LANSING – Two Lansing restaurants, Detroit Frankie’s Wood Fired Brick Oven and Good Truckin’ Diner, are relocating to share a restaurant in the city’s south side.
Detroit Frankie’s owner Frank Tignanelli and Good Truckin’ owner Nick Sinicropi are close friends who both say they’re really anticipating this move.
Tignanelli’s restaurant is currently in Delta Township, which he opened a year ago during the beginning of the COVID pandemic. This is his sixth year overall in the food business, previously operating a food truck.
He stresses that he takes great pride in making quality pizza.
“It’s all about the products,” said Tignanelli. “As long as there are quality products, that’s all that matters.”
Tignanelli works alongside Igor Jurkovic as co-owners. Jurkovic also has been in the restaurant industry for a number of years. He said this new location will help the business thrive.
“You look at the competition,” said Jurkovic. “Areas that aren’t as saturated [with people] work very well.”
On the other hand, Good Truckin’ Diner is already relatively close to its new location. Located in REO Town, the successful restaurant will be moving just two miles south.
Dan Nuñez, owner of Wheel House Studio, a pottery studio located two doors away from Good Truckin’, came to become close with Sinicropi.
He talked about how Sinicropi helped him get his business up and running, allowing him to take items from his storage unit.
“Nick was the realness,” said Nuñez.
Along with the joint business venture, however, there will be some changes to the respective businesses. Tignanelli’s business, Detroit Frankie’s Pizza & Deli, will serve Detroit-style pizzas instead of the wood-fired pizzas the current location is known for.
Along with the restaurant, it will also include a small Italian-style market where customers can purchase items to make pizzas such as dough, sauce and olive oil. Customers can also purchase other Italian favorites such as pasta among other items.
On the other hand, Sinicropi’s Good Truckin’ Food will be reducing its menu, although it’s still not certain which items will be kept from the diner.
It is not yet known when the joint business will open, but the owners are hoping it will be in the next month or so.