Anyone who has lived in Corpus Christi since the 50s would recognize the name Frenchy. Wed be referring to Eugene Frenchy French. Also known as French The Beachcomber, he first opened a souvenir shop near Bob Hall Pier in 1957. The shop was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961. That same year, he built a combined souvenir shop/ restaurant/nightclub at Park Road 22 and Hwy 361 on Padre Island. This place became controversial, but didnt last long..on Aug 10, 1963 a mysterious fire destroyed the building. Frenchy rebuilt, but it was again destroyed by Hurricane Beulah in 1967. In the 1980s, he opened a seashell shop and another souvenir shop/restaurant called Frenchy the Beachcombers Boardwalk at 14330 SPID. He lost both businesses to foreclosure in 1989 during the oil bust. However, he had already begun to build a new restaurant on the Intercoastal (under the bridge), which opened in 1989. He had built it himself, board by board. The place was packed with countless treasures hed found on the beach during his lifetime of beach combing and exploring....including 400 year old Spanish coins! Frenchy sold the restaurant in 1995 to B.J. Blankenship, though the name, Frenchys remained. On April 19, 1999, in a spectacular blaze, Frenchys burned to the ground (see photos). Several boats docked behind the restaurant also burned and sank, though nearby Snoopys was saved. Today, a restaurant called Docs occupies the site. Eugene Frenchy French died on June 22, 2005.... a true Corpus Christi classic.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 23:41:53 +0000
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