.
The Space
- 112 S 18th Street
- 50seats
- One bar in the back
- Proprietors LLC consulted on the interior
- Dark wood lined ceiling
- Deep red banquettes
- An interesting array of lighting fixtures
- Mural of “Boo Boo” is to be installed where the former front bar was located.
The Drinks
- Six page cocktail list presented in book form
- Categories include:
- Revivers & Tonics
- Island Coolers
- Water of Life
- American History
- Summer Sippin
- Martini Through Time
- The Flowing Bowl
- Beer
- Three kinds of gourmet ice
- Kold-Draft
- Nugget
- Culinary Grade
- No vodka
- No Food
For more on the Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. check out the following links.
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. Is Not Kidding Around [Phoodie.info]
Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. [Thrillist]
No password necessary: The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. opens Thursday [Meal Ticket]
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. Serves Up Specialty [Philly Chit Chat]
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. [Official Site]
112 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA
Related Tags: Center-City-West, Cocktails, Franklin Mortgage and Investment Company, Rittenhouse-Square, Tale of the Tape
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
No vodka? Why?
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I think no vodka because d-bags ruined it for the rest of us with their cosmos and apple flavored cocktails served in martini glasses
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Gourmet ice? Really? Wow.
Yeah, I’ll be there right now. Because regular frozen water just isn’t good enough for me. I need specially trucked in frozen water.
Talk about d-bags. Lose the fancy frozen H2O and accompanying attitude, and I might show up.
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:50 pm
ice idea is stupid
no food is kinda dumb because u r eliminating a large portion of your potential clientele
and people drink more when they eat
but no vodka i love it !
i can sit and not have some 22 yold fake blond with a an ugly Coach bag and a fake tan order a cosmo!!!
baby steps people baby steps
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
That is the best picture?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:05 am
all the high end bars have fancy ice. you may not notice it, but compare how quickly the ice melts @ a random pub vs. at APO.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
Sorry, but water melts/freezes at the same temp/rate, no matter if you pay $0.99 or $9. Adding salts or some such can definately change it. But no, H20 is H20.
The bar looks really cool, and the drink list looks fun.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
well, those fancy ices probably do add salts or something more neutral. plus, surface area to volume ratios can affect how quickly ice melts.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
the place is fantastic- drinks last night were great, scene is laid back, and food is in the works.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Boo Boo as in Yogie’s sidekick? WTF?
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I think that high-end cocktail bars can be pretentious as hell, and I’m not sure what crowd it attracts, but it can’t be to much worse than the vodka drink swilling, popped collar, bridge and tunnel crowd that frequents other high-end cocktail bars. If no vodka keeps them away, all the better.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I think its awesome that this cocktail bar trend is coming to Philadelphia. Cocktails have been a major part of our country dating back to pre-prohibition. its only fitting that our nation’s first capital can celebrate this.
That, and the fact that I would rather have a cocktail made by people who know what theyre doing than at a neighborhood pub. I love pubs, but aside from a beer or a shot of soco, you cant get a good mixed drink.
The ice thing, dont mock it till you try it. The food thing,… yea, they should have food.
Gonna check out Franklin tomorrow