After more than 50 years as a south side restaurant, Jim’s Coney Island goes through a transition to a new owner in August.
Since 1971, the Frangos family has served chili dishes, onion rings, breaded pork tenderloins and hot dogs on Southwest Ninth Street in Des Moines.
At the time, there was a Coney Island restaurant in downtown Des Moines that wanted to expand, so Jim Frangos came on board and opened a location at Southridge Mall. That location closed in 1990.
But aside from sporting the Coney Island name, the restaurant serves chili from the Coney Island restaurant recipe that dates back to 1919.
Jim and his wife, Helen, worked in the restaurant until they retired and son Eric Frangos and his wife, Tonya, run the place now.
Last week, the couple announced that it was time for them to retire.
“Well, the time has come to announce we have sold the restaurant,” the couple wrote on the Jim’s Coney Island Facebook page .
“We thought maybe in a few more years we would sell, but this opportunity came to us unexpectedly and we knew it was the right move for us at this time.”
Who is the new owner?
Des Moines developer Ryan Smithson, who is opening the Broadway Beach House , bought the restaurant from the Frangos family. He takes over on Aug. 1, and the Frangos family will stay on board until Aug. 15 to train the staff, Tonya Frangos said in an email to the Des Moines Register.
Broadway Beach House takes over the abandoned Broadway Motel and parking lot at 5100 Hubbell Ave. in Des Moines with a day pool club for the 21 and older crowd. It opens in May.
More: Developer plans Florida-style daytime pool resort on Des Moines' northeast side
What does Jim’s Coney Island have on the menu?
The restaurant specializes in chili using the original Coney Island restaurant recipe, as well as breaded pork tenderloins. Onion rings and a cheeseburger topped with chili are some of the other popular dishes.
Customers can buy chili by the bowl, pint, quart or gallon.
As its motto on the menu says, “Everybody Loves a Coney.”
The restaurant uses Coca-Cola products as well.
“53 yrs is quite an accomplishment in this industry, we are very proud to have served you all and made friends , and even family. We will never forget the memories, but we are ready to make new ones away from the restaurant world,” Eric and Tonya Frangos wrote on Facebook.
Where to find Jim’s Coney Island
Location: 3700 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-243-9608
Hours: It's generally best to check the restaurant's Facebook page for hours, which are posted daily.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook , Twitter , or Instagram , or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: This restaurant uses a 100-plus-year-old chili recipe. A new owner takes over in August.
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