You see them throughout the city. They are in strip malls, located in parking lots near grocery stores, maybe they’re in free standing spots where a community road meets a main street. They are neighbourhood pubs, the kinds of places where you walk from your front door to meet friends and swap stories over pints. They’re welcoming, they’re cozy, they are simply there.
For years, Mill Creek didn’t have such an establishment. The closest spots were on Whyte Avenue.
But that’s changed with the opening of Frank’s Community Pub, located on the main floor of what was a non-descript office building at the corner of 89th Avenue and 99th Street. Located next door to Porchlight Books, it’s breathing life into a space that was reimagined by Beljan Development.
While owner Sean Thompson recommends never trying to convert an old office space into a pub, the result is a warm spot that feels like you’re walking into a basement. In fact, he wanted the space to feel like his dad’s old “rumpus room” from the old family home in Ritchie.
“I was always after a really cool, old building,” says Thompson. “But, Edmonton really lacks those. There are not many left. But then Beljan put a sign up for this building, and I thought, ‘OK, it’s not necessarily a cool, old thing, but maybe it has potential.’”
And what’s telling is the rainbow-coloured sign that reads “inclusive vibes only” that greets you as you walk in. Thompson is one of the co-founders of Fruit Loop, which creates special and inclusive events for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Frank’s is a place that he hopes everyone will feel welcome.
And, he was enthused that, on the opening weekend, the bar was packed, yet there were only a couple of cars in the parking lot out back. That meant many of the patrons got there by foot — a sign that the whole “neighbourhood bar” thing is working.
“We’re packed because everyone in the community just wants to walk here and meet a friend for beer — clearly, it’s needed. It’s working. We saw what’s needed — and we’ve just barely scratched the surface.”
The menu is simple: There’s a selection of five grilled cheese sandwiches, from Greek-themed to a sandwich that’s supposed to mimic the feel of a jalapeño popper. But my favourite was the French Onion Grilled Cheese. There’s mozzarella with a caramelized onion mayo, and the crust is coated in green onions. It does feel like an old restaurant classic served between two slices of bread.
The corn and bean salad is refreshing, and the waffle fries come out of the air fryer, so that means they are vegan-friendly. There are potato crisps made by Drift Food Truck.
The beer selection is Alberta, through and through, with a number of local craft brews on offer. The cocktail list isn’t overwhelming, but has the classics. And, I tried the Paper Plane, with bourbon, Aperol, amaro and lemon juice. It’s fantastically bittersweet, and is a great way to kick back and watch the world go by outside the picture windows that face the street and the patio that’s just waiting to be opened.
Frank’s Community Pub
Strathcona | 8815 99 Street NW, Edmonton | frankspub.ca
