I [Dine] in the Corridor

"There is no love sincerer than the love for food." 

- George Bernard Shaw

There is a lot of truth to the idea that good food brings people together. At least for me there is. Some of my fondest memories of college so far have been around the table of a local restaurant, surrounded by my friends. One of those great places is Francar's Buffalo Wings in Mercer Village. I absolutely love the atmosphere there, and the owner, Carl Frambo, has become a good friend. There is something wonderful about sharing a meal in a place where everyone knows you by name, and even remembers your order of ABC's and lemonade!

All our images are courtesy of Francar's. And they sure look good!

Right outside the large windows of Francar's, Carl and I chatted about what it takes to run a local legend. Carl saw the wing scene starting up north and wanted to bring the cuisine to the south. His experience in the kitchen while serving in the military proved to be the ticket to starting up a small restaurant on Log Cabin Drive. From there the rest was history - and a yummy one at that. The business then moved to its current location on Linden Avenue, right here in Mercer Village. With a work ethic Carl describes as "pulling your own weight and constantly being hands-on with the business," Francar's has become a hotspot for not only Mercer University, but also for residents of and visitors to the Corridor.

Thanks to Francar's for letting us borrow some pictures!

Carl has seen a lot of people come in and out of his door; in fact, he remembers couples coming in on their first date to his Log Cabin location and now he sees their children at his tables in Mercer Village. A lasting legacy like that is something not every business is so lucky to have, but definitely one that has been earned by Francar's. Carl offers me a bit of advice, to which he adds the disclaimer: "this isn't just advice, it's my life." He says, "Starting up a business is full-time work, so make sure it is something you are passionate about." He started out by drawing up a business plan and then he stuck to it. Carl's plan has become the vision that still keeps the business running and thriving.

Not only did we talk business, we also talked food! Big thank you to Carl for sharing this original recipe with our readers. Make sure to stop in and try one of 40 original and mouthwatering sauces on wings, fingers, or strips. MMM!

Lemon Pepper With a Kick

32 oz. of any sauce

1/3 cup of lemon pepper seasoning

8 oz. of water

1 stick margarine

1/2 tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp. of corn starch

Pour all liquids in one container. Combine lemon pepper seasoning with the cornstarch. Mix thoroughly with a whisk, slowly. Slowly heat until steam rises. Sauce is now ready!