PORTLAND, Ore. -- A beloved hot dog restaurant mascot's costume has returned home after employees said it was stolen over the weekend.
"Frankie," the hot dog mascot for Frankie's Franks restaurant, was being painted Saturday when he was briefly left unattended at the restaurant at SE 82nd Ave. & Cooper St. At about 10:30 p.m., employees discovered that Frankie was missing and called police. Thanks to some tips, police found him at a bus stop near SE 88th & Foster Rd. on Monday, and they returned Frankie back to the restaurant, according to employees.
But Frankie wasn't returned in the same shape he was in two days ago. Employees said he's been ripped and torn, he's split apart, and he's missing an eye.
"We're happy that he's back, but it's gonna take a little work to get him back out there," said employee Krystal Manley. "But he will definitely be back out there."
Manley said the mascot will require new paint, some stiching, and a new eye--which could take a week or two.
Employees say when Frankie is at his best, he's at their restaurant on SE 82nd Ave. or at their location at NE 111th Ave. & Halsey St., waving to drivers and customers, and he'll even make appearances at charity events. Each employee has a bond with Frankie, since at one point or another, they are Frankie.
"Everyone who has worked at Frankie's Franks has been in the costume at least once," said Manley.
