Franklins is located in the heart of historic Hyattsville in a landmark building built in the 1880’s as a blacksmith and carriage shop. Starting in 1910, the building housed the Hyattsville Hardware Co. which stayed in continuous operation until 1992. In its heyday, the hardware Co. was the center of community activity, selling everything from pots and pans to remedies for livestock maladies, chicken feed and of course, nuts and bolts. Many people bought their first washing machines and iceboxes here. Trains from Baltimore stopped right out back and delivered loads of lumber, stacks of seed, even whole houses from the Sears catalog. Neighbors gathered and talked about the weather, the schools, rising prices and changing times.

Franklins opened in 1992 using many of the hardware store’s fixtures and has helped recapture the spirit of bustling community activity. Franklins delights its customers with a unique blend of great food and beer combined with upscale, practical, and offbeat shopping. The nail bins now hold penny candy and toys, The shelves, once full of hardware and cans of paint, are now stocked with the modern “essentials:” rubber chickens, Legos, chocolate body paint and hot sauces. In our brewpub “addition” completed in 2002, Franklins will fix your appetite instead of your lawn mower and folks still gather to talk about the weather, the schools, rising prices and changing times.

Art on the Walls: Since 1992, Franklins has proudly displayed the work of local artists. Since 2002, Franklins has partnered with the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance. New shows are hung on the restaurant walls six times a year.