Nearly every corner of Franklin’s newest restaurant is a nod to its history as the hub of town.
Post office boxes from the 1930’s line a wall in the lobby and main dining room of RFD Franklin. Diners will be able to have a private party in what was once the postmaster’s office, complete with a 1930’s style desk, and the building’s vault sits in the dining room, opened to invite diners to have their meal where money and important documents were once locked away.
RFD Franklin is the city’s newest restaurant, opening in the former post office and city hall on May 28. The owners have spent 18 months on research, construction and ideas to make the building a community treasure again.
They’ll be serving traditional American food such as entree salads, steak, pasta and seafood. Their motto is “Real Food, Fresh Dining.” The owners hope to use local suppliers for their ingredients as much as possible.
And about that name — RFD is a nod to Rural Free Delivery, which was the first generation of U.S. mail service, and the restaurant’s dining motto.
Owners Lesa McDaniel Talley and John Talley bought the building at 55 W. Madison St. in October 2017 and immediately began trying to restore the building to its roots when it was once the centerpiece of town business.
City officials have also had interest in seeing the building be restored to its glory days.
See Friday’s Daily Journal for the rest of the story and more photos.
