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Felony Franks' red-hot logo. Photo: FelonyFranks.com.
That's a question Chicagoans are facing with the opening of a new Chicago-style stand near the city's West Loop. Jim Andrews, the owner, says he created the restaurant to give criminals who've served their time a second chance at becoming a productive member of society.
But not everyone's in love with Felony Franks.
A local city councilman has said he thinks the name of the restaurant is closer to criminal.
"For a restaurant theme, it's a poor choice," Alderman Robert Fioretti told WBBM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Chicago.
But Andrews says the purpose of the stand -- which boasts such specialties as the Felony Frank, the Misdemeanor Wiener and naturally, freedom fries -- is to help his employees -- now numbering 10 full-time ex-offenders.
"We are creating jobs for ex-offenders, and we are going to really become an advocate for changing the way society thinks about ex-offenders," Andrews told Slashfood. "Once you've been to jail, you're branded as no good. There are a lot of good people coming out of jail that need a second opportunity in life or a second chance in life."
Andrews, who also runs the charitable Rescue Foundation, uses Red Hot Chicago franks for his dogs. Each Felony Frank is a 1/6-pound link of beef, lightly seasoned with garlic. Misdemeanor Wieners are slightly smaller at an eighth of a pound. As it's the Windy City, the dogs come dressed in Chicago hot-dog stripes -- yellow mustard, onions, tomatoes, relish, celery salt and the essential sport pepper. "Are they hot!" Andrews said.
Felony Franks, located at 229 Western Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Thus far, Andrews said, business has been gangbusters. His hope is to eventually turn Felony Franks into a chain that will give even more ex-offenders a chance to start off life anew.
"If you've got a good product and the people like it, they will come," Andrews said, adding "as long as you serve good food and good quality product and give them enough food for their money, the people will support you."
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7-25-2009 @5:23PM Angiebaby said... The name is funny and the hot dog stand provides a much needed service in employing people who need a break and are willing to work, and obviously if the sales are so great... he's meeting a need in the area. I wish him much luck.
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7-25-2009 @5:23PM Danielle said... I think it's a great idea that somebody is doing something to help ex-offenders become productive members of society. If they have something that they can take pride in, and work at legitimately - they should be encouraged. Heck, many of the politicians in Washington are crooks - put them in a weiner suit and see what happens. Frankly speaking, I think that the Misdeameanor Weiner rocks..... Good luck Felony Franks! You'd have my vote.
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7-25-2009 @5:25PM Trapper1800 said... I think it`s a great idea. What the hell do you people want ex-cons to do? The system is supposed to rehabilitate but once time is served nobody wants to hire these folks. Where are they supposed to go? What the heck, I love hot dogs and I would rather buy from Felony Franks than most of Americas fast food places that sell us burgers made from God only knows what. Think about it America.
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7-25-2009 @5:26PM mesaman said... These guys have done their time and ask for another chance. Compare that to the politicians from Minnesota or the ones from Illinois. They don't ask for a chance, they buy it. Who do you trust?
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7-25-2009 @5:33PM rick said... Sara- you're one of those scum-brained idiots who feel they need to advertise on every blog you find. For the sanity of other readers who would rather read and relate about a particular subject, you need to find a hole and crawl into it. After all, only 50% of the articles AOL writers write are worth the time to read to begin with.
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7-25-2009 @5:32PM Donna said... Don't these people have ANYTHING TO DO with their lives worrying about such nonsense.
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7-25-2009 @5:38PM Iona said... I thinks its a great idea. The name is strange but catchy & they're making an legal dollar. Atleast they're being honest. Consumers go to restaurants BLINDLY all of the time. How do you know who is cooking your food. Leave these folk alone and go after the white collar criminal who haven't been caught yet!
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7-25-2009 @5:37PM Lou said... To sandy,why do you have to bring politics into this,give it a break, people are tired of seeing this sort of drivel day after day. I am not a liberal but you and your ilk are probably losing more voters than you had the last election and you can't afford that,instead stick with the post.
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7-25-2009 @5:40PM Jonitia said... TO Steve>>>Everyone deserves a chance. If you were still employed would you feel the same? Or are you in the "it should be for me frame of mind"?
TO James>>>>>If you were to really know, you would be surprised a the past life and activities of your neighbors that you do NOT know about. Be grateful you know about these people.
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7-25-2009 @5:41PM justsaying said... Geez America. Take a chill pill. Cool out.
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7-26-2009 @5:30PM David said... This is a fantastic idea.If I lived In Chicago I'd make a point to frequent the place.The "alderman" who's bitching about it is more suspect to me,since Chicago politicians are notoriously mob connected.
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7-25-2009 @5:51PM d said... I think it is a wonderful thing to do and the name is catchy so people will remember it. Maybe the alderman is a crook himself, seems like they all are in Chicago! Kudos to you sir for helping those men and women get a second chance to turn their lives around. I will be sure and stop the next time we are in Chicago and get me one of those "prison dogs!" Much good luck!
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7-25-2009 @5:53PM Karine said... What a grrrreat idea! Name of business and everything ... A wonderful way of giving convicts a second chance. This might just be the thing Nationwide! Heck I would by hot dogs from the place any time .. Is high quality stuff ...
This should be a government sponsored program ... I.e. employing all the thieves from Congress and the Senate!
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7-25-2009 @6:01PM Rodney M. Hayes said... NYC has a clown going around wearing only his underwear begging for money toting a guitar and a silly cowboy hat on his head, and Chicago wants to worry about Felony Franks?????
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7-25-2009 @6:21PM littlebits1800 said... To Nobody: As for felons not familiar with any other lifestyle, how do you explain the fact that certain, very well known felons ended up that way? Martha Stewart, for example, had it all, she made a mistake, paid her debt to society and is now back on top. Will she make the same mistake again, not likely. I believe she learned from her mistake and also has a much better understanding of what it's like to be on the other side of the tracks. So how do you explain her comeback? Others like Bernie Madoff, who thought nothing of robbing lots of people out of their life savings and ruining lots of charities will end up spending the rest of his life in prison and while some of those duped will regain some of their losses, many will not. Some people will never change. That's the same whether you are raised rich or poor, in the projects or in a mansion. A lot of this has to do with upbringing, but even parents who have done the best job they possibly could, who gave their children good role models and worked hard, can still have a child rebel and get into trouble. This does not make them bad parents nor does it make their child a bad person who is hopeless and unable to change. Young people often fall in with the "wrong crowd" for short periods of time, but in the end realize it's not a good group to hang around with and they grow up and mature and become upstanding citizens with children of their own. Some even use these early experiences as examples when they become social workers or who work in sober living facilities and rehab clinics. My mother was one of those people who helped to change lives for the better. She has been gone for 6 years now and her last job was as a private duty nurse caring for terminally ill children. She was an angel on earth. But, in her late teens she ran away from home and was a single mother at 17. Fortunately, me and my other 4 siblings ended up having a very caring mother who had learned from her mistakes and provided us with a positive role model. My grandparents didn't give up on her and I would hope that society will not give up on others who have made mistakes. I believe in giving someone the benefit of the doubt until they give me a reason not to. I think others should as well.
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7-25-2009 @6:18PM Don said... they should add topless lady xcons to the staff, I know that would make my Hot dog stand.
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7-25-2009 @6:18PM Sally said... They should open one on every boardwalk in new jersey....there are certainly more than enough politicians to staff them...
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7-25-2009 @6:26PM RiverRat22 said... Uh, Zane ... and Rita, too: I'm pretty sure you missed the point. It's been clear in recent years that the liberals are seldom tolerant, understanding or empathetic if an idea or concept is not their own.
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7-25-2009 @6:31PM Darius Fontaine said... Ahhh typical American hypocracy once again!. we teach our childen that mistakes in life are normal but the important thing is that "we learn from them". But when a person is released from prison after paying their debt to society for a mistake they made, Our self rightous streak kicks in and we automatically assume that this person has learned nothing nor will ever learn anything from their mistake so we ostracize them untill the day they die.
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7-25-2009 @6:33PM mingo said... LOL it will be a hit in Chicago .All the politicians will eat there planing how to rob your taxes
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