Roach in Hecky's of Chicago Sandwich, Restaurant Shutdown

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Hecky’s of Chicago at 1234 N. Halsted St. was shut down Wednesday afternoon when city health inspectors discovered evidence of a cockroach infestation, according to a release from the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Full article here: http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/food ... 08.article

How could something like this happen?! I guess every restaurant has a roach or other infestation problem, but in the sandwich? That just sounds to me like a nightmare.

I should also add, I don't think this relates to the original Hecky's Barbecue as stated on their website: http://heckys.com/blog/public-statement ... violations

Alrightbye.

Thanks for sharing. I think the most interesting bit about this is that Hecky "had licensed the “Hecky's” trademark to Flash in the Pan, Inc., but are in no other way associated with Hecky's of Chicago." This is the risk you take - that someone else won't live up to the reputation you've created.

Funny, I just got an email from Hecky's (which you get if you use their online ordering system) on this very subject, explaining the whole licensing issue:

Public Statement from Hecky Powell Regarding Hecky's of Chicago's Health Code Violations

As owner of Hecky Powell, Inc. and Hecky's Barbecue of Evanston, I would like to make absolutely clear, in light of the unconscionable health code violations reported in the August 13th, 2008 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times and by CBS News Channel 2, that Hecky's of Chicago is in no way owned or operated by Hecky Powell, Inc.

Hecky's of Chicago is a restaurant run by Flash In the Pan, Inc., a company owned and operated by Bijan "Brian" Ghofrani and Michael Koertgen, Jr.

Hecky Powell, Inc., and Hecky's Barbecue had licensed the "Hecky's" trademark to Flash in the Pan, Inc., but are in no other way associated with Hecky's of Chicago. Hecky Powell, Inc. has been attempting to revoke Flash in the Pan's license to the "Hecky's" trademark due to documented violations of the licensing agreement.

For those of us at Hecky Powell, Inc. and Hecky's Barbecue, food safety and sanitation is always a top priority. If I open a new Chicago branch of Hecky's Barbecue, I will personally oversee and manage the location. Furthermore, my heartfelt apologies go out to the people of Chicago for entrusting my name to these individuals.

I am open to discuss the situation with any of our customers; please contact me at (847) 492-1182 if you have any questions.

Hecky Powell
Hecky Powell, Inc.
1902 Green Bay Road
Evanston, IL 60201
http://heckys.com

cstenson wrote:I guess every restaurant has a roach or other infestation problem, but in the sandwich?

seems pretty easy to explain... they have a vat of meat sitting, cockroach hungry. likes smoked food. takes a visit to meat vat.

Why on earth would you name your business "Flash in the Pan," although I guess the owners knew exactly how well they were going to run this Hecky's since the name fits perfectly.

The Evanston location has always been very clean and well kept. I had ribs from there Monday night and had a nice chat with Hecky.

I've never been to the flash in the pan place.

Hecky's of Chicago was terrible from the day it opened, despite garnering 3 forks from the Trib ... I feel badly for the real Hecky.

interesting article about the start of Hecky's relationship with Flash in the Pan

Kennyz wrote:interesting article about the start of Hecky's relationship with Flash in the Pan

That is indeed interesting.

From the article Hecky Powell said:

“If this goes fine,” he says, “we’re going to do more.”

I guess we know how that ended.

JeffB wrote:Hecky's of Chicago was terrible from the day it opened, despite garnering 3 forks from the Trib ... I feel badly for the real Hecky.

I don't feel that bad. After all, he knew the risks he was getting himself into (this is clear from the article). If he didn't want the risks associated with someone else using his name, he shouldn't have taken the money.

JeffB wrote:Hecky's of Chicago was terrible from the day it opened, despite garnering 3 forks from the Trib ... I feel badly for the real Hecky.

Jeff,

Hecky's of Chicago's did no favors to Hecky's in Evanston reputation from the day it opened and got no love on LTHForum.

Enjoy,
Gary

I feel bad for the roach. . apparently he hasn't tried Smoque or the original Hecky's yet. . .

Shouldn't the name "Flash in the Pan" have been a red flag?

nr706 wrote:Shouldn't the name "Flash in the Pan" have been a red flag?

Absolutely. I have been trying to decipher what their name could possibly mean. I guess I will never know.

In other news it seems that this story is popping up in a lot of local Chicago news.

Not that I was ever a fan, but what is the likelihood that Hecky's of Chicago, or any other restaurant can re-open after an incident like this. It seems like the press is hard to dodge. This is a case where the statement, "There is no such thing as bad publicity" doesn't hold truth.

cstenson wrote:

nr706 wrote:Shouldn't the name "Flash in the Pan" have been a red flag?

Absolutely. I have been trying to decipher what their name could possibly mean. I guess I will never know.

In other news it seems that this story is popping up in a lot of local Chicago news.

Not that I was ever a fan, but what is the likelihood that Hecky's of Chicago, or any other restaurant can re-open after an incident like this. It seems like the press is hard to dodge. This is a case where the statement, "There is no such thing as bad publicity" doesn't hold truth.

"Flash in the Pan, Inc." is the name of the company that owns Hecky's of Chicago. You wouldn't see this name on the storefront; you'd see it on their business license. It could just as well have been Ghofrani and Koertgen, Inc. This really doesn't matter.

Will Hecky's be able to re-open? Hai Yen seems to be doing fine after being closed by the health department. Don't overestimate how many people know about these violations.

I meant Flash in the Pan should have been a red flag for Hecky.

A roach in the sandwich is better than half a roach in the sandwich. [pause]

With that said, even though this is published proof and not mere speculation, I'd love not to see this in the Eating Out forum, where it frankly, er, disenfranchises all of the other threads below. It also disenfranchises my lunch. Perhaps Other Culinary Chat a la the Bombon fire?

Hecky keeps a high profile and has stepped on a few toes over the years so, right or wrong, this story is going to get more circulation than it otherwise might have. And let's face it, cockroach in a sandwich is just the kind of thing that sensationalistic news outlets love.

As for the name Flash in the Pan, it's kind of cute in a roguish way and if their restaurant hadn't been cited in this instance, I don't think it would have necessarily been a red flag. However, with the fresh context provided here, it doesn't engender much confidence.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Hecky keeps a high profile and has stepped on a few toes over the years ...

Could you elaborate on this bit?

Darren72 wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Hecky keeps a high profile and has stepped on a few toes over the years ...

Could you elaborate on this bit?

I think he means controversy's like the whole "Mutt" thing: http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/ ... 1639.shtml

cstenson wrote:

Darren72 wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Hecky keeps a high profile and has stepped on a few toes over the years ...

Could you elaborate on this bit?

I think he means controversy's like the whole "Mutt" thing: http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/ ... 1639.shtml

Yes, this was one of the things to which I was referrring.

=R=

I might have to get me a Mutt tonight; at $7 ($13 for the Super Mutt), it's a fine fine meal.

Hecky just released this:



Public Statement from Hecky Powell, Hecky's of Chicago -- Closed

Statement - Hecky Powell

As owner of Hecky Powell, Inc. and Hecky's Barbecue of Evanston, I am writing to inform you that, as of this week, the Hecky's name and trademark are under the sole use of Hecky Powell, Inc., and that the Chicago restaurant location, owned by Flash in the Pan, Inc., no longer bears the Hecky's name.

Flash in the Pan, Inc., had violated our licensing agreement. These violations were documented, so we pursued a revocation of the license. I would like to publicly thank David O'Keffe, of the law firm Schain, Burney, Ross and Citron, Ltd., and 3to1 Studios, LLC, for their assistance in recovering our name and trademark.

Finally, I would like to apologize to everyone for entrusting my name to this corporation, and want to make absolutely clear that, if and when I open a new branch of Hecky's Barbecue, I will personally oversee and manage the location.

Questions can be directed to me at (847) 492-1182.

Thank you very much for your continued support,

Hecky Powell
Hecky Powell, Inc.
1902 Green Bay Road
Evanston, IL 60201

Wow, Couldn't say we didn't see this coming.

I'm glad things turned out okay for Hecky and that the Chicago branch now has nothing to do with him. It never seem like it did to begin with anyway.

The sign that once read Hecky's of Chicago now says "Hickory's."

Hickory's of Chicago
1234 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 377-7427

From Chicago Magazine's Dish e-mail blast:

A Pound of Flesh
What once was a Hecky’s of Chicago franchisee is now Hickory’s BBQ, Salads, Wraps & More (1234 N. Halsted St.; 312-377-7427 [RIBS]). “We were here for four years as Hecky’s,” says Michael Koertgen, a partner. “We chose not to renew our license with Hecky. We have a different sauce altogether—a sweet smoky sauce with a light kick, made from scratch on site. We purchased a smoker and we smoke all of our meats on site with hickory wood. We have the real tender Chicago-style that falls off the bone, and the smoked, which are a little bit firm.” The 35-seat spot’s rack of beef ribs ($18) weighs in at three pounds. “The bones are big,” says Koertgen. “There’s probably a full pound of meat to the order.”

It appears they are offering two differnt ribs styles: meat-jello crowd and possibly a nod to the purists who want smoke. This sounds ripe for a side-by-side comparison.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:From Chicago Magazine's Dish e-mail blast:

A Pound of Flesh
What once was a Hecky’s of Chicago franchisee is now Hickory’s BBQ, Salads, Wraps & More (1234 N. Halsted St.; 312-377-7427 [RIBS]). “We were here for four years as Hecky’s,” says Michael Koertgen, a partner. “We chose not to renew our license with Hecky. We have a different sauce altogether—a sweet smoky sauce with a light kick, made from scratch on site. We purchased a smoker and we smoke all of our meats on site with hickory wood. We have the real tender Chicago-style that falls off the bone, and the smoked, which are a little bit firm.” The 35-seat spot’s rack of beef ribs ($18) weighs in at three pounds. “The bones are big,” says Koertgen. “There’s probably a full pound of meat to the order.”

It appears they are offering two differnt ribs styles: meat-jello crowd and possibly a nod to the purists who want smoke. This sounds ripe for a side-by-side comparison.

Regards,

Sounds like they're serving up some healthy portions of spin, too.

=R=

It is also good to see that after 4 years a bbq place finally bought a smoker.

scanz wrote:It is also good to see that after 4 years a bbq place finally bought a smoker.

Maybe Carsons will follow the lead and buy one now, too.

YourPalWill wrote:

scanz wrote:It is also good to see that after 4 years a bbq place finally bought a smoker.

Maybe Carsons will follow the lead and buy one now, too.

funniest, and best post I have read in a while.

took the words right out of my mouth.