Steakhouse [Forced] To Close, Ending Tradition For Wounded War Vets

D.C. Channel 9 WUSA ^ | 4/14/06 | Doug Buchanan

[Coop]

A two-year tradition for wounded war vets is about to go by the wayside. A downtown DC steak house that’s catered to injured troops every Friday night is about to close.

Fran O’Brien’s landlord [Hilton] is forcing out the steakhouse of the same name.

“We're not feeling very good about leaving and especially the Friday night dinner,” O’Brien said.

With the restaurant soon to close, so too will go a hang-out spot that troops have been able to call home while healing, if only for a few hours every week.

In a statement from Hilton hotels, a spokesperson writes: "this is a business decision whereby Hilton Hotels is exploring several options to utilize this space."

But the decision impacts more than just the business that's getting the boot.

A Hilton hotel spokesperson say they are -- on some level -- hoping to keep the Friday night alive without Fran O’Brien’s.

[KylaStarr]

BTTT!!

[bd476]

Thanks for the bump!

[bd476]

Look who scheduled their annual symposium in a Hilton Hotel:

Serving California's Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises

This Alliance is proud to announce our annual symposium titled

"Keeping the Promise" VOBE 2006

We need your support to ensure our veteran community understands the importance of this key event.

Please help us pass the word.

This is the "Must Attend Event" in 2006 for Veteran and Disabled Veteran Businesses, and for Corporations and Government Agencies desiring to incorporate these businesses into their supplier programs.

The California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Alliance is holding its

14th annual

"Keeping the Promise" Symposium

in concert with

The Veterans Business Journal’s annual

Veterans Outreach Business Exposition (VOBE),

at the

Anaheim Hilton Hotel

in Southern California,

on May 3-4, 2006.

We anticipate this event will draw some 100 exhibitors and over 1500 veteran and service disabled veteran businessmen and women.

The California DVBE Alliance is the largest Service Disabled Veteran Business organization in California. The Veterans Business Journal reaches across the nation to support all business oriented veterans.

This year we are enhancing the format to concentrate on training and one-on-one supplier/buyer interface meetings.

This event intends to address the needs of those veteran and disabled veterans in business, and those who have returned from this country's continuing overseas war on terror, and who desire to pursue entrepreneurship.

Mark this date on your calendars-3 and 4 May 2006

Check the website at KTPVobe.com

The Guardian Page 11 February, 2006
1611 “S” Street, Suite 102
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 446-3510 ▪ Fax: (916) 446-3515

CADVBE.org



PDF File for Madera County Veterans and VFW The Guardian

[gate2wire]

Saturday morning bump.

[trooprally]

bump in case you're just getting up and didn't see this post from last night.

[Coop]

I received several replies that showed most of the people emailed either out of office, on vacation or unavailable. I am disappointed with Hilton Hotels but it's not like I didn't expect this from them. I guess they need the wheelchair ramp money so Paris can show her immoral butt in some foreign country. If I was Hilton and I'm not, this problem would have been quietly fixed and quickly. I believe there is an ulterior motive at work and it has nothing to do with the cost of a wheelchair ramp but more to do with the free meals for wounded veterans.

Thanks for writing. I imagine they've all been overwhelmed with E-mails. Please call them as well.

Concerning cost, Hilton doesn't have a thing to do with the cost of meals. That's handled by co-owners Hal and Marty and donations.

[Coop]

Good work. I don't accept Mr. Kelleher's answer up above that this is a done deal. If corporate wants to make this annoying issue go away, he'll change his mind. Keep up the pressure!

[Coop]

I too would like to know if the offer is in response to the reaction, or was pre-planned, but honestly, to the soldiers, it isn't the issue.

There's no way this was pre-planned. Any novice could see the potential for bad PR, and would have had a plan in place well before three weeks from lease termination.

[Coop]

Wow, good find. It's too close to the event for them to move this year's, but the way Hilton handles this Fran O'Brien's issue could well impact future disable veterans symposiums.

[Coop]

I did see it, but thank you very much for the bump/ping. And for all the other incredible effort you put into supporting our troops!

[bmwcyle]

morning bttt

[Gosh I love this neighborhood]

bttt

[Mrs.Nooseman]

BTTT

[F-117A]

Are photos obligatory when speaking of the hotel ho' ?

[em2vn]

My observation was that the replacing of the restaurant with another tenant wasn't anti-military.
What business replaces the restaurant doesn't have any implication of Hilton being anti-military unless that business is in some fashion anti-military and that Hilton chose that business for that reason.

[trooprally]

BTTT - And for all you do that other's don't know about.

[Mr] T

[Coop]

My observation was that the replacing of the restaurant with another tenant wasn't anti-military. What business replaces the restaurant doesn't have any implication of Hilton being anti-military unless that business is in some fashion anti-military and that Hilton chose that business for that reason.

You keep saying the same thing, without responding to the timelines put forth to you.

[Coop]

As a fan of the troops I am encouraged by the news that 5 May's dinner will apparently not be interrupted, and as a Hilton fan I'm glad to see Mr. Kelleher reaching out to Andi, the command and others. I hope to hear a response from him myself. But this sounds very reactionary to me, and I'm not taking it at face value right now. Keeping the pressure on!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Coop.

That is my take on this as well.

[Coop]

Where ya been? I thought for sure you'd be somewhere on this thread.