Felony Franks Sues City To Keep Sign, Escalating Feud With Alderman

Felony Franks, a hot dog stand on the Near West Side, has been in a tussle with its alderman for years. Now, it's taking the dispute somewhere it ought to feel all too comfortable: before a judge.

On one side is Jim Andrews, the stand's owner. His restaurant operates around a jailhouse gimmick, with items like "misdemeanor wieners" coming through bulletproof glass windows for customers passing by. But the gimmick is backed by a strong promise: Andrews only employs ex-cons at Felony Franks. He has also hired former offenders at his Andrews Paper Company for years.

Andrews just wants to hang a sign in front of his restaurant.

Opposing him, among others, is Alderman Bob Fioretti, who represents the ward.

"Felony Franks? The home of the misdemeanor wiener? Food so good it's criminal? You are actually in a sense elevating the life of crime here in our city and we cannot tolerate that," he said in a UPI story on the restaurant two years ago.

Felony Franks has a mural painted on its wall, but the signpost over the building hangs empty, thanks to Fioretti's refusal to allow one.

For years, Andrews has been fighting his alderman to allow a sign for his restaurant. This week, despite advice from the Law Department that it could be violating First Amendment rights, the City Council's Committee on Transportation and the Public Way voted in a split decision not to allow a permit for the sign, the Chicago Tribune reported.

And the Law Department's advice proved prescient: the ABA Journal reports that Felony Franks is now suing the city, for the rights to the sign and almost $300,000 in lost business.

“I should be entitled to a sign, I should be entitled to a right of way permit, I should be entitled to my rights,” Andrews said in the ABA story. “I spent a lot of money over there on a piece of property I don’t own, and then to be held back on something as simple as a sign?”

Tell us what you think:

Quick Poll

Should Felony Franks get a sign?

Yes. It's Andrews' business, and he has the right to freedom of speech.

No. The city shouldn't allow a restaurant to glorify crime.

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Comments

[KDMac]

12:00 PM on 05/09/2011

Geez, let the guy have his sign. Then let the people choose whether or not to patronize his establishment.

[mickcastillo]

10:58 AM on 05/08/2011

That alderman may be mad cause he realizes he cannot intimidate/con the business to "contributing" to him or his campaign! I hope that FF wins and the court should have the alderman pay out of pocket for this "frivolous" case!

[Vimentin]

09:35 AM on 05/08/2011

He must be making money. Black male Ex Cons should not make money legally. This will have an impact on the prison system.

[Frank Jenkins]

04:08 PM on 05/08/2011

Wait. Does the phrase EX mean anything? Also, why single out Blacks? All Ex Cons that want to leave a life of crime, and just wants to earn a decent living should be given a second chance. Those that do not, don't deserve nothing but imprisonment regardless of RACE.

[KDMac]

11:58 AM on 05/09/2011

I'm hoping that Vimentin was being sarcastic.

[gregcurts]

09:22 AM on 05/08/2011

Dear Alderman and City of Chicago: Get your checkbook out.

[sgentilejr]

06:37 AM on 05/08/2011

When the city loses in court the Alderman should pay all of the costs out of his pockets, instead of the taxpayers having to foot the bill for his stupidity. Right now the Alderman simple don't care___because if he loses the City pays, not him.

[Parade Keegan]

03:00 AM on 05/08/2011

Fioretti is concerned a restaurant name will be "elevating the life of crime here in our city and we cannot tolerate that,...." Is he kidding? Perhaps if some Chicago politicians would set an example of honorable public service rather than bribes and backdoor politics Fioretti wouldn't worry about a restaurant. Fools.

[redraspberry]

01:04 AM on 05/08/2011

Where's Thompson and his free lawyering when you need him. Look what it did for Ryan. :)

[nrrork]

09:28 PM on 05/07/2011

I think it would do this country a world of good to have those people with hardline "tough on crime" attitudes do a little time themselves and see how just how corrupt the justice system in this country really is. Because unless you or someone close to you has gone through it, I think people really have no idea and just believe what politicians tell them.

[ScaredAcademic]

09:27 PM on 05/07/2011

Wow, to think that Fioretti's a lawyer and a named partner of the firm. I know I wouldn't hire them.

[Chicagowonk]

03:33 PM on 05/07/2011

There's more criminals in Bob Fioretti's friends at the justinian society than there are at felony franks...and they intentionally hire ex-cons!!!

[jsgaetano]

02:54 PM on 05/07/2011

If his business was glorifying crime, I'd be opposed to it.  But that doesn't seem to be the case.

[jsgaetano]

02:50 PM on 05/07/2011

It's kind of amazing they'll attack this guy, but they allow all these stupid Al Capone themed restaurants.

[johnnygoodwud]

01:54 PM on 05/07/2011

if he is hiring only ex-cons (i have no problem with that) isn't he actually discriminating against anyone working there that isn't an ex-con?

[rwextthoughts]

02:34 PM on 05/07/2011

gotta agree with you on that,,

[jsgaetano]

02:55 PM on 05/07/2011

Not all discrimination is unfair.
 
Discrimination is, after all, what keeps prisoners in jail.

[Maxcat19]

01:37 PM on 05/07/2011

Where do all these little dictators come from?

[rwextthoughts]

02:36 PM on 05/07/2011

These are Chicago Aldermen,,,This is what went national in Jan 2009

[J GRAYBOSCH]

02:47 PM on 05/07/2011

Obama was never part of the Chicago political establishment.

[jsgaetano]

02:50 PM on 05/07/2011

When was Obama an alderman?  Please cite the year ranges.

[maxfax]

01:13 PM on 05/07/2011

What's wrong with Chicago, they don't like capitalism or something?

[jsgaetano]

02:52 PM on 05/07/2011

The City of Chicago, all by itself, makes more money than most Red States.
 
So if Chicago doesn't like capitalism, those welfare state Red States must downright HATE it.

[maxfax]

04:08 AM on 05/09/2011

Seriously, it was a joke, being a facetious.  I love Chicago.

[TMc73]

07:28 PM on 05/08/2011

Home of the Chicago Board of Trade and the Mercantile and Commodities Exchange.

How much more capitalistic can you get?

What do you have in your neck of the woods?

Nightcrawlers: a dozen for $2 bucks.

[maxfax]

04:07 AM on 05/09/2011

Take it easy, it was a joke.