Franklins Restaurant, Brewery and General Store, located on Baltimore Avenue, is closed until further notice, following a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of July 3. Baltimore Avenue was closed in both directions for over an hour, according to emergency texts from the City of Hyattsville, while the firefighters battled the blaze.
According to a July 3 Franklins Facebook post, the fire originated outside the building, not inside it — and no one was injured. In a July 8 email to the Life & Times, Debbie Franklin said, “The most likely cause of the fire was from fireworks.”
Franklin said that although the fire occurred in the one-story stationery section of the general store, thick smoke spread throughout the retail and restaurant sections of Franklins. As of press time, Franklins remained closed. A posting on the restaurant door, as of July 8, noted, “While the restaurant suffered very little damage, enough needs to be done to keep our doors shut for a while.”
According to a follow-up July 7 Facebook post, the restaurant section is expected to open July 18.
Franklin said that because the general store underwent extensive damage and was still without power, “it may not open for at least a few weeks.”
The original Facebook post received more than 100 responses. Maryland Del. Ashanti Martinez (District 22) posted, “Here to help in any way. You’re a community gem and one of my favorite places.”
Mike and Debbie Franklin bought the Hyattsville Hardware Co. building in 1991, soon after they moved to Hyattsville. The initial version of Franklins opened in 1992 as a deli and toy-and-gift store.
