The flagship location was opened in 1940 by G. Francis "Fran" Deck at 21 St Clair Avenue West and closed in 2001.

In 2004, as a part of a gradual expansion program, a new location was opened in the Pantages Hotels and Suites at Victoria and Shuter.

In 2009 Fran's Restaurants opened its first corporate United States location in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, in the Power & Light Entertainment District.

In August 2010, Fran's opened its third Toronto-based location near the intersection of Yonge and Front Streets, across from the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation profile of Gould notes: In 2014, Fran's opened a booth at the Canadian National Exhibition's Food Building for the first time and featured exclusive fare developed especially for the fair such as pie shakes, peanut butter-Sriracha balls, a Thanksgiving waffle, and a Big Breakfast Maple Toast Box.