Pulling into the Krankies parking lot, your car tires grind over the pebbled driveway. Cars are parked like canned sardines on either side of the entryway, while the gravel path ahead is left untouched. With little kids, dogs and their owners, and swarms of college students all trickling in late on a Saturday morning, Krankies Coffee is a welcoming and diverse social hub in downtown Winston-Salem. In recent months, though, Krankies has returned to its roots by expanding its current restaurant scene into a venue for local bands and artists.
“Our history guides our present,” co-owner David Franklin said in an email when explaining their new concept. Located at 211 East Third Street, Krankies Coffee was founded in 2002 by Franklin and his partner John Byran. Initially called The Wherehouse, Byran said the building’s main appeal was it being convenient, cheap, and a good place for him to play his music and spend time with friends.
In the early 2000s, Winston Salem had limited live music and available venues for local entertainment. So, the Wherehouse pioneered this form of entertainment and brought local bands, DJs, and other kinds of artists to perform at their space. Newly renovated and in the process of expansion, Krankies’ current and more modern appearance still has its roots in the past, with recycled lawn furniture, old machinery, and pieces of left-behind junk that’s been reinvented for a new purpose.
In January 2020, Krankies expanded its staff and hired Candice Parsons, who is now their Operations and General Manager. Initially from South Florida, Parsons said she moved to Winston-Salem for a job at Wake Forest University but ultimately found her rhythm at Krankies as a barista. She worked her way up to her current position throughout the pandemic and now is a part of planning the future of Krankies.
As of now, according to Parsons, one Friday a month, a local DJ or band will perform either outside or in the screened-in back porch area depending on audience turnout and weather. Right now, their audience is intentionally limited to “friends, and friends of friends and so on,” Parsons explained. She spoke for the broader Krankies staff in saying, “we didn’t advertise the event much because we wanted to start small.” This was done to ensure both performers and staff were comfortable as more in person events began to occur.
Krankies plans on continuing this live music agenda in the coming months through a new project called Club Yeti. While remaining at Krankies current location, Club Yeti aims to create a “night club, Montreal vibe, and Canadian-style drinking atmosphere,” Parsons explained. This idea stemmed from wanting to create another club-like environment where people are not “stuck to each other like gills.”
Co-owner Franklin elaborated further, saying, “The concept of Yeti came to us collectively in a COVID fever dream. We all, imbued with the spirit of Yeti, knew if we built it people from all walks of life would come and imbibe in the vibes.” They are additionally planning to provide catering from different food trucks each weekend to spotlight smaller businesses and restaurants.
Barista Angelica Henry attributes Krankies’ success and longevity to the “diverse clientele and incredibly innovative owners.” She believes that Krankies will remain a unique hallmark of downtown Winston-Salem, claiming, “it’s been around forever and still will be in the future.”
This change has been well received by Wake Forest University students like Abby Bermeo who said, “Krankies is one of my favorite places downtown, and the idea of being able to alternate other Thursday night bar activities with a more relaxing but upbeat evening sounds like fun.” She believes that other students will welcome these changes and are eager for this next chapter.
