734-428-8003

ORDER ONLINE

Local Eats: Frank’s Place keeps family pizza tradition alive in Manchester

Updated Mar 13, 2021; Posted Mar 13, 2021
By Jacob Hamilton | jhamilt3@mlive.com

MANCHESTER, MI – Right on the border of Washtenaw, Jackson and Lenawee counties, there’s a pizza parlor that draws customers from across the region. Just a 30-minute drive from Ann Arbor, Jackson or Adrian will bring you to Frank’s Place – a family owned pizzeria that prides itself on thick-crust brick-oven pies served on a shiny silver platter. For 37 years, the restaurant has been a family-owned staple on Manchester’s Main Street – it’s changed hands only once. Original owner Frank Furnari and his wife, Tina, passed the business on to his star employee, Jimi Collins, who brought the rest of his family in to take over in 2008. The Collins celebrate 13 years of ownership this month. Jimi, who has worked in the pizza business since he was 15, said he was happy for the opportunity to take over for his mentor and continue the family-owned traditions of the restaurant, which date back to Furnari’s mother’s cooking in Sicily. Jimi’s own mother, Denise Collins, has added family recipes of her own, including hand-made ravioli. Frank’s sister, Jessica Bushaw, brought her bakery and cake decorating experience to the restaurant’s dessert menu, which includes cookies, cakes and cannoli. His father, Jim Collins, came out of retirement after a 31-year career at General Motors to help run the business.

“In a small community like this, it helps people to see that.” Jimi said. “And it’s something you don’t see as often anymore.” The Collins have done their part to give back to Manchester, even offering grocery pickup once a week after the town’s only grocer closed in February 2019. As they’ve adapted to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, Frank’s Place has added curbside pickup and to-go pizza kits, as well as updating its catering service to offer individually-wrapped sandwiches rather than buffet-style dishes. They’ve also partnered with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea to offer lunch service, and are also catering a lunch for teachers in Manchester Community Schools which recently resumed in-person classes.
Frank’s Place has recently added beer on tap and wine to-go with suggested pairings for pizzas and entrees. The restaurant is even planning a special St. Patrick’s Day menu with hot roast beef sandwiches, shepherd’s pie and a Reuben pizza. But, in the end, it’s all about the pizza. The Frank’s Super – the restaurant’s signature pie – features pepperoni, ham, mushroom, green pepper, onion and bacon on a hand-stretched crust topped with house-made mozzarella. In addition to pies baked to-order, the restaurant offers lunch service by-the-slice. “Pizza’s what we’ve always been known for,” Jimi said. “It’s what we kind of hang our hat on.”

Frank’s Place is itching to welcome customers into its recently-renovated space. A drop ceiling was removed, the walls were stripped back to their original brick and an indoor hydroponic garden where the restaurant grows its own fresh basil was added. “Good pizza puts a smile on your face,” he said.

Frank’s Place, 104 E. Main St. in Manchester is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends. Customers can place an order online at https://franksplacemi.com/ or by phone at 734-428-8003.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top