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Gary, Indiana: Frank-N-Stein (Gone)

Fondly recalled giant Frankenstein's monster statue, holding a foamy mug of root beer and a hot dog.

Directions:
Was in the Miller section of the city (east of downtown).
Hours:
Gone.
Status:
Gone

Visitor Tips and News About Frank-N-Stein

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Frank-N-Stein

My uncle did legal work for the owners of this restaurant after they received a cease-and-desist order from the owners of the Hollywood movie image of the Frankenstein monster. The settlement involved cutting off the protruding neck bolts of the Frank-N-Stein statue, which were apparently unique to that movie image, and changing a forehead scar. The spot where the neck bolts once protruded is visible in old pics of Frank-N-Stein.

[Gourley, 05/12/2022]

A smart settlement on the owners' part. Despite the missing neck bolts, Frank-N-Stein's mascot monster was instantly recognizable.

Frank-N-Stein, 1975.

Frank-N-Stein

I thought you might like to see this picture I took in 1975 of the Frank-N-Stein restaurant statue on Route 12, near Route 20 in Indiana.

[Dave Jordano, 08/21/2017]

Nice! Frank-N-Stein... a restaurant concept guaranteed to make even a reanimated monster smile: a Frank-furter and a Stein (mug) of root beer. The restaurant is gone; the statue was demolished in the 1990s.

Frank 'n Stein Statue

Sadly, the Frank 'n Stein statue near the intersection of US 12 and US 20 is no longer. It has been gone for about 10 years. The building has been recycled as a professional building.

[Karl Zarins, 01/16/2008]
Frank 'n Stein - Vague Recollections

I remember, from back in the mid to late '60s, a drive-in restaurant on US Route 20 in the Miller section of Gary, Indiana called Frank 'n Stein. Mounted on its roof was a Frankenstein statue holding (of course) a Frank (large hot dog) in one hand and a sudsy Stein in the other (this was across the street (more or less) from the competition - an A & W Root Beer drive-in).

Haven't been back for many a year and don't know if it's still there, but it is part of many rich memories (these were the days when the waitresses roller skated out to your car with the trays that attached to your windows).

[Douglas Wray, 11/04/2001]
Frank 'n Steins - Vague Recollections

It may be long gone, but was there for at least 1968-1980 -- In Gary, on route 12 in the Miller section of the city (east of downtown) stood a 20-foot plus high fiberglass statue of Frankenstein's monster holding a hot dog and a stein of root beer. (Frank 'n' Stein) The service house had the ghostly look and was supposed to be the start of a nationwide franchise which, to my knowledge, never spread.

The place served excellent hot dogs which I enjoyed for the eight years I lived there working for the Gary Post-Tribune. I can still taste them.

[Mark Mattison, 10/24/1998]

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