Cafe Hon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cafe Hon |
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Cafe Hon, with the flamingo
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1992 |
| Closed | 2022 |
| Current owner(s) | Denise Whiting |
| Street address | 1002 West 36th Street |
| City | Baltimore |
| State | Maryland |
| Postal/ZIP code | 21211-2415 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 39°19′52″N 76°37′59″W / 39.331157°N 76.632920°W |
| Website | www.cafehon.com |
Cafe Hon was a well-known restaurant located in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It was famous for its unique style and connection to Baltimore culture. The restaurant closed its doors in 2022.
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History of Cafe Hon
Cafe Hon was opened by Denise Whiting in 1992. The restaurant's name came from the word "hon," which is a short way of saying "honey." People in Baltimore have used "hon" as a friendly greeting for many years.
In 2010, Denise Whiting opened a gift shop called HONtown. It was located across the street from the restaurant. Later, in 2014, the gift shop moved to a smaller spot right next door to Cafe Hon.
Featured on TV
On February 24, 2012, Cafe Hon was shown on a TV show called Kitchen Nightmares. This show, on the Fox network, featured famous chef Gordon Ramsay. He visited restaurants to help them improve.
Cafe Hon officially closed in 2022. Denise Whiting decided to lease the restaurant space to another company. She also said that the large flamingo statue, which was a symbol of the restaurant, would find a new home.
The Famous Flamingo
In 2002, a special flamingo sculpture was placed above the Cafe Hon restaurant. This unique artwork was created by a local artist named Randall Gornowich. The first flamingo was made from wire and cloth.
Flamingo Permit Issue
In October 2009, the city of Baltimore announced a problem. The flamingo sculpture stuck out over the public sidewalk. The city said Cafe Hon needed a special permit for it. This permit would cost $1300 for the first year and $800 each year after that. If they didn't get the permit, the flamingo had to be taken down.
The flamingo was removed for a short time while this issue was being discussed. Denise Whiting said the flamingo was "hibernating" and that she would fight the city's decision. Eventually, Whiting and the city reached an agreement. The permit fee was set at a lower cost of at least $400 a year. After this, the flamingo was put back up.
The new flamingo that was installed was made from a strong material called fiberglass.
Flamingo Unveiling
The Mayor of Baltimore at the time, Sheila Dixon, was present when the new flamingo was revealed. This event was one of her last public appearances before she left her position as mayor.
"Hon" as a Trademark
In November 2010, Denise Whiting made the word "hon" a trademark. This meant she had special rights to use "hon" on items like napkins, buttons, and hats sold to promote Cafe Hon. Whiting explained that this trademark did not stop anyone from saying "hon" or using it in everyday talk.
Public Reaction
Many people in Baltimore were not happy about the trademark. Dan Rodricks, a writer for The Baltimore Sun newspaper, criticized the idea. He wrote that "Hon" belonged to everyone in Baltimore, not just one person.
Because of this disagreement, people in Baltimore held street protests on December 19, 2010. They were upset about the trademark.
Trademark Resolution
On November 7, 2011, during the filming of the Kitchen Nightmares episode, Denise Whiting held a press conference. Gordon Ramsay was there with her. At this event, she announced that she would give up the "Hon" trademark.
Ramsay mentioned that Cafe Hon had faced a lot of anger from the public. He said he had never seen a restaurant with such a big problem. A Baltimore Sun article described the Kitchen Nightmares episode. It noted that while the show usually focused on messy kitchens, the Cafe Hon episode was about a unique public relations issue. It was "one woman vs. a city."
Whiting said that the controversy over trademarking "Hon" had greatly affected her business and her health. She estimated that her sales dropped by "20 to 25 percent" after the trademark news came out in December 2010. She even had to sell her individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to pay her employees.
Whiting officially filed to cancel the trademark. She announced this on Facebook on November 11, 2011.
