Though “home of the misdemeanor weiner” might seem like a good slogan, Jim Andrews’ hot dog shop Felony Franks has had some trouble with advertising.For more than two years, Andrews has been trying to get a sign erected outside his shop at 229 S. Western Ave., which hires ex-offenders in hopes of helping reintegrate them into society.
And for more than two years, the city’s refused to grant him a permit for the sign.
The sign, which would extend over public property, would likely bear the restaurant’s logo: a hot dog behind bars clad in a ball and chain. “Food so good, it’s criminal,” another of the restaurant’s slogans, would appear above the offending dog.
Andrews brought the issue to federal court Tuesday, accusing the city of trampling on his First Amendment rights and requesting almost $300,000 in compensation for Andrews for lost revenue. The filing, which names the City of Chicago and several aldermen as defendants, says the store might have to close, which would adversely impact the ex-offenders it employs.
“You can’t hold up a permit application because you don’t like the name,” said Christopher Cooper, Andrews’ lawyer. “This approach is plain wrong. I’m at a loss for words.”
But Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) said Andrews’ sign is offensive and sends a bad message to students in the area.
“I think we should do all we can to help ex-offenders to come back into the mainstream,” Fioretti said. “It’s a good concept, but a bad name. It exploits the individuals.”
Fioretti also has an ordinance pending that would get rid of all signs in the area like the one Andrews wants to erect, called “right of way” signs.
The signs are bad for the area’s aesthetics, and residents don’t want them, Fioretti said. But Cooper says that’s just circumventing the First Amendment issue at hand — and a way to pander to incoming residents.
“You have people moving into the community who are not in touch with the cultural norms of that community,” he said. “These are folks who don’t want to function side-by side with people who’ve been in jail.”
The city had no comment.