Posted on 04/21/2006 9:55:25 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
After September 11, many American businesses were asking what they could do to help. Among the best to act was Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse at 16th and L Streets Northwest, which for more than two years has served free steak dinners and beverages on Fridays to wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from Walter Reed Medical Center in upper Northwest and elsewhere. The restaurant, a cozy nest of sports memorabilia tucked in the basement of the Capital Hilton Hotel, just lost its lease and is in danger of closing for good, for what appear to be very shabby reasons.
According to co-proprietor Hal Koster, the trouble began earlier this year when lease negotiations with Hilton broke down over the installment of a lift for wheelchair-bound veterans to enter the premises, which are at basement level. "We compromised on just about everything else, but we said, 'You have to do the lift,' " Mr. Koster recounted in a phone interview with The Washington Times. But Hilton balked because the costs would be higher than anticipated.
About a month ago Mr. Koster and business partner Marty O'Brien, son of the late Redskins tackle and restaurant namesake, received an eviction notice. "They haven't said anything to us" beyond the official notice, Mr. Koster reports. But to his mind, it was clear enough that Hilton evicted him because it didn't want to pay for the lift.
(snip)
In a tough business like this, it takes a lot of gumption to do what Fran O'Brien's did. But then, the same and more can be said of the people it helped out. There must be a good solution to this somewhere in Washington, a restaurant or commercial landlord willing to give the country's wounded veterans a few seats at the table.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Freepers, please continue applying pressure to the Hilton...
PING!
You'd think that Hilton would know an opportunity for some great publicity when it saw one...putting in an elevator for wounded vets might cost a little in the short run, but it could have earned them gazillions in favorable press and word of mouth. Instead, they're shooting themselves in the foot with a machine gun. :shaking head sadly:
I'm really shocked at how poorly Hilton's management has handled this.
Maybe they should be hit with a class action lawuit because the premises are not readily available to the handicapped. Doesn't every establishment have to be easy access for the handicapped?
I seem to remember that Clint Eastwood was sued because the restaurant he had in California only had one of two restrooms with handicap access. I also could have a faulty memory. Can anybody else comment on this?
Here are Clint's comments on frivolous lawsuit exploitation by disability lawyers that creates extreme liability for public accommodations.
Here's a blog article critical of Eastwood for wanting to modify the law so that business owners get 90 days' notice of a pending disability access lawsui.
Eastwood wins the lawsuit brought by a serial disability plaintiff -- Business Week's article, The Clint Eastwood Verdict Makes My Day.
Thanks. I remembered that Eastwood won the lawsuit and I thought at the time it should have been thrown out as a frivolous lawsuit. But in the case of O'Brien's, I think it would be a legitimate claim.
I'll tell you what -- I will make SURE that we never stay in ANY Hilton owned establishement again, even if it means we pay more, unless this is settled in favor of Fran O'Briens. And that's a promise! We will be in a hotel tonight and it ain't a Hilton!
I am a gold member in Marriot, Hilton, and Holiday Inn - guess which one I am using?
You need to get out and travel more!
And I am even less impressed with Hilton than I was before I left, after talking with the evening manager at Fran's. I also left a personal, handwritten note for the Hilton GM, Mr. Kelleher. Since my E-mails and phone call only resulted in a boilerplate, I thought I'd give the personal touch a try. We'll see if he contacts me.
Probably going to quit in September. I am burned out.
Did your handwritten note mention our...dislike for their decisions?
Ok, what is "bean puree"? I'm not a fan of beans to begin with, but this sounds like they toss the beans in a blender and then sell the blended beans with a fancy name.
"Just got back from dinner at Fran O'Brien's. Yummy!"
Glad you and your family enjoyed your dinner.
Hope the "personal touch" makes Hilton see the light.
Either way, thanks for your efforts.
gate
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1619494/posts?page=50#50
That's about it.
L
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.