The Franky’s Souvlaki logo captures the essence of a brand associated with mouth-watering skewers seasoned with Greek spices. The emblem conveys the atmosphere of a welcoming place where long-standing traditions blend with modern recipes. It highlights the uniqueness of the establishment, which has become the pride of the Franky Englezos family.
Franky’s Souvlaki: Brand overview
The current owner, Frankie Englezos’s father, George Englezos, started his first company in the early 1970s—a hot dog cart. This is how Franky’s Souvlaki got its start. This humble beginning was the first of what would eventually become a well-known chain of Greek eateries.
At first, George Englezos’s cart sold solely hot dogs, once a common street snack. George, Greek by heritage, quickly added souvlaki, a delicacy from his home country. This choice marked a significant change in the business’s history.
Customers quickly took to souvlaki, a typical Greek dish of marinated meat grilled on skewers or pita. As its popularity increased, souvlaki took center stage on the menu a few years after the cart opened.
George Englezos grew his business thanks to the souvlaki’s popularity. His son Frankie joined the family business in the 1990s, and together, they turned the food cart into a full-fledged restaurant. At that point, the establishment was formally renamed “Franky’s Souvlaki,” paying tribute to the meal that helped the younger generation of leaders succeed as well as themselves.
Putting the restaurant next to a busy crossroads was very important. It guaranteed a steady stream of patrons and aided the eatery’s rapid ascent to fame in the community.
After succeeding his father in the business, Frankie Englezos brought his distinct managerial style. He gained notoriety for his warm greetings to patrons, which frequently included a fist bump. He also contributed to the restaurant’s distinctive ambiance and strong connections with the neighborhood.
Frankie oversaw the company’s expansion while preserving the high caliber of the food and welcoming atmosphere that contributed to its success. The eatery stuck to its heritage by serving classic Greek food and broadening its menu to accommodate shifting patron preferences.
From one family-run restaurant to a network of locations, the company maintained the standards of quality and authenticity that made it well-known. The business’s development into a prosperous restaurant chain while adhering to its heritage and core values is exemplified by its history.
Meaning and History
What is Franky’s Souvlaki?
This popular food truck has established itself as a culinary icon in the bustling neighborhood of Astoria. Specializing in Greek street food, the truck offers delicious skewers of roasted meat wrapped in warm pita, attracting both locals and visitors. The aroma of grilled meat and herbs fills the streets, luring hungry patrons. Its reputation for authentic Greek flavors, generous portions, and friendly service explains the frequent long lines. The menu, in addition to souvlaki, includes classic dishes like gyros and fresh salads made with high-quality ingredients and traditional recipes.
1990s – today
There is no hint in the Franky’s Souvlaki logo that it’s a food truck. The designers focused on the brand’s history, range, and unique atmosphere, making you crave something delicious. The skewer takes center stage, where letters are threaded instead of meat and vegetables. They form the word “SOUVLAKI,” representing the signature dish of the mobile eatery. This popular Greek fast food gradually became a beloved street food among the residents of Astoria, despite the menu including various sandwiches and hot dogs besides skewers.
The letters vary in size, creating a sense of irregularity. This visual choice reflects the variety of ingredients used to make souvlaki, as the establishment doesn’t stick to standard recipes. The chosen font appears massive due to its wide strokes and almost no curves.
Interestingly, the capital “A” and lowercase “i” are the same size. The logo’s creators intended to make all letters uppercase but decided to remove the lower horizontal line from the “L,” as it might have disrupted the skewer’s harmonious appearance. So, they had to add a dot above the “i” to distinguish this glyph from the trimmed version of “L.”
The black color of the text resembles smoke, enveloping pieces of meat and vegetables, represented here by the letters. The brown outlines suggest a crispy crust, stimulating the appetite with its appearance. On the other hand, it might reflect heat since the word “SOUVLAKI” literally exudes fire. Thin red-orange flames shoot out, hinting at the grilling method. This evokes thoughts of warmth, comfort, hot fast food, and the tempting smell of roasted meat.
The fire here isn’t just a visual element but a symbol of the Franky’s Souvlaki owners’ passion for their business. The thick chains holding the skewer on both sides indicate the brand’s resilience, stability, and longevity. The chains also transform the logo into something like a sign hanging at the entrance of an old tavern. This emblem seems to compensate for the inability to attach a heavy sign to a food truck.
Right above the flaming letters is a compact inscription “SINCE 1970.” The black color gives it a charred look, perfectly matching the sense of age. The logo is a reminder that the history of Franky’s Souvlaki began in 1970 when an enterprising New Yorker opened a street hot dog stand. Over time, the concept evolved: new dishes were added to the menu, and the food cart was replaced by a food truck. However, the brand’s owners are proud of its heritage and never miss a chance to emphasize it in the emblem.
The word “FRANKY’S” is at the top, depicted as a red arch. The designers used a bold sans-serif font, highlighting wide lines with sharp angles. The curved shape offsets the visual massiveness of the letters, creating an effect of volume and stability.
The inscription resembles an archway, inviting people to visit the establishment and try the delicious skewers seasoned with authentic Greek spices. The red color is associated with freshly prepared food, blazing fire, hot chili, speed, energy, and hunger.