John and Frankie Arata look to carry on tradition as they take the wheel of Plank Craft Kitchen and Bar
For John and Frankie Arata, taking over ownership of Plank Craft Kitchen and Bar, a successful eatery in Historic Folsom, wasn’t just a business decision—it was the realization of a lifelong dream. The couple, who previously played roles in the restaurant and hospitality industry, saw an opportunity to return to their roots and bring their passion for food and service to the community they call home today.
“We had been looking for something for about a year,” John said. “I wanted to get into something entrepreneurial, and when I saw this place come up for sale, I just had a feeling I knew what building it was and it was just the perfect fit for what we had dreamed of one day.”
The Arata’s journey in the food and beverage industry started long before their move to Folsom. The two met while working at The Blue Beat, a bar and restaurant in Newport Beach, where they spent a decade managing operations. “It was a three-level, old brick building with live music and an 80s disco night,” John recalled. “We handled everything from hiring and firing to day-to-day operations. We pretty much ran it for the owner.”
After years working in the likes of the demanding late-night restaurant business, the couple sought a change, at least for a while. They moved to Folsom to raise their family, with John transitioning into the liquor sales industry, working as a representative for Southern Wine and Spirits. Frankie landed a library job with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District “It was still in the industry,” John explained. “But I was selling it a case at a time instead of by the glass back then. We had always talked about doing our own thing one day. Now, here we are.”
When the opportunity to own a restaurant in Folsom presented itself, John and Frankie knew it was the right time to return to their roots. The Aratas met with Plank’s previous owner and creator, Michael Sanson, and they instantly clicked after they followed up on a broker listing for the restaurant that Sanson had decided to sell to focus more of his time on his larger restaurant, Riley’s that is just down the street. As part of decision to sell the restaurant, Sanson was seeking a buyer that would have great passion and drive to succeed much like himself. The Arata’s were apparently just that.
“We just hit it off,” John said. “By the end of the tour, we were shaking hands saying, ‘Are we doing this? We’re doing this.’ Mike looked at us and said, ‘I’ve been looking for you guys. You are exactly what I wanted for this place.”
The transition process was surprisingly smooth, according to John, who explained they bought the business with the plan to ensure they maintained the core of what made Plank a beloved spot for many years already. “If this were to happen, I had to make sure that the kitchen staff was staying,” John said. “We know the front of the house and the bar like the back of our hands, but we needed that engine to stay in place and Mike was able to make that happen for us with this great crew he had in place.”
Rather than making drastic changes, the Aratas focused on refining the customer experience with their own unique touches, but there wasn’t a need to really change anything from the model Sanson built in Plank. “People would ask, ‘What are you going to do?’ And we’d say, ‘Nothing.’ The Plank is staying Plank,” said John. “Look at this place. It’s beautiful. We love it. The menu’s great,” John said.
The Aratas are committed to keeping Plank’s reputation for great homemade quality intact. “We’re an American eatery, but I’ve heard people call it ‘California comfort food,’” John said. “We make everything from scratch—our own ranch, our own sauces. We smoke our own pastrami and wings. The chicken isn’t pre-breaded; we do it all in-house.”
Their focus on quality extends to their different forms of American fare as well as select seafood, their in-house smoked turkey, and house-cut ahi, their famous Plank and rodeo burgers, salads, sandwiches, pasta and more. “The quality is really high,” John emphasized. “That’s what craft kitchen means—it’s all made from scratch.” Just a few of the many unique menu items include ahi poke Nachos, calamari, pork belly or shrimp tacos, lobster mac and cheese. Their prime rib dip is a popular hit on their list of unique sandwhiches. They also offer vegetarian dishes, incuding a portabello burger. Seafood dishes include, but are not limited to seared scallops, mahi mahi and calamari.
The couple is also deeply invested in the Folsom community. “We love Folsom. We feel like we landed where we were supposed to be. Our kids work here. Our customers become friends. We want people to feel like family when they come here,” said Frankie, who has been involved for many years with the Folsom High School Music Boosters. “When they ask, ‘Where should we go?’ we want them to say, ‘Let’s go to Plank.’”
The road to aquiring their dream didn’t come without a curve in the journey, however. Three weeks after signing the paperwork to take over Plank, Frankie was diagnosed with cancer. “It was a shock, but I caught it really early,” she said. “Kaiser was amazing. From the biopsy to surgery to radiation, it all went quickly. But it was another reminder that you never know what life is going to throw at you.”
Despite the health scare, the Aratas remained committed to their new venture, Frankie just took it slow when it came to operating the restaurant as she worked to fully recover. “I thought I was going to bounce right back. And I kept thinking that as I went through it. But the radiation treatment kept tapping me on the shoulder going, ‘We’re going to slow you down a little bit,’” Frankie said. “But this place is our dream. We’re all in and I am so happy we did this.”
The couple has some modest plans for the future of Plank, in addition to their first plan to keep it much the same, they are planning some patio dining improvements like a wooden pergola with misters and seasonal menu enhancements. “We’re always looking to improve the space and the menu,” John said. “But our goal is to keep the heart of this place the same. We want it to always feel like home.”
As they take the helm of one of Historic Folsom’s destination restaurants, the Arata’s commitment to community involvement is something they want to make as a priority as well. “We want to stay involved with the sports teams, the band, the Chamber, the Rotary, the Historic Society—everything,” Frankie added. “We want to be part of what makes Folsom great.”
For the Aratas, Plank is more than just a business—it’s a dream fulfilled, a homecoming to their passion, and a commitment to the town they love. “You will find us here alot, to be successful in this business you have to be present,” John said. “You will find our kids here. Almost every day as well. They love working here as a family.”
Plank is located at 608 Sutter Street in Folsom, its two story building with indoor and outdoor dining on both levels is nestled right in between Powerhouse Pub an the Sutter Street Steakhouse building. They have a full bar in the restaurant that has a variety of craft cocktails, beer and wine and firepit tables in their outdoor dining areas on both levels. At this time, they are open everyday except Mondays. You can find their hours as well as their full menus at www.plankfolsom.com.
