In May, when Frankly Sausages owners, Bill and Jamie Cawthon, announced on their website that they were shuttering both their brick and mortar restaurant on Cherokee and their food truck, fans of Frankly’s phenomenal french fries and handmade sausages were crushed. Frankly Sausages began as a food truck in 2015, later opening the Cherokee location in November of 2017. The business gained popularity serving fries, sausages and sandwiches, skillfully prepared by Bill Cawthon, who had an extensive fine dining career. Frankly also served one of the best Lenten fish fries in St. Louis.
Today we learn that chefs Ben McArthur, formerly of J McArthur’s, Taco Buddha, and most recently chef at Brennan’s Work & Leisure, and chef Chloe Yates, aka “The Pin-Up Chef,” also at Brennan’s, announced they have purchased the Frankly Sausages truck from the Cawthons complete with Frankly’s brand rights and all the original recipes.
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Chef Yates said in a release that not only are she and McArthur grateful for the opportunity to carry on Frankly, but they both have high praise for Bill and Jamie Cawthon. “They have been so incredible to work with,” said Yates, “and have helped every step of the way. I can’t say enough kind words about these two. We are humbled by their willingness to make sure we are set up for success. I feel like we’ve made life long friends.”
Chef McArthur and Yates will be leaving their positions at Brennan’s to run the truck’s daily operations, continuing to serve the original menu during lunch and dinner as well as private events. The two chefs also run Magnolia, a catering business and a southern-inspired monthly pop-up series at OSP Tap Haus, where Yates used to manage.
A schedule covering the opening day and the first two weeks of service is scheduled to post in the next few days on Frankly’s social media and website as well as on @thepinupchefstl social media.
In the release, the Cawthons said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to tell you we’ve left it in the very best hands possible. We cannot wait to see how the brand will evolve, expand and flourish under their talents.”
