Posted on 10/12/2009 8:08:59 PM PDT by Steelfish
OCTOBER 13, 2009
Slaw and Order: Hot-Dog Stand in Chicago Triggers a Frank Debate 'Felony Franks' Is Staffed by Ex-Cons, but Some Neighbors Don't Relish the Name
By JULIE JARGON
CHICAGO -- When James Andrews opened a hot-dog stand on this city's rough West Side, he thought he was doing a community service by hiring ex-convicts. But some in the neighborhood think the name he chose -- Felony Franks -- is a crime.
An alderman has refused Mr. Andrews permission to hang a new sign or build a drive-through lane. A pastor accused the restaurant owner, who is not an ex-convict, of "pimping out" the community. Members of a neighborhood association have vowed to stay away from Felony Franks until the name is changed and the décor -- including paintings of cartoon hot dogs in prison stripes -- is removed.
Former inmates serve up Misdemeanor Wieners, Guilty Gyros and other items at this prison-themed hot dog stand on Chicago's West Side. Not everyone is amused. WSJ's Julie Jargon reports "I don't understand it," Mr. Andrews says. "I really don't."
The 64-year-old businessman has long employed ex-convicts at his main business, a company that supplies paper goods to restaurants.
He says he thinks people deserve a second chance and felons need stable jobs so they don't add to homelessness. He thought of opening a hot-dog stand three years ago while driving past one. The name "Felony Franks" just popped into his head, he says.
He spent more than $160,000 to refurbish a shuttered Polish-sausage stand on a busy corner in an area that's a mix of new condos and stately old homes, subsidized housing and boarded-up storefronts. Mr. Andrews hired a dozen ex-cons to cook and serve frankfurters, sausages, steak sandwiches and french fries sliced from raw potatoes.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
God bless him.
Oh, come on - this sounds like a great idea. Get over yourselves, Chicago dwellers.
Wow! Some people really need to get a life if a hotdog stand wads their panties up like that.
Sounds like some of the city fathers my be a little sensitive to the whole crooked criminal connotations. Maybe the wienie slinger should grease a few more palms up in City Hall... and catch it on video.
Ya know that IS called “Crook County” for a reason. I think this hot dog stand is wickedly wonderful political commentary.
The concept is a little tacky, IMHO. But you know what? If I don’t want to eat there, I can go somewhere else. I don’t need to get my panties in a twist and try to crush an honest businessman. (um, not that I wear panties, btw - just an expression).
Also, kudos to the owner for giving ex-cons a chance to do honest work.
Also also, this Michael Cunningham guy annoys me. What the bleep is a “a self-employed career consultant”, anyway?
Oh, and the alderman can go to Hades. Based upon my experiences in Chicago and Detroit, Aldermen are generally some of the dirtiest, greediest, most low-down grifters on the friggin’ planet.
He ought to retort in the media to the effect of “Whaddya guyz afraid of anyway!? That we’ll expose your racket to ridicule?”
Don’t worry, Obammy will make us all felons and it will be a non-issue.
Great pic post!
As a one-time west-sider, does anyone know where this place is? I’d sure love to have one of his dogs. One of the neat things I remember in Chicago were the street carts peddling the greatest tamales you ever tasted.
On another note, kids are killing each other at a rate of one a day on the south side, and they are complaining about hot dogs?
“Oh, come on - this sounds like a great idea. Get over yourselves, Chicago dwellers.”
It isn’t “Chicago dwellers,” Elayne. There are plenty of good people in Chicago. However, Chicago/Cook County is ruled by a crime syndicate headed by Democrats and staffed by Democrats, e.g., Mayor Daley, President Obama, etc.
If Felony Franks displeases the syndicate, Felony Franks will get endless shiite until it gives up. That should be illegal.
Sounds like it is too close to the truth.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
Chicago hot dogs are wonderful. Great stands everywhere. I have to find out where this one is. I think it’s probably near where I retired from, UIC (Univ. of IL at Chicago). I think the whole marketing idea is brilliant, and I love the name, Felony Dogs. Very clever. Kudu’s to the owner. Some people just don’t have any sense of humor. Hope it gets franchised (that’s assuming the food is good).
I think the alderman is upset because he applied for a job and was rejected. There are some criminals who are beyond redemption. Would you trust a politician near your cash register?? Not me! They're too used to helping themselves to other people's money.
Means the same thing . . .
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