KajmacJohnson wrote:

Habibi wrote:Not surprisingly, Evanstonians, like their Chicagoan neighbors, are a bunch of prisses.

I'd have to agree. I'm stumped and trying to think about exactly what is so offensive about the name. I don't see anything wrong here. It's a catchy name and nothing more. Glamorizing felons? So giving jobs to ex cons is glamorizing them? Um, oookkkk. SMH.

According to those quoted in the article, it's not that the name's offensive, it's that the name "glamorizes criminal culture." This is highlighted when one compares FF's to Curt's Cafe, which has a similar mission but fulfills it without all the self-referencial schtick. I can see the merits of the argument but admit that it's an argument that requires a fair amount of humorlessness.

Still, to all reading, how would you feel if FF's opened near your home? Would it irk you knowing that ex-convicts were working nearby at a place that made light of its mission? Would you feel comfortable with your kids regularly being around the employees? I could, as a prospective neighbor, see wanting a little more seriousness from such a venture but I get the feeling that the griping over the nomenclature is mainly a pretext put forth by folks who'd be against it, regardless. I think it's a classic NIMBY situation.

=R=

Well, the Evanston residents who wanted FF out have won:

http://evanston.suntimes.com/news/13837 ... nston.html

After reading the article, I see the point of the objections. Ironically, if Felony Frank's were going to locate in Downtown Evanston or by Northwestern, I don't think the problem would be nearly so great or the objections so strenuous. The place and concept would be seen as kind of "ironic," and therefore acceptable. But putting it in the middle of an area in which you actually have young people who are at greater risk of ending up convicted felons than the average person their age, the whole idea of treating felonies lightly--with menu items that have names that make jokes out of felons and felonies, which kind of makes it all seem "OK," with the irony of the whole concept not quite so obvious--is not so good for those young people, IMO.

Since the meeting with the city, (operations manager for Felony Franks Larry) Musgrave said Felony Franks has been contacted by an official from at least one far northern suburb, expressing interest in the business.

I hope that FF's is being wooed by Winnetka, or Glencoe, or - hee! - Kenilworth. That would be sweet.

ronnie_suburban wrote:According to those quoted in the article, it's not that the name's offensive, it's that the name "glamorizes criminal culture." This is highlighted when one compares FF's to Curt's Cafe, which has a similar mission but fulfills it without all the self-referencial schtick. I can see the merits of the argument but admit that it's an argument that requires a fair amount of humorlessness.

The key word there is schtick, Ronnie. To me, at the end of the day, that's all it is. Words and playful concepts are meant to not be taken seriously, IMO. The man is just trying to run a business in a way that truly pleases him and there should be nothing wrong with that because tons of other restaurant owners and other business owners do that every single day.

Still, to all reading, how would you feel if FF's opened near your home? Would it irk you knowing that ex-convicts were working nearby at a place that made light of its mission? Would you feel comfortable with your kids regularly being around the employees? I could, as a prospective neighbor, see wanting a little more seriousness from such a venture but I get the feeling that the griping over the nomenclature is mainly a pretext put forth by folks who'd be against it, regardless. I think it's a classic NIMBY situation.

=R=

Personally, i would have no problem with it. I already live on a main street so nothing really phases me or my husband who's lived on the same block for over twenty years where he raised his daughter and seen the neighborhood go through changes from gang bang city to hipster socialites for lack of better terms. I feel like I live in a hot dog desert anyway so if it means I could walk down the street to get to it versus driving to another neighborhood, all the better.

Jim Andrews is a firm believer in second chances. Now, it's his dream that is getting another opportunity.

In a few weeks, the hot dog stand he previously owned on Chicago's Near West Side will be reopened in Oak Park by his son. The moniker, menu and theme all will be the same. So will the business model; just like his dad, Deno Andrews plans to hire ex-offenders to offer them a livelihood outside of crime.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opin ... story.html

Right on!
I'm as good as there.

Dave148 wrote:

Jim Andrews is a firm believer in second chances. Now, it's his dream that is getting another opportunity.

In a few weeks, the hot dog stand he previously owned on Chicago's Near West Side will be reopened in Oak Park by his son. The moniker, menu and theme all will be the same. So will the business model; just like his dad, Deno Andrews plans to hire ex-offenders to offer them a livelihood outside of crime.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opin ... story.html

Let's hope they do better business than the last 2 or 3 establishments that were in that space.

Since there's no one named Frank involved in the business, the only thing that bothers me is the apostrophe.

What a great article.
Thanks for sharing!

Alderman Fioretti's lost my VOTE- after reading of his contempt for small business....
and his capricious waste of Tax-Payer Dollars in trying to "regulate" a Small Business Owners
Business name.....$800.000.00 dollars is alot of money- coulda been used to fill some potholes,
if nuttin else!??

Dave148 wrote:

Jim Andrews is a firm believer in second chances. Now, it's his dream that is getting another opportunity.

In a few weeks, the hot dog stand he previously owned on Chicago's Near West Side will be reopened in Oak Park by his son. The moniker, menu and theme all will be the same. So will the business model; just like his dad, Deno Andrews plans to hire ex-offenders to offer them a livelihood outside of crime.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opin ... story.html

Felony Franks' Transfer to Oak Park Complete With Thursday Opening

http://chicago.eater.com/2015/2/19/8069 ... rk-opening

Anyone catch the homage this season to Felony Franks on the Showtime Chicago based series Shameless?

One of the lead characters is an ex-con and got a job at a Chicago diner that hires ex-cons. Its called Patsy's Pies.