Fran’s Restaurant founder Fran Deck

On my walk at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in Toronto, I discovered the grave of restaurateur G. Francis “Fran” Deck — the man behind Fran’s Restaurant.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Fran moved to Toronto and opened what would become a beloved institution. He launched his flagship location in 1940 at 21 St. Clair Avenue West, and over the years, Fran’s became a gathering place for Torontonians of all walks of life.

St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto location.

Deck is widely credited with naming the now-iconic “banquet burger”, a favourite menu item that many remember fondly. My personal favourite, however, was Deck’s signature salad dressing — something you could even purchase and take home.

One of Fran’s most famous regulars was none other than Glenn Gould, the celebrated pianist, who lived just down the street at 110 St. Clair Ave. W. Gould was known to dine at Fran’s almost every night.

As a boy, my go-to location was at 2275 Yonge Street, near Eglinton — a fixture from 1945 to 2001. It was more than just a diner; it was a piece of Toronto’s soul.

Yonge and Eglinton location, just north of Yonge Street on the east side. 3-4 stores north of the TD Bank.

Tragically, Fran Deck died in 1976 in a car accident in Tucson, Arizona. He was 71 years old.

1905-1976

Fran’s on College Street opened in 1950 and continues to be “Always Open”. Photos taken February 2024.