High Drama at Swanky Franks

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/scn-sa-swanky1feb01,0,4950571.story?coll=stam-top-headlines


Property owner to reopen Swanky Frank's; legal challenge promised
By Lisa Chamoff
Staff Writer

February 1, 2006

NORWALK -- Swanky Frank's, the popular Connecticut Avenue diner, yesterday served its last hot dogs.

Or did it?

The grandson of Al Renzuella, the Rowayton man who owns the building and property, said yesterday he doesn't plan to replace Swanky Frank's, just clean it up and reopen it with the same name.

"We won't be making any changes to the building," Drew Satterfield said. "Everything is going to stay the same."

Robert Manere, who ran the Norwalk Swanky Frank's for 18 years and opened branches in Westport and Milford, said he registered and trademarked the name several years ago, and Satterfield won't be able use it.

"He will be sued," said Manere, taking a break from operating the grill at the tiny diner, built in 1949. "There will be a cease and desist (order) before they can put the first letter on the wall."

But court documents state that if Manere's lease is terminated, the Swanky Frank's name and the right to use it revert to Renzuella and his family.

According to Marc Grenier, an attorney hired by Satterfield, Manere was told in September to leave by the end of the month for not paying the $3,300 monthly rent in July, August and September. The two parties later agreed that Manere would leave by the end of January.

Manere said Eleanor Satterfield, Drew's mother, told him in July that the family planned to take over the property and that he had to leave by Oct. 15. Manere said he did not pay rent because the lease was terminated.

"I have no animosity," he said. "It's their building. They can do what they want."

Manere said he plans to find another site in Norwalk for Swanky Frank's. He does not plan to change the name of his restaurants in Westport and Milford, or one he and a partner recently opened in Tahlequah, Okla. He also plans to open a new place in Newtown.

"It's mine -- trademarked and registered federally and in Hartford," Manere said.

Asked about the other restaurants, Grenier said, "I really can't comment as to what the future may hold for Mr. Manere."

Satterfield's grandfather ran Swanky Frank's from 1953 to 1982.

"We're going to bring everything back to homemade, the way it used to be," Satterfield said. "Use real plates again, introduce the building to some soap and water. I think people will definitely realize that we're back in charge again."

Residents have made trips to Swanky Frank's in recent days to eat there for last time. Many consider it a landmark.

Connie Gardella of Norwalk took her 9-year-old granddaughter, Paige Treglia, for lunch yesterday, though they were out of fries, Paige's favorite menu item.

"I had to get my last chili dog," Gardella said. "It's a mainstay."

Copyright © 2006, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.

That is why they have the courts!!! It will be interesting.

went by there this morning, the building is totally empty,not even the sign on the roof.

Swanky Franks closes after 60 years

By CHRIS BOSAK
Hour Staff Writer

NORWALK — Swanky Franks, a Norwalk institution that has served hamburgers and hotdogs for nearly 60 years, served its last greasy plate on Tuesday evening.

Robert Manere, who owned and ran the business for the last 18 years, cooked and chatted with well-wishing customers all day and then turned over the keys to the property owners as the sun set on the run-down structure off exit 14 of I-95. Manere had until January 31, 2006 to clear out of the building, according to documents filed at Norwalk Housing Court.

The property still belongs to Alexander Renzuella and his family. Renzuella owned the restaurant from the 1950s into the 1980s. His grandson, Drew Satterfield, will take over the business.

Swanky Franks is likely to return to Norwalk, however. Where it will be located and who will own it is up in the air. Another court case may be on the horizon.

Manere, who also has Swanky Franks locations in Westport, Milford and Tahlequah, Okla., is looking for another location in Norwalk. He says he has federal and state registrations and trademarks for the name Swanky Franks. Manere plans to open another Swanky Franks in Norwalk and vows, "I'll find another location."

However, Satterfield plans to reopen Swanky Franks at its current location at 182 Connecticut Ave. and serve similar fare.

"We'll clean the building up a little and reopen as Swanky Franks to the way it was when my family opened it," he said. "Everything will stay the same. There will be a couple of updates here and there as we return it to its glory days. We'll open back up as soon as we can. It's back in the family again."

Satterfield would like to open "in a couple of weeks," and promises "the menu will be pretty much the same."

Manere acknowledges that the property owners can do what they want with the building, but says they can't use the name Swanky Franks.

"There will be a cease and desist order when they put the first letter on the wall," he said. "It's their property. They can do what they want with it, but I bought the business. I have no animosity, it's their building, but don't come in and steal my business."

Manere said that he has not had a lease on the property since 1992, but he continued to pay rent monthly. In July, he was notified via letter by the property owners that he was to leave the property by October. According to court documents, the letter was dated July 7, 2005.

"At first, I thought they meant October of this year (2006)," he said Tuesday. "They gave me three months to find a new location."

According to court documents, Manere failed to pay rent in July, August and September of 2005 and on Sept. 22 was served with a Notice to Quit Possession, as signed by Eleanor Renzuella Satterfield, the daughter of Alexander Renzuella and mother of Drew Satterfield.

"They terminated my lease," Manere said. "Why should I pay rent?"

On Oct. 12, 2005, Manere and Swanky Franks — through law firm Sargent, Sargent and Jacobs of Westport — sought to dismiss the action because the Notice to Quit was "ambiguous" and "equivocal."

On Nov. 1, 2005, the Satterfield's — through the law office of DePanfilis and Vallerie — filed a memorandum in opposition to the "defendant's motion to dismiss," citing that much of the letter was "misinterpreted."

The memorandum added: "had the defendant continued to pay rent until October" he would have been allowed to "stay on the premises" and "use the name Swanky Franks."

According to Marc Grenier of DePanfilis and Vallerie, the parties came to an agreement to allow Manere to use the property until January 31, 2006.

"They're moving out in accordance to a stipulation of an agreement," Grenier said. "It was an amicable resolution."

The dispute over the name "Swanky Franks" may not be as pleasant, since both parties feel they have rights to it.

According to Richard Girouard, who works with Manere as a consultant, Manere has been looking in Norwalk for a place to open another Swanky Franks. Girouard could foresee some of the problems currently haunting Manere.

"If you don't own the property, you don't own your destiny," he said. "You're at the mercy of the landlord.

"This place is an institution," he added. "It's a step back in history."

The history is likely to continue, but where and under whose ownership remains to be seen.

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Copyright 2006 • The Hour