Apparently this place has some history in the area for being a safe place for gays to socialize. A recent visit made me think that "Fran" would probably be ashamed of what it's become. Not only was the music awful, and hardly upbeat, the clientele is essentially the lowest of the low. You felt like guarding anything on you that was of value. I imagine drug deals are rampant in this place. Yeah it's in Lynn, but if they held themselves to a higher standard, they might attract a nicer clientele on the North Shore who do not want to travel all the way to Boston for their gay bars. This place is the pits. The drinks weren't good, it's a cash-only bar, it's trashy, it's a bad time.
Review Source:I'm 71yo, and so glad Fran's is still around. Back when Fran was alive, she stood up for Gay's when it was a very difficult time. God bless her. I only wish I could be young during these times when you don't have to be afraid of the Patty wagon pulling up to the back door,hoarding Gay's into the wagon for a most unpleasant experience. It was a family then and I miss those days. Â Emy
Review Source:I will preface my review by stating I LOOOOVE dive bars. No floor too sticky or bathrm too rank-a-licious for this lady. BUT! I nd my dive bars to remember where they stand on the price scale...fran's is waaaaay too expensive for a dive. There's usually a cover, which again for a dive is a bit much.
On Sundays Latin night provides decent drag and gooooood music if you enjoy spinning around the dance floor to bachata, merengue & salsa. Since it's located in the sketchy downtown Lynn area, it plays host to a number of "interesting" locals, imports & the youngins (it's 18+ on most nights).
Why do I go back? Because I'm a sucker for a messy time, they have pool tables near tv's and where else in Lynn can u experience the kind of debauchery that only a night at fran's provides?
If I'm going slumming, at least make it cheap. So, we went to Fran's, all the way in Lynn for a tea dance. A couple of friends were throwing an event, so we thought we'd rally and go support them.
The DJ they hired was great (Kristin Korpos, I think is her name), who's a local Boston DJ and plays good music.
I could not stop gazing, wondering, being revolted, however, by the carpet: was it wax, or gum, or...? It's all over the place. Please, take the $5 I paid for my Diet Coke and buy new carpet.
I thought it was a bit pricey for a dive bar--I mean, I have my standards! At least give me SOMETHING for my money! Drink specials? But I can't really attest to what happens on a regular night here. A Sunday afternoon was all I needed, however.
Dodgy location, too. I'm not going back--probably. I can do local dives in the Dot that are way gay just fine, thank you.
Good drinks, good music and great people. I love Frans! This place always leaves you with a story to tell. The first time I went I danced 2 songs with a hot guy....and then I realized that he was a she. whoops! Not exactly my cup of tea, but she was a good dancer :) Another outing I encountered a very excited gay man who simpled adored my breasts daaahling! He found them so impressive that he pulled down my shirt and popped them out for a better look! OH MY! I was not expecting that at all, and thankfully I don't embarrass easily. This kind of thing might freak some people out and scare them away forever, but not I.
Even though it's technically a gay bar, you won't feel bad if you're not.
I've been here once: I don't know if I would call it a full blown gay bar - they played techno music and it seemed full of straight Hispanic men hoping to get involved in a menage a trois with one of the more attractive lesbian couples. Â But I guess in the City of Sin, anywhere that plays anything other than Journey's DON'T STOP BELIEVING or STYX's COME SAIL AWAY is considered "queer."
Review Source:Ten years ago, when I moved to Lynn from Texas on a greyhound bus, I had no friends and nothing to do. Until my aunt introduced me to our neighborhood bar, Fran's Place.
Being from smaller southern towns, I had never met a homosexual person in my life. But Fran's helped me meet my destiny as a magnet for gay men.
I started off going on Tuesday nights for karaoke because I love to sing. Lucky for me, the lesbians really enjoyed my country singing and invited me back to do it every week.
Then I'd go on Saturdays for events and shows that my aunt would participate in and a little dancing. True, the dance floor is small, and at the time, they'd play the same Cher song 4 times throughout the night. But that's what I liked about it. Small and cozy. Comfortable enough to play your favorite song over and over again like an adolescent girl. Â Where everybody knows your name. All are excepted. Homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual alike.
Last night, for the first time in about 5 years, I headed back out to Lynn with a friend for Noche Latino at Franny's. There was an $8 cover charge and we paid $7.50 for every drink. (Though they do have $1 Coronas between 10 and 11pm on Sunday nights.) The place was busy but not unbearably packed. We danced comfortably on the tiny floor. Had a place to sit at a table when we wanted to rest. And we only saw one person get carried away by the police as the bar was closing.
Latino night also features a short drag show right around midnight starring Tish, who's been at Fran's since I moved here. Not the most exciting show I've ever seen, but still entertaining.
Might I also mention that if you're out looking for a new soul mate, Noche Latino attracts eye candy suitable for any palate. I'd say, it's not a bad way to spend a Sunday night.
Fran's only loses one star for the bad PA system which was so loud and crackly.
Oh, if you want something a little more low key, you can hang out in the sports bar side, have a beer, and play  a little pool.
Tacky or not, I like it.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
