I’ve sat back long enough biting my tongue and listening to the rhetoric coming from the Hilton Corp concerning the closure of Fran O’Brien’s and I have finally had enough. I keep hearing that the closure of Fran O’Brien’s was a business decision, what does that really mean? I can give you some insight on how the how and what the Hilton Corp considers a “business decision”. Having been a volunteer in helping Hal and Marty for over two years, I have watched this unfold and it is very upsetting to see any company, not to mention one as large as the Hilton behave in such a manner. Here is the history:
Hal and Marty contacted the Hilton Corp last year, one year in advance of their lease expiring to get things going for a new lease. In their original proposal Hal asked for some items that any normal human being would consider a landlord’s responsibility. They asked for new carpet, some bathroom and other area upgrades, and the big kicker…an elevator or some other means to get patrons (not just military members) down to the restaurant without having to go through the crowded storage bowels of the basement where the current service elevators are. Hilton’s response to Hal and Marty was that we are going to renew your lease, but the elevator is off the table and once YOU have made the area improvements that are being requested, we will sign a new lease. Let me make that clear, the Hilton wanted the new carpet, bathroom and other area improvements done by Hal and Marty BEFORE they would consider giving Hal a new lease. That’s good business, right? Hal being the smart business man that he is, stated “let’s sign the lease first then I’ll make the upgrades”, to which the Hilton said “let’s talk about it” and stood behind their statement that they ARE going to renew the lease once it all gets worked out. Hal took them at their word, but was very smart not to make any upgrades until a lease was signed. Months go by and Hilton’s position was, “we still want you there, but upgrade yourself before we sign a new lease for you.”
In the meantime, the Hilton stopped paying Fran O’Brien’s for the room service they provided to guests that were billed their hotel room. The Hilton continued to give different accounting excuses on why it could not be paid until more than 6 months had gone by and the amount owed exceeded the amount in one month’s rent. Hal, being the smart business man that he is told the Hilton to use the money owed toward that month’s rent. The Hilton came back saying no way and took it as a non-compliance of rent payment.
At about that time, the Hilton stopped all voice and email response to Hal’s constant contact. The Fran O’Brien’s lease was up at the beginning of 2006 and Hal repeated contacted the Hilton, but was never given the courtesy of a response either way. Because the lease expired and Fran O’Brien’s was going month to month because no one told them otherwise, the Hilton Corp decided it was within their right to i
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