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Save Fran O'Brien's

By Denizens on April 13, 2006 | | Comments (35) | TrackBacks (11)

UPDATE IV: Click here.

UPDATE III: Andi says at 6:00 EDT: "Looks like I may have some news to share with you soon, likely tomorrow. For now, be VERY respectful when you contact the Hilton Corporation. Let them know how much these dinners mean to our troops, and that we hope they will continue. Stay tuned...." This may be corroboration of the info in the original Update. Well see, I guess...

UPDATE II: Wizbang has the Hilton side of things (scroll down).

UPDATE: Good News!!! Commenter "mdwest" reports (over at Andi's) having spoken to the manager at Fran's this afternoon. They are in the middle of negotiations with Hilton! There is no reason to assume either way, but at least there is hope. And even if it is only a short extension on the lease, it can give Fran's time to find another location nearby and continue its tradition of supporting the troops. Don't stop contacting Hilton, yet!

Many people associated with the military, especially those who work with the wounded, are aware of what the restaurant Fran O'Brien's has been doing every Friday night since 2003 for the patients at Walter Reed and Bethesda. But their great work is in danger of ending in just two weeks. As Capitol Hill Blue reporter Lisa Hoffman describes it:

...for those whose future plans exploded the moment they were maimed, the steps and the landmark restaurant they lead to are a welcome-mat back to normal life...

In a restaurant where a T-bone goes for $30 a pop, each recuperating vet gets a full-course feast, plus whatever libations they choose, for free...it is the atmosphere as much as the food that feeds the 50 or so troops and family members who partake each week...

There they find camaraderie, mutual support and, commonly, a lot of laughs. It's a night out like they enjoyed before they went to war. No one stares at them and no one will let them sink into self pity, said Staff Sgt. Joshua Olson, now 26, who lost his right leg up to the hip two years ago when an enemy rocket hit his truck in Tal Afar, Iraq. "You have to decide if you're going to lay in bed or get up and live,"

Fran O'Brien's has been denied an extension on their property lease by the Hilton (Hotels) company and will be closing their doors on April 31st 30. They requested a renewal on the lease 6 months ago and were repeatedly told it was being developed. Finally the company started ignoring their requests for information. Only very recently did they recieve notice that the lease will not be renewed.

The restaurant owners have been given no explanation for the non-renewal, but there seem to be liability concerns about the number of wounded and disabled people Fran O'Brien's accomodates on Friday evenings. However, Hilton refuses to do the construction necessary to alleviate those concerns, and no legal actions have developed from "inadequate" facilities.

The impact that Fran O'Brien's generous support of the wounded troops through their free meals has had on morale and recovery at Walter Reed and Bethesda cannot be overstated [see "Extended Entry" below]. Their's has been an extraordinary gift of love and support, at great financial cost to the restaurant owners. We can't let them lose their restaurant, or let this wonderful expression of support disappear.

I've seen for myself that the energy, ideas, and contacts of the milblog world are astonishing. Let's put them together and fix this problem. Greyhawk writes:

If you are so inclined I would like to ask you to call and/or email the following two officials at the Hilton and voice your support for Hal and Marty and express your concern for the reasoning behind this seemingly arbitrary decision. Please call them tomorrow or Friday and feel free to share this with anyone else who might be willing to call.

Here are the people to call:

*Dan Boyle (212) 838-1558
daniel_a_boyle@hilton.com

Brian Kellaher (202) 393-1000*

[For those of you whose blood pressure resembled mine after hearing this: we need to be sure to be polite and civil in our contacts with Hilton. The a**-chewing they deserve for their collossal lack of PR savvy would not be helpful in this case. And be sure to read the comments below for good ideas.]

For more information: Wizbang (coordinating a protest this Friday--4/14--at the Hilton attached to the restaurant), Andi's World, OPFOR (the newly-renamed and reopened Officer's Club).

Others blogging this: Neptunus Lex, TC Override (CPT Z), Proud Army Mom, Don Surber, Blue Crab Boulevard, The Real Ugly American.

[Extended Entry]

I wanted to share with you the story I heard about one dinner at Fran O'Brien's. It was told to me second-hand during my trip to DC, but within ear-shot of the person who experienced it.

A Vietnam veteran (and fellow Purple Heart recipient) joined the Friday night dinner at Fran's last winter. He reported sitting at a table with a number of wounded soldiers waiting for their food when one of them suddenly picked up the steak knife that had been set before him. Brandishing the knife and glancing around the table he exclaimed, "What the $%^# are they doing giving us all these knives? Don't they know every single person at this table has PTSD?!" The whole place fell apart laughing.

It's things like that little vignette that make Fran O'Brien's such a special place. Where else would these severely-wounded veterans get to sit down to a first-class meal and be allowed to be themselves in the company of so many who completely understand what they've been through and what they still face?

If you haven't yet, go over to Mudville Gazette and read the news article by Lisa Hoffman that Greyhawk includes. She has more details about what an important role Fran O'Brien's has played in the recovery of wounded warriors. And then go do what you can to keep it open! - FbL

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Have a Moment to Send an E-mail? from Most Certainly Not on April 13, 2006 8:26 AM

I know you ALL know how to send an e-mail, so let's get those keys clacking and put our words to good use. Andi, founder of Andi's World and the Milblogging conference, highlighted the plight of a DC-eatery whose lease Read More

Save Fran O'Brien's from She Who Will Be Obeyed! on April 13, 2006 10:45 AM

Please consider writing or calling the people listed in the post on Arrgghh!!! to save a wonderful place, Fran O'Brien's. Click on for the details, then you can read on. As a Hilton Honors VIP Diamond member, I have emailed... Read More

The Fight For Fran O’ Brien’s from Flopping Aces on April 13, 2006 11:49 AM

Many of you may already know the story of Fran O’ Brien’s restaurant near the White house that has been serving free dinners to wounded servicement every Friday night for the past 2.5 years: There are 20 steps from the street to the steak h... Read More

Spread the Word - Save Fran O'Brien's from Righty in a Lefty State on April 13, 2006 11:52 AM

The Milblog world is abuzz over the treatment of Fran O’Brien’s Read More

An open letter to the Capitol Hilton, Washington, D.C. from Redneck Peril on April 13, 2006 1:41 PM

...cannot help but reflect badly upon your own establishment and on the Hilton chain in general, even if your decision is defensible on business grounds: not every decision a man of character makes, is made on the basis of the bottom line alone, as Mr.... Read More

Hilton doesn't care about disabled Vets?? from Void Where Prohibited on April 13, 2006 4:09 PM

Link: Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys... Under the circumstances I think they'd be willing to do something for our guys. Doesn't look like they care much. Phone numbers and email addresses available. Tell them how shameful Read More

A Bitch Slap for the Chickenhawk Crowd from The Yankee Sailor on April 13, 2006 7:31 PM

It seems "the wealthy" are now overrepresented among recruits. Read More

Sailor Donates House for Blind Girl from The Yankee Sailor on April 13, 2006 7:32 PM

A deployed Sailor aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) donated in February the dream home he was building to a family left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Read More

Corvettes in China from Jack Yoest on April 13, 2006 8:21 PM

1958 'Vette with standard accessories Years ago Your Business Blogger tooled around town in a vintage 'Vette. Pictured with factory options. The blond came (and went) with the machine. It didn't have 12 cylinders. But it was a product... Read More

I apologize from HomefrontSix on April 15, 2006 1:41 AM

I do want to give you all a heads up on something...the Hilton is closing down Fran O'Brien's across from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This is a huge travesty for reasons I don't have time to list. Please go HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, or H... Read More

Corvettes in China from Jack Yoest on April 25, 2006 10:40 PM

1958 'Vette with standard accessories Years ago Your Business Blogger tooled around town in a vintage 'Vette. Pictured with factory options. The blond came (and went) with the machine. It didn't have 12 cylinders. But it was a product... Read More

35 Comments

By AW1 Tim on April 13, 2006 7:26 AM
Comrades, I've sent a nice, polite, yet firm email to Mr. Boyle regarding the situation. I've also forwarded my thoughts on the matter to the National HQ. For the DAV, since I'm a life member there. I hope that this all gets straightened out and the lease extended. I'd hate to see Hilton taken off the list of future convention sites, though it'll certainly be off of my travel plans should the lease be lost. Respects, AW1 Tim
 
By Karen on April 13, 2006 8:14 AM
Does anyone wonder that the trial lawyers have sued everyone for everything that Hilton is petrified? You must convey that the goodwill generated by the support for the troops is more valuable than the fear of trial lawyers. Hilton will pay millions for a commercial during the superbowl and not get the good publicity of helping these soldiers.
 
By Some Guy on April 13, 2006 8:34 AM
So, instead of wasting your time, send an email or letter to the VFW and American Legion. The Legion national commander is Thomas Bock, his email is NatlCmdr@legion.org. The VFW CiC is Jim Mueller, only email I have is info@vfw.org. Inform the Legion and VFW that Hilton has decided accommodating disabled veterans is more trouble than it's worth, and ask them to intervene with the company. Don't immediately call for a nationwide boycott of the chain. Simply ask them to intervene on behalf of their MILLIONS of members, most of whom are heads of households and who travel on business. (Basically, you are planting the seed with them that this may not be the sort of company their members should be supporting, and giving the Hilton CEO room to go over the heads of his subordinates without looking like he caved to the threat of a boycott.) P.S. Make absolutely sure to copy the CEO of Hilton, Stephen F. Bollenbach (the only email I coudl find is bill_fortier@hilton.com, though I bet stephen_bollenbach or steve_bollenbach@hilton.com work).
 
By FbL on April 13, 2006 8:36 AM
There are certainly business considerations that seem rational on the surface, but I think the decision makers at Hilton have missed the boat. They had the choice between doing the knee-jerk thing and alienating a lot of people (for example, retired military who are active in business and other national organizations) who would be otherwise loyal customers, or creating a feel-good story about how they "partnered with Fran O'Brien's to ensure that our wounded troops could continue to fellowship and heal in a supportive environment." Check out some of the links above--one article calls the Friday dinners a "cultural touchstone" for this generation of wounded veterans. Hilton has a huge opportunity if they would just think creatively.
 
By FbL on April 13, 2006 8:40 AM
Excellent point, Some Guy!
 
By ammertime on April 13, 2006 8:55 AM
Fran O'Brien's is a wonderful place, with truly nice staff (a rarity in Washington), but I'm pretty sure the Hilton has wanted them out of there for a very long time. A couple months ago I went there for dinner with friends and a Hilton employee actually gloated that they were closed and would be for a while. The animosity probably long predates the arrival of the wounded vets. If you're not from DC, you're probably picturing something quite opulent -- you are very mistaken. The Hilton is a hole. It's not in a particularly good neighborhood. The steakhouse is in the basement and I've seldom - if ever - seen it close to crowded on a normal night. I honestly think you'd be better off if you would support Fran O'Brien's in relocating to a better venue. Bid the Hilton good riddance.
 
By BloodSpite on April 13, 2006 8:56 AM
Blood pressure down? Check, breathing back to normal check. Ok I can see the screen now. Why in the hell would they do something like that? Sound especially fishy to me. They probably want to put in something more "fashionable" like afriggin Applebee's or some other cookie cutter restraunt trash that has no room for anyone but the preppie new age youth with their no out of place hair and perfect friggin teeth. Just grrrrrrrrrr
 
By BloodSpite on April 13, 2006 9:18 AM
My Trackbacks are hosed (again Not going to be my day today it seems) Linked you on this
 
By a Vet on April 13, 2006 10:34 AM
In 1970, December, just before Christmas, the wounded at the Philadelphia Navy Hospital who wanted to go out and was paying for their own meal were refused, although they had reservations. Later the restaurant stated that it would have had a bad effect on the other patrons. It is starting again.
 
By Gary Gay on April 13, 2006 11:13 AM
If veterans are not welcome at Hilton Hotels perhaps veterans should choose to stay somewhere else. I am a veteran. If service in the military offends the Hilton management or if the presence of wounded military personnel is embarrasing to them, veterans should take their money elsewhere. I have no doubt the vast majority of hotels, whether large corporation or single owner, would welcome veterans. There must be millions of veterans who can spend their money elsewhere.
   
By M. Simon on April 13, 2006 11:28 AM
I sent the following e-mail Subject:Fran O'Brien's Message: Be nice. It's good for business. M. Simon And for those with a PTSD problem help is on the way.
 
By Steven Brockerman on April 13, 2006 11:44 AM
If you want to "chew" anyone's a**, I suggest the morons & tyrants responsible for the passage of the ADA.
 
By M. Simon on April 13, 2006 11:47 AM
This is as trackback as blogger can do: Is Hilton Burning Yet? Wait. Wrong title. Should be Paris not Hilton. Well, enough of the jokes. There is news today that a restruant that serves disabled veterans free meals on Fridays is not getting their lease extended by the Hilton Hotels. You can learn more at Castle Argghhh!. --snip-- With the usual links etc. Simon - Tonkin Bay Yacht Club - '66
   
By KCSteve on April 13, 2006 12:47 PM
Two polite phone calls made and messages left (gee, I wonder why they're not answering their phones?) I pointed out that they still have time to flip this to a positive PR thing and that, while it's not likely to directly affect me, it will affect whether or not I'll ever stay at a Hilton hotel again.
 
By cliff on April 13, 2006 12:48 PM
And I thought a Hilton would let anybody in. I mean, look at Paris......
 
By Kenny Pierce on April 13, 2006 12:59 PM
Some guy, stephen_bollenbach@hilton.com bounced back to me as "No such mailbox exists" -- but steve_bollenbach@hilton.com seems to have gone right on through.
 
By DutchVan on April 13, 2006 1:10 PM
What else can you expect from a family ownwd company who had members who wed Zsa Zsa Gabor and fathered Paris Hilton....I'll never set foot in a Hilton again and use all my powers of persuasion to convince friends and relatives to stay away as well.
 
By ML on April 13, 2006 1:34 PM
I would actually suggest that the veterans who have benefitted from this program also complain to the Hilton management and cite the possibility of a formal ADA complaint following. If management is upset at the number of disabled people visiting their establishment, they are violating civil rights. This is just flat-out wrong, and they need to be called on it, in every way.
 
By RJGatorEsq. on April 13, 2006 3:20 PM
Good Afternoon: I just learned that Hilton may not renew the lease of Fran O'Brien's. I stay at the Hilton every year when I attend the [Name of Event I Attend]. A terrific dinner at Fran O'Brien's (but I repeat myself...) is one the of the highlights of my stay. Please reconsider your decision, and extend Fran O'Brien's lease on commercially-reasonable terms. Thank you, [Name]
 
By davod on April 13, 2006 5:34 PM
This could just be an administrative stuff up by low level management full of self importance. Then again. These days I would tend to look into the background of Hilton to see if there are any Arab deals in the offing. Remember: Borders signed an agreement with the UAE before it decided to remove the magazine with the vicious Mohamoud cartoons in it. Mind youthe removal was to safeguard their staff. I would also suggest picketting your local Hilton.
 
By Bill on April 13, 2006 5:39 PM
Hiltons behavior, if their motivations are as they have been characterized, is despicable, but here is another perspective. It's their property and they have the right to do with it as they please. That is, after all, one of the principles that our troops are fighting for. Find another restaurant that wants to support the troops and if one can't be found, get some investors and start one. I'd participate in that venture. That's another principle that our troops are fighting for.
 
By Brian McLaughlin on April 13, 2006 5:59 PM
I will be Emailing Dan Boyle, in concern, for the brave. > Sudbury, Ontario Canada
 
By FbL on April 13, 2006 6:06 PM
Bill: Even with the most positive characterization of Hilton's actions possible, they are screwing over the restaurant by dragging their heels for five months, then springing an eviction on them with a three-week deadline. And that's a terrible thing to have happen to a restaurant that has done so much for the wounded troops. I don't know if a month or so (about how long it's been since Hilton stopped communicating with Fran's other than to send the notice recently) is theoretically enough time for them to make a smooth transition to a new location, but it's definitely not a practical amount of time. And the free Friday night dinners were a labor of love for the owners, one of whom is a Vietnam vet. They have shunned PR on this, and definitely aren't in it for business gain. Yup, it's Hilton's property to do with as they choose, but we can try to exert market pressure to encourage them to make choices we prefer.
 
By Kevin on April 13, 2006 6:35 PM
A spokesperson for Hilton said the decision was a business decision that has nothing to do with the Friday dinners. They didn't elaborate on the reasons, but the did say they are trying to maintain the dinner at another location in the hotel , and that ADA issues had nothing to do with the decision. I wouldn't put any stock in what may have been heard from someone on the phone at Fran O'Brien's unless it's one of the two owners. I'm waiting for a callback from them. At this point it's worth withholding judgement until we know what the owners position actually it. For all we know they are still negotiating or are looking at another location. I can tell you that Hilton understands the potential for this story to go bad on them, so I suspect that they will bend over backwards to be seen as fair and above board. If the folks at Fran O'Brien's want to stay and can't get the Hilton to reach a deal then the pressure of bad PR can probably force them to the bargaining table. What we don't know at this point is if that's something the owners actually want... We'll protest outside the hotel, if need be, once we know the resteraunt's side of the story.
 
By Just_A_Grunt on April 13, 2006 7:25 PM
Chris Wallce the host of "Fox News Sunday" did a piece on this a while back. Some emails to him might bring a little publicity to the problem. At least letting Hilton aware of this information may help.
 
By Gaius Arbo on April 13, 2006 8:21 PM
Thank you for the link, I appreciate it. Thanks for getting the word out on this, too.
 
By Howard Veit on April 14, 2006 5:18 AM
I've posted on my site (3,000 hits per day) and I've written to Hilton in a very polite manner as you suggested. I have some clout since we have many meetings at a Hilton facility; some dinners at a few restaurants, and I may vacation at a Hilton owned resort, I don't know. I will stop all those activities.
 
By sm8417 on April 14, 2006 10:50 AM
Well gentlemen, here is a copy of my email to Mr. Boyle for what its worth. Dear Mr. Boyle, I am writing you in hopes of that the situation can be resolved Fran O'Brien's. It has come to my attention of the lack of cooperation that Hilton has taken in dealings with Fran O'Brien's. I implore that you and you company take a more sympathetic approach when dealing with a company that goes out of their to way to help disabled veterans buy offering up much needed good will toward them. I am more than positive that Hilton can accommodate Fran O'Brien's, since it appears that many times Hilton was contacted over the lease agreement and your company either neglected to inform or ignored Fran O'Brien's. Once again, I implore that this situation be dealt with the utmost care and concern and do not "blow off" a company that is doing a much needed service to our veterans. I am sure this issue can get quite a bit of press in and around Fran O'Brien's community as well as national. Thank you. Stewart McCauley President 2Digital Technologies, stewart.mccauley@2digital.com
 
By sm8417 on April 14, 2006 11:26 AM
Well, I took it a step further.. I contacted CNN and more local news to see if we can get National Media coverage for this... I will be honest, a little smear to the Hilton Corp, will not hurt my feelings especialy when the people they have working for them have a lack of compasion for our vets.
 
By John Miska on April 14, 2006 2:27 PM
Seems when I was called back by Hilton Management I was lead to belive according to them that the lease was up a year ago and Hal and Marty were told then to find new digs...HMMMMM? then I was trold that the Hilton plans to continue the dinners at the Hotel and they definately tried to give me the impression that the dinners were theirs to begin with...... I know Hal and I would take his word over some zealous bean counter from Hilton anyday. I would be it is because Hilton has refused to maitain the infrastructure of the basement there to support ADA etc that they are trying to dump the Restaurant. If Hilton does not see the light here I will never ever stay at a Hilton again. I ask all other vets to make that same pledge.
 
By Mark Storer on April 14, 2006 4:55 PM
Greetings- I wrote to Capitol Hilton about the issue and received the following reply within hours... Thanks- Your e-mail has been forwarded to me, Brian Kelleher, General Manager, of The Capital Hilton. Thank you for your _expression of concern regarding the Fran O’Brien’s restaurant. I appreciate your interest and would like to take this opportunity to respond to you personally. For strictly business reasons related solely to the inability to reach a new lease agreement, the Capital Hilton has elected to terminate the lease with the operator of Fran O’Brien’s restaurant at the hotel. This decision was not at all related to the Friday night dinners for disabled veterans but rather a result of lease negotiations that failed. The hotel has offered to host and sponsor the May 5, 2006 dinner and expressed interest in working closely with Walter Reed so that the Friday night tradition can continue. Furthermore, the hotel is in discussions with one of the sponsors of the Friday night dinners to continue their support of the dinners. The Capital Hilton prides itself on its involvement and support of many community organizations and events and has provided complimentary or discounted rooms to families with veterans in the hospital, donated facilities to military organizations and most recently hosted a meeting for 300 people. Sincerely, Brian Kelleher General Manager, Capital Hilton Delete Reply Forward Not Spam Move... Previous | Next | Back to Messages
 
By HomefrontSix on April 15, 2006 1:44 AM
Wizbang doesn't like me today. I posted with a link to your post. Just so's you know... http://homefrontsix.blogspot.com/2006/04/i-apologize.html
 
By Wendy Robinson on April 15, 2006 8:36 PM
What kind of company do you think you are to do something like this especially in the United States of America and expect to get respected? The mere name of your company is a joke anymore with the Paris Hilton “snooper model” thing, it looks like you would at least want to make something good come from your company and give back something to our country considering your lodging rates are overrated anyway and you have so little to offer in reality only but a bed, TV, bathroom, place to eat, and perhaps a business center or a play area! If you only knew or would take time to ask what your communities wanted or needed you would find you were not the best deal in our country and now you have just proven who you really are and you have no right to be in our country as you have no loyalty to the flag or the people it protects and stands for. For it has been and will be passed on you are a true failure in the American eye and the American dream. You are no American just a bottom feeder collecting money from all those who live and work here. Those of us who have read this story and those of us who will read will no longer subscribe, attend or go to you facilities. Wendy Robinson Jacksonville, Fl Military Family Child.