ZEELAND — An unexpected partnership formed during the COVID-19 pandemic will bring a new restaurant to downtown Zeeland.
It all began when restaurant owner Teresa Vander Zwaag of The Farmhouse and her husband, Tim, began seeking a place for private events, where their customers could enjoy small party sizes and social distancing.
They approached Shane Hammer — current owner of Frank’s Restaurant and great-grandson of original founders Frank and Mary Dionise, who opened the business in 1924.
The restauranteurs didn’t know one another, but Hammer was facing problems of his own. Hours at Frank’s were limited to curbside orders, and the banquet facility next door — remodeled in 2013 — was sitting unused at 136 E. Main Ave. Happy to have someone in the space, a partnership was born.
Together, the team worked to reopen Frank’s. Hammer needed staff, so Vander Zwaag stepped in. They brought back the “legendary” Frank’s lunch hour, six days a week. In their time as partners, Vander Zwaag and Hammer began dreaming of a more permanent use for the banquet space next door.
Vander Zwaag purchased the liquor license from outgoing restaurant Elbow Room, and began the process of having it transferred to 136 E. Main. Now, a new restaurant will be born in the space.
According to Vander Zwaag, the restaurants will have different names and addresses, but will share restrooms, a hallway and a kitchen. They’ll also share a menu, though customers won’t find alcohol at the original Frank’s Restaurant.
Once the city gives Vander Zwaag approval to use her liquor license, she said, she’ll begin training staff. But the switch to a full-service restaurant won’t be immediate.
Because the building has been used as a private banquet venue for years, the partners have made the decision to honor current reservations. The new business will open in a “phased approach,” with limited hours and a movable bar and furniture to accommodate existing parties. Future phases will include a more complete buildout with permanent fixtures and regular hours.
Vander Zwaag hopes to host a grand opening this spring or summer. The new restaurant will have “Frank’s” in the title, but an official name has yet to be announced. For now, the space is referred to as Frank’s East.
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The menu at Frank’s includes soup, grilled cheese, burgers, fries and sandwiches.
The addition of another restaurant in downtown Zeeland is particularly exciting to planners and locals, as the city works to add restaurants and retailers to empty storefronts along Main Avenue. If approved for its liquor license, Frank’s East may be eligible to join Zeeland’s social district.
— Contact reporter Cassandra Lybrink at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram @BizHolland.