https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/food/2015-01-20/goodbye-frans-hello-torchys/

Goodbye Fran's, Hello Torchy's

By Virginia B. Wood, January 20, 2015, 10:00am, On the Range

Rapidly expanding local taco giant, Torchy's Tacos, signed a lease on the prime corner property at 1822 S. Congress when the Junk family declined to renew the Fran's Hamburgers lease in 2013. Tomorrow, Fran Junk and some members of her family will be on hand as the building where they sold burgers for 40 years comes down.

Longtime fans of the iconic burger palace are encouraged to drop by to bid the old building farewell, share stories with the Junks, and check out some memorabilia and archival photos they collected during their time in the SoCo neighborhood.

The party will be short and a team from Torchy's Tacos will hand out free tacos as long as supplies last. Once demolition of the old building is complete, Torchy's Director of Marketing Brittany Platt advises us the company hopes to have a flagship store with dining room and patio service, as well as a full bar, open in about six months.

And if you've been wondering what happened to the distinctive guitar-slinging carhop that Rory Skagen and Billy Brakhage created to adorn Fran's roof years ago, she's being refreshed by the folks at Blue Genie Art Industries and will one day welcome guests at another Fran's (6214 Cameron Rd.) outlet.

Fran's Demolition Party
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2pm
1822 S. Congress