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.

[em2vn]

Please point them out to me.

[patton]

LOL

[gondramB]

"Fourth, you are the one ignoring the statement by Hilton that the reason Fran O'Brien's would not have the lease renewed was because of potential lawsuits if the military men/women got injured on Hilton property."

I'm trying to catch back up on this - does anybody have a link to Hilton's statement saying that's the reason they would not renew the lease?

[gondramB]

"i am not telling you how to or how not to spend your money... just as hilton as landlord is under no obligation to continue to lease to fran obriens... bottom line is if there is more money to be made, they have a right to pursue it... no matter how righteous the tenant..."


They do. But if their choice harms veterans and particularly if they are doing it keep veterans out then I've got a perfect right to be upset about that and express myself by the legal method(s) of my choice to Hilton, including letters and or not doing business with them.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"I'm trying to catch back up on this - does anybody have a link to Hilton's statement saying that's the reason they would not renew the lease?"

Reply # 2 on this thread has a link to a prior thread on issue, but I will look further. I don't think that is the original thread that I read.

[Coop]

I'm trying to catch back up on this - does anybody have a link to Hilton's statement saying that's the reason they would not renew the lease?

There is no official statement saying this. There have been rumors that these types of discussions/concerns led to this decision, but Mr. Kelleher (Capital Hilton general manager) says it was simply an inability to reach a lease deal with Fran O'Brien's.

[gondramB]

Thanks for that information..... darned if I had been able to find that statement.

[Coop]

The initial article I read, by Buzz Patterson IIRC, mentioned liability concerns. But again, I've not seen a Hilton rep say this.

[robowombat]

Thanks for the long note on the Hilton response. In reality what you got was the usual gray blur of biztalk when businesses don't want to really say anything. What follows is speculation but it is based on a couple similar cases I have seen unfold.

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.

[ariamne]

Have you emailed Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannity?

Sean can be like a bulldog on stuff like this and Michelle's no slouch...

[EndWelfareToday]

The moving of a restaurants from one location to another is as old as the food business.

Maybe so but so too is boycotting businesses that promote porn, prostitution and anti-American bigotry.

It will be a freezing day in Hades before Hilton receives another dollar from me.

[Albion Wilde]

I thought the family that owned Hilton Corporation were religious. Mormons IIRC.

Somebody else may have posted this, but you may be thinking of the Marriott Corporation, which was founded by Mormons. The Hiltons were old-time glitzy millionaires; heir Nicky Hilton married Elizabeth Taylor back in 1950.

[Albion Wilde]

BTTT

[Coop]

And one backatcha!

[Sisku Hanne]

Let me guess....the "$49.99 lunch" crowd? Eating overpriced artsy food on the taxpayer's dime.

I love this country. So many choices about where I can spend my money! DH & I were owed a a night by Hilton from the last time we stayed in DC. We were going to book another long weekend, but instead we cancelled and had them refund the rate. And yes, I told them why we won't be staying there any more.

[Coop]

So many choices about where I can spend my money! DH & I were owed a a night by Hilton from the last time we stayed in DC. We were going to book another long weekend, but instead we cancelled and had them refund the rate. And yes, I told them why we won't be staying there any more.

Good for you, Sisku!

More news on this pathetic Hilton decision:

Fran O'Brien's Update - 4/20/06 - (It just gets worse!)

[fortunecookie]

Wow, how sad and strange.

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."

Exploring several options? Hilton hasn't even yet decided what to do with the space?! Only that the Steakhouse catering to Vets must go and go now. Odd...

[Coop]

"Odd" is a fairly nice way to put it.

[fortunecookie]

Yeah, I was trying to give Hilton the benefit of the doubt but it ends up smelling rotten no matter how it's spun by them.

[Coop]

Got another lame boilerplate response, this time from Capital Hilton GM Brian Kelleher. I sent him a terse reply, telling him our relationship with Hilton is over. Too bad, but this was just a poor decision by the chain.