Fran O’Brien’s Coverage In The WaPo
Today's Washington Post has an article about the pending eviction of Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse. (Hey, Bradley! It's sourced, OK?) It really doesn't look good at all.
But Hilton spokeswoman Lisa Cole said the hotel's position on the lease has nothing to do with the dinners. She said its decision was based strictly on business considerations.
I for one don't intend to patronize Hilton or any of it's other branded hotels. It's just a business decision, you know.
O'Brien's intends to hold two more Friday night dinners. In the meantime, the Italian Embassy has called O'Brien, offering its digs for the dinners until he comes up with another plan.
Thank you, Italy.
Blogosphere, Business | Gaius Saturday, 15 April , 2006
By Black Jack, Saturday, 15 April , 2006 @ 10:36 am
In honor of the Italian offer, they should include some pasta along with the T-bones. I’m beginning to get the impression this whole thing could be worked out to the satisfaction of the principals. Let’s hope for the best.
By Gauis Arbo, Saturday, 15 April , 2006 @ 10:40 am
I thought that was great. The Hilton folks should look at how easy it is to get good publicity.
By Bradley J. Fikes, Saturday, 15 April , 2006 @ 1:42 pm
Hi Gaius,
If you read my comments closely (You can always reread them), you’d know I never disputed that the restaurant is being evicted.
The unproven, unsourced claim is that the eviction was related to its hosting disabled veterans’ dinners. Nobody has ever produced a shred of evidence that’s the case. Internet e-mail speculation is not evidence.
As one of the more rational comments on WorldNetDaily said, this just looks like a regular business dispute.
So to example the chain of events:
(1) The restaurant’s lease is not renewed.
(2) Angry people speculate that its hosting the veterans’ dinners is involved.
(3) Supporters of the veterans launch a protest campaign, fueled by the supposed insult to veterans.
(3) WorldNetDaily, Mudville Gazette and other Internet sites write about the supposed insult.
(4) MSM writes about the protests.
You may have given me my next Sci-Tech column. Working title: “Anatomy of an Internet Rumor.”
Just for the record, if it’s proven that the disabled veterans’ dinners were the cause or a major cause of the lease not being renewed, I would think that’s scummy. It might also be illegal under the ADA.
I await the evidence.
By Gauis Arbo, Saturday, 15 April , 2006 @ 2:36 pm
Bradley, my blogging on this is about what is being taken away from the wounded. The Hilton has made an absolutely appalling “business decision” and likely hurt themselves rather badly.