July 12, 2023

A Brandon-area couple has bought a business that started as a hot dog cart and grew into a full-fledged food truck.

Fred’s Franks is now Let’s Go Frank.

Barry and Gena Bakken have taken over from Donna Cutrer and Mike Blewett, who started the business in 2021 after moving here from Florida. They upgraded to a trailer last year but decided to sell it this year.

“We’ll continue doing the same things,” Barry Bakken said of the menu. That includes Chicago- and New York-style hot dogs, chili cheese dogs, Frito chili cheese dogs and ones with sauerkraut – using all-beef hot dogs.

Bakken works as an industrial mechanic at Marmen Energy in Brandon, and his wife left her job to run the food truck.

“’I’m 58, so it’s maybe something later to slow down with,” he said of eventually joining her more than occasionally.

Let’s Go Frank is not a play on the “Let’s Go Brandon” slogan made popular by former President Trump. It’s a nod to hot dogs and to Gena’s brother who is named Frank, Bakken said. He’s envisioning a logo for the business that will have a racing theme.

They expect to run Let’s Go Frank two or three days a week, focusing on selling food to workers at businesses in the Brandon area like Fred’s Franks had done. The business made its debut at the Brandon Farmers Market in mid-June, and tonight it will be at Brandon Lutheran Church with other food trucks for the Christmas in July event from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Let’s Go Frank is available for public and private bookings in the Sioux Falls area.

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