Going out for Restaurant Week? Bring your receipt to Franklin Mortgage and Investment Co. and you get $2 off your signature cocktail.

Can a restaurant reviewer review  a place with no food. Adam Erace does just that with his look at Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., the inconspicuous subterranean bar just off Rittenhouse Square.

Air of mystery, consider yourself cultivated. Standing at that very door at 9 p.m. on a steamy Thursday, I was dreading what I guessed would be the single-malt mafia and a freezerful of douchesicles waiting on the other side. Instead, I found ad men and hipsters, lawyers and waiters on their night off, all reclining like Gatsby characters in a space as trim and chic as an Italian suit. Not a false eyelash of snobbery. Not a staff member anything less than welcoming.

Savor sophisticated cocktails under the sidewalk [Philadelphia Weekly]
Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. [Official Site]

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]

New York’s Death & Company might just be planning a spot in Philadelphia. According to Down By The Hipster and a commenter, the word is that a similar place is coming to Philadelphia. It’ll be called Franklin Mortgage and Investment Company and if a commenter is to be believed, it’ll be heading into the Bar Noir Space on 18th Street.

The Illadelph has some more thoughts on the matter.

UPDTATE: New York Magazine’s Grub Street has confirmation from Death & Co.’s David Kaplan that they’re headed to Philadelphia. [Grub Street]

Death & Company to Philly? [Down by the Hipster]
Death + Company [Official Site]