Saving America’s Steakhouse (Fran O'Brien's hosts Walter Reed patients )

National Review ^ | April 18, 2006, 7:31 | Shoshana Bryen

[trebb]

That's true. Perhaps the cost of the required upgrades would make leasing that space unprofitable at this time. I can imagine that bringing the space into ADA compliance could be very costly.

I thought ADA was pretty much all-encompassing. Countless small businesses were forced to either comply or get out of business. What exempts the hotel from complying, regardless of the Heroes coming there?

[MineralMan]

"I suspect there was a third option not mentioned by this author, a business decision revolving simply around money (as most do). Why would Hilton go month-to-month leasing for 4-5 months and then suddenly just boot the tenant? My guess is that it took that long to conclude negotiations with a "preferred" new tenant. "

---

I suspect you're right. On the other hand, I'll also bet that Hilton did consider a possible backlash, then dismissed it as having negligible effect on their bottom line.

The restaurant's policy was great, but probably unnoticed except for the families involved. The passing of the restaurant will go equally unnoticed, I'd guess. Since few people staying at the Capital Hilton live anywhere near there, I doubt more than a handful of potential guests will ever hear about this at all.

I think this was probably a purely business decision. One thing's certain, though: If they lease to a new restaurant, the ADA compliance will still have to be dealt with.

This story mentioned a service elevator that could be used to get to the restaurant. I have no idea what ADA compliance for this facility would require, and don't have enough interest in it to find out, frankly.

It's too bad for the injured warriors, though, and I hope some other restaurant takes up the policy. I'm betting that will happen.

For Hilton, this will be a wash.

[ishabibble]

When the original story was first put up, I went to the Hilton Web site to look. Almost all of the officers and public relations listed were women. I called and left a message that my family and I are now exclusively Marriott/Fairfield customers. Even though I left my name and number, I've had no response.

Also, when I read news articles now, especially those with barf alerts or hideous headlines, I note the writers names. So very often, it is some young woman. If I had more discipline, I would research and compile the data that definitively proves that the PC BS crowd is over it's quota in affirmative action women. From Cynthia McKinney to Medea Benjamin to Susan Sarandon, women are being brainwashed and indoctrinated at a faster clip, and in greater numbers than men. Perhaps that is why the number of male college students is declining so rapidly. I wish I knew how many women make up the admissions board at Yale, terrorist remedial education opportunity.

[MineralMan]

What on earth are you yammering about?

[Coop]

The restaurant's policy was great, but probably unnoticed except for the families involved. The passing of the restaurant will go equally unnoticed, I'd guess. Since few people staying at the Capital Hilton live anywhere near there, I doubt more than a handful of potential guests will ever hear about this at all.

Negative. Fran O'Brien's has received awards from the DoD, Paul Wolfowitz visits the Friday dinners regularly, and the patients and their family members are from all over the country. Word gets around. Hence the huge backlash that Hilton is facing (and this was confirmed to me by the nice lady who took down my complaint).

[Seruzawa]

Oh, piss off.

[robowombat]

I posted this to another string on the Hilton-O'Brien's affair. I think it might be relevant here. The response from Hilton's is classic corporate arblegarble when they really won't say what is driving their decisions. (And sometimes what does drive a corporate decision is about as stupid as what drives a government decision

The Capitol Hilton was built in what was a fringe neighborhood close to run down high crime areas. The construction of the new DC Convention Center at 7th & K was the keystone in turning the area from a dud to some of the hottest property in DC. The Hilton is still on the fringe of that area but is close enough that those who manage the property must be salivating at the prospects of cashing in.

One way to cash in is to dramatically increase the lease rate for restaurant space and try and attract a true upper end eating place. Even if O'Brien's' could come up with the much higher lease rate it does not reflect the image the Hilton wants to display as part of the new DC glitzland.

Now the truth probably is that Hilton doesn't have any firm offer on the table for the sort of chi-chi restaurant and water hole they desire. But they want O'Brians's out so they can have an available space for the overpriced underquality sort of glitzly place they seek.

The irony is that the Cap Hilton may not get the restaurant they want or they may end up renting the space for not much more than they do now and the stability of tenancy of their new eatery may be far shakier than staying with O'Brien's's and moderately increasing the rent and requiring some cosmetic upgrades.

I have seen a similar phenomenon with two shopping centers in Northern Va. In one the management couldn't wait to push the S & W Cafeteria out to get rid of its dowdy image and unattractive older patrons. The new tenant was one of the rash of 'crepe' restaurants that were a brief craze in the 70's. The S & W made a solid profit and had been a fixture of the mall since it opened. The frou-frou crepe restaurant lasted about 3 years.

In the other case the shopping and office center near the courthouse in Alexandria was purchased by an out of area investor. This fellow was convinced by his bean counters that he could easily double the square foot rate that the first floor merchants were paying if he just turned the shop space into office space. Just as in the case of O'Brien's the barber shop I went to was strung along for months and then suddenly told to leave at the end of it's lease period. The same thing happened to a tailor, a shoe repair shop, a dressmaker and woman's furnishing shop, and a couple other small merchants. However, the landlord didn't exactly get what his bean counters had assured him of. Since the mixed use center was right in the center of town only one parking slot (rented from the development authority) came with each shop space. The lack of available parking and the center city location along with the layout of the groundfloor spaces meant renters of office space were uninterested. For months afterward I used to be amused walking past the empty shop space now generating no rent and creating a tax liability. Eventually renters were found but i understand the space was rented at a steep discount. About what the small merchants were paying.

Bottom lines, O'Brien's is screwed but with luck Hilton will also screw themselves and they have it coming.

[Coop]

I read your comment before, and found it interesting. But I have to point out one observation here:

Even if O'Brien's' could come up with the much higher lease rate it does not reflect the image the Hilton wants to display as part of the new DC glitzland.

Fran O'Brien's is already considered a pretty upscale dining establishment.

[robowombat]

This is true. But the other restaurant at the Hilton is named 'Twigs' does that say something about the 'corporate vision' for the Downtown Hilton?

[Coop]

Doesn't say anything to me.

[robowombat]

It is not my saying but one that is heard is 'The Duke Ziebart era is over and we don't need another steak house downtown'.

[fanfan]

I just received this by e-mail:


Wednesday, April 19, 2006






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 offered to host and sponsor the May 5, 2006 dinner and expressed interest in working closely with the veterans to continue the Friday night tradition.



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

[Coop]

I got the same E-mail from a different POC. Their story hasn't changed since last week.