Posted on 04/22/2006 8:10:03 AM PDT by Coop
VETERANS
O'Brien's Creates Charity
The owners of Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse in Northwest Washington have created a charity to help fund the Friday night steak dinners they hold for wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Organizers and veterans are trying to find a place to keep the dinners going while the restaurant's owners look for a place to reopen.
Donations can be sent to: Aleethia Foundation Inc.
C/O Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse
1001 16th St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20036.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
FYI
bttt
"Organizers and veterans are trying to find a place to keep the dinners going while the restaurant's owners look for a place to reopen."
Never give up.
Bump for doing the right thing.
I'd wondered why they didn't have a fund raiser to bring in the funds they need for the elevator or chair lift that was needed at the original location.
Probably because it was the landlord's responsibility. Heck, three of us here on FR have already volunteered our time to help bring it up to ADA compliance. So it could certainly be done. But I'm now convinced that Hilton just wants 'em out, whatever the true reason may be.
Please help spread the word.
Thank you, kind sir.
"Please spread the word.
Coop"
PING!
MilBlog conference was there last night.
Conference going on now. You can view it online:
http://www.militarywebcom.org/milblogs06
Thank you, kind sir!
I heard the milbloggers were going, and I look forward to more updates. Did you attend?
A tax deductible way to support our troops?
Count me in. I pay bills later this afternoon, and I'll be happy to buy a few soldiers a steak.
Great. Thanks for your support of the wounded soldiers.
Needed to work, so I am home in AZ. I hear the resturant was packed. Conf. is going on now.
http://www.militarywebcom.org/milblogs06
BTTT
Ping
Thanks for the ping, Coop
Ping
Ping
Thanks for the ping. I've been trying to keep up with all these posts and sending them on to some of my e-mail friends including some in the area.
Thank you very much for spreading the word.
Please keep the pressure on Hilton. And if our pressure does not cause Hilton to back down, then at least this thread shows a way we can support the troops and Fran O'Brien's if you're so inclined. Thank you.
Personally, I wish it was breaking news every 15 minutes on all networks until it is settled. You know, sorta like the so-called leaking of a known CIA agent or the accidental shooting of a companion on a hunting trip. IMO this is a lot more outrageous and dare I say criminal.
I don't know about criminal. I don't see anything illegal about it (although a lawyer I ain't), but it's terrible PR and quite cold-hearted.
Well, I thought all business establishments had to have easy access for the handicapped. If not what is the ADA all about? I understood it was the owner's responsibility to make the restaurant accessable to the handicapped by law, which has been in effect for at least 10 or 15 years now. Maybe CBoldt could help us, I think he is a lawyer.
Audio from the first panel is up at http://www.op-for.com
BTTT
We've re-arranged dinner plans this evening, so we're now going to dine at Fran O'Brien's. With our two children (ages 2 and 4). :-} I hope to speak with Hal or Marty, and I also plan to pay a personal visit upstairs.
Well, that proves you are a braver man than I. Dining out with a two-year old is scary.
Barriers must be removed in an existing business if such removal is readily achievable. ADA complaints are handled by the US Department of Justice.
Information can be found at www.usdoj.gov/crt.ada
Any alterations and/or additions would trigger the construction requirements found in the ADAAG ( American with Disabilities Act Arch. Guidelines).
Changes to a primary function area trigger certain accessibility upgrades/ modifications. Such modifications are required up to the point they become disproportianate to the overall improvements (20-%).
I can not see where the Hilton can argue that they are not able to readily achieve barrier removal and provide access for the handicapped.
Thanks for the info. I guess it all comes down to the bottom line for Hilton. They must have a way to get supplies and stuff down there, maybe an upgrade is all that is needed and Hilton doesn't want to fork over the cash. But I strongly suspect from what I've read that they just want the establishment closed and off their premises.
Yeah, this isn't exactly McDonald's. I have a feeling we'll end up being seated by the kitchen. :-)
That's where they generally sat my family when my boy was two.
Except it was in the alley behind the kitchen.
:-) If the reports are true, sounds like Hilton security is patrolling that area pretty heavily. So maybe we'll swing a seat inside.
Good luck, Coop! The responses I've received from my complaints to Hilton all state it has nothing to do with the Veterans dinners but no other explanation is forthcoming. It sounds like Buzz Patterson got a better explanation from Koster in the article you posted.
Enjoy your dinner and pass along my thanks to those guys for their efforts to accomadate our heroes every Friday night. I'll keep sending those emails of complaint...
Forgot to tell you I got a nice email from the hotel management the other day...saying that they were working on something to continue the dinner.
Just got off the phone making reservations. I did express our gratitude to the lady, and she mentioned how much they love all the young troops. When I asked about parking, she said their lot had just closed down for construction. So other than street parking, our only option was paying Hilton $10 for valet. I told the woman I was familiar with this situation and would not be giving Hilton money for parking or anything else. She seemed appreciative of the support.
Yes, but I imagine it was the same boilerplate we almost all seemed to have received. I found it polite, but fairly insincere and lacking some details.
I'm not sure what BK means.
BTTT!!! Wooohooo -- these guys at Fran O'Briens are awesome!!
No evictions, suppliers had to continue supplying, etc.
If I was Fran's management I'd check for the best BK lawyer in town - if nothing else, it is leverage. Just filing can't be more than $500. To reiterate - this is not legal advice.
Just remember this is free advice and you know what that's worth ... ;-)
Bump for the future
If Hilton doesn't want that military dollar, who am I to argue? I won't impose on them with my money, which has been "tainted" by the military for several generations. I'm sure Fran O'Brien's could find a use for my "tainted" money. Thanks for the info.
The way I read this is: Fran O'Brien's is getting kicked out of the Hilton which will cost them a fortune, especially since it is on such short notice, so they are taking up a collection to keep the dinners going until they can relocate. What a contrast to what Hilton is doing (nothing).
Thanks for pinging me to the other thread.
I asked to speak to the co-owners, but Hal hadn't arrived yet and Marty wasn't working tonight. So we left a thank-you note and modest donation for Hal at the hostess station. While there, I began chatting with one of the managers. She told me a few interesting pieces of information.
1) CBS Evening News is planning to run a piece on FOB's on Monday evening. The local ABC affiliate is also planning a story, but when it will air is TBD. And Hannity & Colmes are scheduled for this coming Friday, although Hal & Marty don't want to do the show if it's their last night with the troops for a while.
2) With CBS, military bloggers and other media people present last night, Hilton GM Brian Kelleher was outside to personally greet the wounded soldiers. The manager said she had never seen him do that before. They also had security staff and umbrellas standing by, as opposed to the previous couple of years when they had to request them. No big deal, but Hilton was treating the event as a dog 'n pony show for the media.
3) One of the excuses Hilton has given for the eviction is that Fran O'Brien's has been late with the rent a couple of times. She said this is an accurate claim. What goes unsaid is that Hilton owes Fran O'Brien's anywhere from $60-$80K in room charges, so there are times they simply subtract the monthly rent from the totals owed back to them. Apparently Hilton didn't like that.
What a pathetic excuse for a hotel. I've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, given my past wonderful experience with Hilton, but we're done with them next week if they don't unscrew this and fast. I left a handwritten note for Mr. Kelleher, with my Hilton Honors numbers. The tone was civil, but to the point. We'll see if he bothers to respond.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.