Looks like Falls Taproom is getting a new outdoor seating area

**friendlynerd** · 07-11-2012, 02:07 PM

Definitely a good idea, the old one was a tad awkward.

https://twitter.com/FallsTaproom1/st.../photo/1/large

**Guun19** · 07-11-2012, 03:56 PM

So I tried to view the photo and I realized they blocked me on twitter cause I said "you guys should think about hiring more help for upstairs. Going on a 20 min wait for beers."

Clearly they get this whole social media thing. A customer offers advice and I wasn't even being a dick about it and they block me on twitter. Hilarious. Otherwise, they have a good thing going. I just hope their failure to address complaints doesn't eventually sink them.

**Dozer** · 07-14-2012, 10:08 PM

Gunn19 lets try and stay on the topic of the thread....new outdoor seating. I'm sure that the new patio will make the Falls Tap Room way more awesomeR not to mention they are the only good beer bar in the area.

**justinc848** · 07-15-2012, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Dozer

Gunn19 lets try and stay on the topic of the thread....new outdoor seating. I'm sure that the new patio will make the Falls Tap Room way more awesomeR not to mention they are the only good beer bar in the area.

Agreed that FTR has great beer. Just want to add that Franklin's has a solid selection as well.

**Fallsdown** · 07-26-2012, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Dozer

Gunn19 lets try and stay on the topic of the thread....new outdoor seating. I'm sure that the new patio will make the Falls Tap Room way more awesomeR not to mention they are the only good beer bar in the area.

I would like to second Franklin's as a "good beer bar". 14 on draught (currently 11 craft) and 50+ in bottles

**The Count** · 07-26-2012, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Fallsdown

I would like to second Franklin's as a "good beer bar". 14 on draught (currently 11 craft) and 50+ in bottles

How's your food compare to the Taproom? Last time I was there I found it to be pretty generic bar food.

I thought I heard you guys had changed the menu a couple times though.

**Naveen** · 07-26-2012, 03:14 PM

The new seating area definitely helps. I hear from one of the wise ones on this board that they are expanding into the building next door. Good news.

**ericmorgan56** · 07-26-2012, 03:38 PM

I'd agree Franklin's list is pretty decent. The food is still pretty basic bar fare. They have fancier items but non have really wowed me. The basic stuff is pretty good.

I will say I went into Murphy's a few days ago and they have made some nice menu changes. I got the turf burger and it was great. Had a pulled pork special that looked and smelled great.

**friendlynerd** · 07-26-2012, 04:04 PM

I feel like Franklins needs to decide what it wants to be. All the marketing is tilted toward broke college kids but the entrees are far from cheap and the couple I've tried didn't impress me in the slightest. The simpler stuff though, like their cheesesteak, is pretty solid.

**MrsWeisass** · 07-26-2012, 07:04 PM

regarding the outdoor seating at Falls Taproom-- i just wish there was a fence around that new seating or something, anything really, because i just don't trust my one year old not to fall off the side the way it is currently constructed.

**Dalvah219** · 07-26-2012, 08:00 PM

Railing will be up in a few days. Ran into a snag with the company were using.

**Hypebeast** · 07-26-2012, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by friendlynerd

I feel like Franklins needs to decide what it wants to be. All the marketing is tilted toward broke college kids but the entrees are far from cheap and the couple I've tried didn't impress me in the slightest. The simpler stuff though, like their cheesesteak, is pretty solid.

Good observation. I usually go to Franklins for dinner (they have great happy hour specials as well). The dinner scene is completely different from the late night scene.

I went up there this past saturday at 12 for some late night drinks for the first time. With in 10 minutes or so there was a near fist-fight inside that was eventually broken up (but no one kicked out). Then the locals (guys that have grown up in EF their whole lives, so they said) alternated between drinking inside, and taking cans of beers out front to drink in front of their trucks while they blasted music. Classy.

**MrsWeisass** · 07-27-2012, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by Dalvah219

Railing will be up in a few days. Ran into a snag with the company were using.

Awesome! looking forward to bringing the family down to enjoy that.

**The Count** · 07-27-2012, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by Hypebeast

I went up there this past saturday at 12 for some late night drinks for the first time. With in 10 minutes or so there was a near fist-fight inside that was eventually broken up (but no one kicked out). Then the locals (guys that have grown up in EF their whole lives, so they said) alternated between drinking inside, and taking cans of beers out front to drink in front of their trucks while they blasted music. Classy.

I just passed by Franklin's and noticed no less than 8 banners strung around their fencing advertising cheap Miller Lite specials and such. So they are attracting their target audience.

About a year ago, just a month or so after they opened, they tried to go around the EFCC to get a variance to expand the size of their deck. They also wanted to be able to broadcast sports games on a big projection screen outside. Needless to say that did not go over well and they had to appear before the zoning committee which determined that these folks did not have a very coherent strategy, could not demonstrate any need for a larger deck, and were already racking up a lot of noise complaints from the adjacent neighbors on Bowman. Variance was denied.

In talking to members of zoning, there is a general concern that this place has the potential to become a nuisance bar at any second given its sheer size, the way it situated on a one way street right up against residences, and the fact that despite efforts to reach in other directions the owners are simply most comfortable going after the Miller Light special crowd.

**billy ross** · 07-27-2012, 09:57 AM

Maybe the community suffers from self-fulfilling prophecies?

Maybe the community should welcome people who bring family-friendly businesses into the Falls rather than slap these entrepreneurs in the face.

Maybe we're our own worst enemies.

My family enjoys patronizing Franklins. We also enjoy the Falls Taproom and the Bathey. I'd love to have more family-friendly services in EF, but your attitude is extremely inimical towards my goal.

Originally Posted by The Count

I just passed by Franklin's and noticed no less than 8 banners strung around their fencing advertising cheap Miller Lite specials and such. So they are attracting their target audience.

About a year ago, just a month or so after they opened, they tried to go around the EFCC to get a variance to expand the size of their deck. They also wanted to be able to broadcast sports games on a big projection screen outside. Needless to say that did not go over well and they had to appear before the zoning committee which determined that these folks did not have a very coherent strategy, could not demonstrate any need for a larger deck, and were already racking up a lot of noise complaints from the adjacent neighbors on Bowman. Variance was denied.

In talking to members of zoning, there is a general concern that this place has the potential to become a nuisance bar at any second given its sheer size, the way it situated on a one way street right up against residences, and the fact that despite efforts to reach in other directions the owners are simply most comfortable going after the Miller Light special crowd.

**ericmorgan56** · 07-27-2012, 10:07 AM

I think based on the size of the location a place like Franklin's is going to need to relay heavily on specials, both food and drink, to get enough people in to say in business. As much as I personally would like a bit better food and more unique beers that's probably not going to pull in as much business as dollar miller lite bottles. I've talked to a friend who work at Capone's in east norriton, which is about the size of Franklins and has an amazing beer list, that the bulk of their sales are still from macro brews and they do a huge volume on a wing night.

**friendlynerd** · 07-27-2012, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by billy ross

Maybe the community suffers from self-fulfilling prophecies?

Maybe the community should welcome people who bring family-friendly businesses into the Falls rather than slap these entrepreneurs in the face.

Maybe we're our own worst enemies.

My family enjoys patronizing Franklins. We also enjoy the Falls Taproom and the Bathey. I'd love to have more family-friendly services in EF, but your attitude is extremely inimical towards my goal.

Nobody shot your dog, dude. We're talking about what we like, or don't like, about Franklin's. Are you reading a different thread?

**NickFromGtown** · 07-27-2012, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by The Count

I just passed by Franklin's and noticed no less than 8 banners strung around their fencing advertising cheap Miller Lite specials and such. So they are attracting their target audience.

I do not mean this derisively, so do not take it that way.

Perhaps Fallsers are taking a look in the mirror and not liking what they see. I am impressed with the relatively premium product that Franklin's provides for what and where they are. Their food choices are relatively creative and different and they do have a good taplist. But if they need to attract the "Miller Lite crowd", which is - gasp - the majority of East Falls, especially in their area, then I do not see the problem with that. Businesses need to make money. People with nothing at stake love to make decisions regarding other people's businesses and capital. I'd be willing to bet that the people who run Franklin's do not want it to turn into a nuisance bar either.

I'd love for a place like Franklin's - expanded deck and all - to open in Germantown. So long as noise isn't a major problem and people don't start shooting each other, it's not readily apparent to me how Franklin's would turn into a nuisance bar. Unless of course the high brow Fallsers view being reminded of the existence of their working class neighbors is a nuisance.

Funny side note: I usually describe people from East Falls as in general being more "Northeast" than "Northwest". The first time I went to Franklin's, I noted it had a distinctly "Northeast" feel due to how it was constructed. One night they gave out bingo sheets with some other bar's name on it. Lo and behold, it turns out Franklin's is owned by someone who has another bar in the Northeast. My suspicions were confirmed.

**Malloy** · 07-27-2012, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by NickFromGtown

Funny side note: I usually describe people from East Falls as in general being more "Northeast" than "Northwest".

How do you describe people from Germantown?

**The Count** · 07-27-2012, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by NickFromGtown

I do not mean this derisively, so do not take it that way.

Perhaps Fallsers are taking a look in the mirror and not liking what they see. I am impressed with the relatively premium product that Franklin's provides for what and where they are. Their food choices are relatively creative and different and they do have a good taplist. But if they need to attract the "Miller Lite crowd", which is - gasp - the majority of East Falls, especially in their area, then I do not see the problem with that. Businesses need to make money. People with nothing at stake love to make decisions regarding other people's businesses and capital. I'd be willing to bet that the people who run Franklin's do not want it to turn into a nuisance bar either.

I'd love for a place like Franklin's - expanded deck and all - to open in Germantown. So long as noise isn't a major problem and people don't start shooting each other, it's not readily apparent to me how Franklin's would turn into a nuisance bar. Unless of course the high brow Fallsers view being reminded of the existence of their working class neighbors is a nuisance.

Funny side note: I usually describe people from East Falls as in general being more "Northeast" than "Northwest". The first time I went to Franklin's, I noted it had a distinctly "Northeast" feel due to how it was constructed. One night they gave out bingo sheets with some other bar's name on it. Lo and behold, it turns out Franklin's is owned by someone who has another bar in the Northeast. My suspicions were confirmed.

One look at the Bargin Center, Tilden Market, Major Wing Lee's, etc. and I don't think anybody is under the illusion that East Falls is "upscale". I think most people in East Falls know what they are.

That being said, very few (if any) businesses in East Falls can survive on East Falls customers alone. Fiorino, Taproom, Murphy's, In Riva, the old Pour House, the original Franco's, all thrived because they attracted an outside audience. There's not a whole lot of "Northeast" packing In Riva and Fiorino's on any given night.

Our hope was that Franklin's would aspire to more than just generic offerings and beer specials as there is room for that here. Prior to Franklin's we were talking to Deke's and Ugly Moose about relocating to the site but Deke's was too new and he was afraid to commit. In my last conversation with Deke he said, "let me know if you ever hear Franklins is pulling out." I think a Moose/Deke's would be a great tenant for that site and a mjor improvement over Franklins.

I agree that Franklins doesn't want to run a nuisance bar. But the sheer size of the place and it's location next to residents, (it's not like it's situated in a commercial corridor), demands special consideration. As a member of the EFDC board of directors I was asked by zoning people my thoughts on their variance to enlarge the deck. Given that they already had 1,400 sf of outdoor seating and 2,800 sf of indoor it was my opinion that there was risk to giving the site even more outdoor space. I also noted that I might feel differently if they had a track record or could demonstrate a need for more space. But they'd only been open a couple months, (during which time we heard complaints of noise) and they weren't even filling the space they had. Also, if Franklins leaves in a year, the enlarged deck survives. You get into a situation where you have a massive use that can dominate he surrounding area. So I actually advised against granting them the variance, making it one of the rare times that I did not support a business' request.

Nobody has a problem with what goes on at Franklins during dinner or 10;30 at night. The problems with noise occur outside at midnight. I don't live near it but I sympathize wih those that do.