IHOP coverage raises local, national questions
Written by Jeremy Baumhower | | jbaumhower@toledofreepress.comOn the morning of Sept. 20, like most Toledoans, I was stunned, shocked and amazed as the first reports of the IHOP raids hit Toledo airwaves. 13abc first broke the story about a series of raids happening at numerous IHOP locations across the area. As a father of four, with IHOP being one of my children’s favorite restaurants, I was mesmerized. The report featured two words that may forever change the fate of those breakfast establishments: “Homeland Security.”
The raid as shown on TV featured black government-issued SUVs, like the one Jack Bauer drove on FOX’s “24.” We heard of guns being drawn on employees entering work at 6 a.m. and FBI interrogations. As further reports came we saw boxes being loaded into SUVs. The reporters stayed with what they knew — that the City of Toledo was asked to assist in the execution of “sealed” search warrants to six IHOP locations in Northwest Ohio.
The raid was conducted by the FBI, the IRS, Immigration Control and Homeland Security. Later reports released the name and address of the owner, Tarek Elkafrawi of Sylvania.
I could hear the reaction from across the city: “Oh my God, June, we have al-Qaida serving us Rooty Tooty Fresh ’n’ Fruity.”
The IHOP story was the biggest thing in months and with very limited knowledge, the media and Toledoans were left with our imaginations, to fill in the blanks and lack of facts of the story.
As I drove by the Central Avenue IHOP at dinnertime on Sept. 23, I saw one car in the parking lot and a thought occurred to me: what if the two words Homeland Security had not been mentioned in the story? Would Toledo care? Can two words change the course of six buildings and 100-plus jobs?
The scariest part for myself, being in media, is the “not knowing,” and with a sealed warrant that is exactly what the media have … a ton of “not knowing.”
Later that evening, 13abc featured an interview with an employee, his face hidden, who shared his story of being questioned by the FBI. The employee stated the FBI asked him if he had seen a lot of cash floating, any unusual invoices or illegal immigrants applying for jobs or anything else looking suspicious. His answers to the questions were all “no.” The employee stated he had worked there for a couple of years and had seen no red flags.
The owner of the IHOPs was out of town; Mr. Elkafawi was in Florida attending an IHOP franchisee meeting. He was not flying back from Afghanistan carrying plans of future attacks, but flying back with plans of how to make pancakes more delicious.
Since the raids, I have been checking daily for any arrests, indictments or anything related to IHOP and have seen nothing. What if no charges or indictments are filed? What if the investigations are only tax-related? Would Toledo have reacted the way it has with a complete boycott of the restaurants? If you want to see six empty buildings, I implore you to drive by an IHOP. The one thing Northwest Ohio does not need is six additional empty buildings and 100-plus people out of work. Sadly, this story has the power to do those two things.
There is a new McCarthyism happening in today’s times and it targets Muslims. It can make any headline of a newspaper pop out and it surely sexies up the local 6 p.m. news. What media never takes into consideration is the long-term effects of its stories. If you use words like Homeland Security, it of course leads one to assume that terrorism is involved. If words like Homeland Security and IRS are used, people assume illegal funding of terrorism is occurring. 13abcreported on what they knew; they never once claimed/stated that the owner was involved in terrorism but just stated he was being investigated. Toledoans obviously made the jump.
Toledoans during the past week have chosen not to give IHOP their money. How could anyone possibly spend their money at a place that must fund, hire or support terrorism, right? We have stayed clear of their cinn-a-stacks, the bacon n’ beef cheeesburger and every other ounce of goodness they serve, but why? We have no idea what the raids were about; the warrants are all sealed. We do not know if they are looking at tax evasion, money laundering, failure to remit tax or hiring illegal aliens.
It is the media’s job to report and for us to decide. Can our own fears and prejudices cost the jobs of 100-plus people?
Is America not the home of a justice system with an ideology based on “innocent until proven guilty?”
What will come first, an indictment involving the IHOP owner or the close of six area IHOP businesses?
Email media columnist Jeremy Baumhower at news@toledofreepress.com.
Tags: 13abc, IHOP, Jeremy Baumhower, Media Watch
My name is Deanne King. I am currently a manager at the Perrysburg Ihop. I just wanted to take a moment and say Thank You. As it stands, no one other than you have even tried to come to our defense. There’s been a lot of negative comments and blogs sent our way but, yours is the only public comment that has been positive. For that, Sir, I and my team are forever grateful.
This comment was posted on October 1st, 2011 at 9:32 pmThanks for the story. I am the employee who went on 13abc and have been working for Ihop for 3 yrs. I was also in the restaurant on Talmadge, ready to clock in for work at 555am when the raid took place. Since that time, business has been non-existant. I usually work roughly 38 hours a week. Now I am struggling to get 15 hrs a week. You are correct, it may come a time when ownership decides to close the restaurants. However, I do not think corporate will allow that to happen. We may get our business back in time, but what happens when the documents that authorized the raid are unsealed? This story will again be front page and lead story for the 6pm newscasts. Its a sad situation all the way around.
This comment was posted on October 2nd, 2011 at 10:05 amI do know that even though there were no arrests in connection with the raids, there were several employees, including a manager, what was detained by Immigration. Most of the people detained were working at the Perrysburg location and I am certain they are being held either in Cleveland or in Seneca County awaiting deportation.
Thanks again for the story….
As a journalist, you have illustrated the media’s flare for stirring the negative emotions in people. It is a shame that the owner has been victimized by the hype that this story has generated. As a customer of IHOP, I know the owner well and hate to see his business suffer as a result of this whole affair. It is my hope that the public will show Big Brother that they are not going to fall prey to the relentless tactics they and the media have demonstrated. Tarek Elkafrawi is a good man who helps those in need. It would be a shame to see his hopes or the hopes of those that rely on him dashed because of fear of uncertainty.
This comment was posted on October 2nd, 2011 at 11:19 amI would like to say Thank You! Over the past 2 weeks or so all I have heard or seen is negative things about IHOP and it upsets me. It upsets me because I am just 1 out of the 100′s it effets. I guess people do not think about the mothers, fathers,college and high school students that work at these businesses. It has made a difference for every employee, but we stick together like family and hope that business will return. Thank you again so very much for sheding a little light on the other side of the story.
This comment was posted on October 2nd, 2011 at 1:29 pmMy name is Iris and I work at the Evansville IHOP in Indiana.I use to work 5 days a week 6am to 2pm. Ever since the raid took place we have losted so much business my hours got cut and so has my days.I also would like to thank-you for the kind words you have written. I know for a fact Terry E. and his wife Kelly are wonderful people to work for, I have been with them for 9 years, so have my 3 daughters. Terry has done so much for all the employees and treats each and everyone of us like family. I myself have seen him go outside and taken a homeless person from the cold and brought them inside for a hot meal. In all the 9 years that I’ve work for them I have NEVER witness any funny business going on. Terry and Kelly are the most kindness people I have ever worked for. How could this happen to them? It really upsets me to hear all the mean negative things that are being said. All this effected not only them but me my family and fellow co workers! I Hop is my living and my job and I love working there, but because of all this business is down and alot of damage has been done. I just wanted to let the public know we at IHop are still the same and hope you all come back.
This comment was posted on October 3rd, 2011 at 10:52 pmI would like to thankyou for recognizing what a disaster this has been for all concerned. People ask who is Terry Elk? Let me tell you who he is he is the man in line behind a senior citizen who has to put food back because they don’t have enough to pay and guess what Terry insists they let him pay. When an Ohio man gets robbed at Christmas and is crying because he won’t be able to buy his grandchildren or children any gifts or even do dinner , Terry hugs him and gives him the money. I could go on, but i am sure you get the point. Terry is a hardworking American citizen and it is just killing him that the employees at these IHOPS are all now struggling and their children and families are feeling the effects of the publics fear without knowing the truth about it. I believe our nation doesn’t need anymore people out of work as 400 to 500 employees out of a job is also devasting on the communities in which they live shop and support. Somehow we need to pull together as a community and family and not let our own fears and ignorance destroy what a wonderful man has established for his community. I believe Terry is a true example of following your dreams and he made them a reality and all he has ever wanted to do was to give back. I would like again to thanyou for your recognition of what has happened. Remember Pumpkin pancakes come out soon :)
This comment was posted on October 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 pmI have known the owners of these Ihops for almost 20 years and they are very wonderful people. My heart breaks over reading the negative comments and opinions that people have expressed after learning about the raids. I really applaud Jeremy Baumhower for his follow up coverage on this story and he has certainly hit the nail on the head with what will happen if business does not pick up at these Ihops. I hope and pray that people will start to eat at Ihop again.
This comment was posted on October 4th, 2011 at 6:34 pmI have wondered when someone would stand up for us,thank you! I have been with Ihop for over 2 years and this last year I have worked 2 jobs. The wrong people are being punished for absolutely nothing! 2 jobs is what it takes to support my family and with lack of business its not happening.
This comment was posted on October 15th, 2011 at 9:34 pm