The Franklin Furnace Giovanni’s has been in existence for over two decades. Brenda and Bruce MacDonald purchased this business in 1995 and a couple of years later added batting cages behind the business. The batting cage area is a large area which can accommodate ball teams, parties and the general public. The Giovanni’s staff will be pleased to bring food orders back to the batting cages where a large shelter house has been built to accommodate dinning, family gathering and a nice social setting.

The MacDonalds did not have adequate time to run both of these businesses or even the restaurant alone. Therefore, they conducted a search and found Jeff and Gi Murphy who live just down the road from the two businesses.

Jeff and Gi Murphy have taken over the operation of the Franklin Furnace Giovanni’s and have made numerous improvements to the interior and exterior of the business. Between Jeff and Gi, they have over 40 years in the pizza business. Jeff started out in an entry level position with a well known national pizza company and through hard work eventually managed pizza businesses in Tennessee before returning to manage a franchise in Ashland, KY. The opportunity to eventually purchase the Franklin Furnace Giovanni’s and batting cages became available to Jeff and his wife Gi and they are ecstatic with having their own business. Jeff and Gi will be happy to arrange or cater any type of gathering or party which a family or organization may wish to have inside restaurant or outside in the fenced in batting cage area. Jeff is proud to provide employment for over a dozen local residents and support the local economy. In addition to providing employment, Jeff and Gi provide discounts and donations to local schools including Green High School in Franklin Furnace and Greenup County High School in Lloyd, KY. They are very excited about their first season with the batting cages which should open sometime during the month of March and remain open as long as weather and daylight permits. There is plenty of room for coaches to work with their ball players while other kids are utilizing the pitching machines inside the batting cage area. The batting cages have both fast pitch and a slower pitch which is ideal for kids playing in little league. Moreover, a separate pitching machine exists for both fast pitch softball and the slow pitch softball. The Murphys look forward to seeing you this spring and hope you come prior to then to visit the restaurant and view the fenced in batting cage facility. Jeff and Gi can be reached at the restaurant for orders, booking parties, groups, teams, etc. at (740) 354-9335.