Tulsa World: Holiday meal on house at Frank's

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Holiday meal on house at Frank's
The cafe's owner wants to help Tulsans down on their luck.

The owner of Frank's Cafe, Frank Al Chami, chats with friend Nuredim Giayash of Tulsa. Al Chami will be serving free Thanksgiving dinner at his restaurant to everyone who needs a meal. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World

By NATALIE MIKLES World Scene Writer
Published: 11/25/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/25/2009 4:04 AM

It broke Frank Al Chami's heart every time he heard the news.

At first it was one or two and then a dozen. Al Chami guesses he's heard from 40 to 50 of his regular customers who have lost their jobs in the last year.

"They tell me, 'Frank, we won't be able to eat here anymore.' They don't have the money," he said.

But Al Chami, owner of Frank's Café at 5451 S. Mingo Road, wouldn't stand for it.

He started giving away 100 free meals a month to those down on their luck. But he wanted to do more.

So on Thanksgiving, Al Chami will give free dinners to anyone who needs it. That's turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, corn, salads, homemade dinner rolls, pumpkin pie and bread pudding for everyone.

It's something Al Chami did the first 15 years he was in business, but over the years, it seemed the need became less and less. Whenever he had more turkey than he had customers, he packed it up and delivered it to the homebound.

Eventually, he decided to give himself and his staff a break, and he stayed closed on Thanksgiving for the last 10 years. But this year was different.

'Hey, Frank'

At Frank's, everyone seems to know the café's namesake. He sits at a table for four in the center of the restaurant, doing his bookkeeping, eating the day's special and talking to anyone who walks by — waitresses, customers, the mail man, a cook checking the buffet.

"Hey, Frank." "How you doing, Frank?" "Cinnamon rolls were good today, Frank."

He knows many by name, making it all the more personal when these customers — his friends — stopped to tell him their hours at work had been cut, they couldn't afford their kids' college tuition, their homes were being foreclosed or they had lost their jobs.

"I can't go to bed with a full stomach knowing my neighbor is hungry," he said.

And Al Chami doesn't just mean that metaphorically. He literally brings food to his neighbors, who may not always need the food but do need the company.

He suspects it will be the same way on Thanksgiving. Most people he's feeding will be hungry, but others will be lonely.

"Sometimes it's not about the food but a need to be with other people," he said.

'What comes around'

Being poor isn't an abstract idea for Al Chami.

"I grew up in a house where we never had any food to eat — never," he said.

Since moving to the United States from Syria as a young man, Al Chami has supported his family in Syria, including helping a brother and sister go to college.

In 1986, after he found success in the restaurant business, Al Chami wrote his father a letter telling him to quit his job. Ever since, his mother and father have lived on the money he sends back home.

But even with those close ties to Syria, Al Chami considers himself first an Oklahoman. And it's Oklahomans he wants to help on Thanksgiving.

"I believe what comes around goes around. I help others because I can't stand by to see another human being suffering, and because I believe God may provide something to my kids if they need something one day."

Free Thanksgiving dinner

10: 0 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday

Frank’s Cafe at 5451 S. Mingo Road

Those who are able can pay $5.99 for the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Call 665-6760 for more information.

Natalie Mikles 581-8486
natalie.mikles@tulsaworld.com By NATALIE MIKLES World Scene Writer

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	Report Comment dinghmm, (11/25/2009 4:38:59 AM) I know this guy, I worked for him a few years ago, even then anyone who was hungry could eat from the buffet for free. Mighty nice of him. Happy Thanksgiving Frank.
	Report Comment fcol, (11/25/2009 6:23:27 AM) We've eaten there many times over the years. Wonderful place and food. Frank and his employees make everyone feel at home. This news only confirms the big heart you sense being around him. Thank you Frank for caring so much!
	Report Comment H_Harl, (11/25/2009 8:47:08 AM) usually, when i see all the murders and rapes and general brutallity that people inflict on eachother in the news, i lose a lot of faith in mankind. when i see a story like this one, it helps to reassure me that there are still a FEW genuinely good and decent people in the world. and it looks like Mr. Al Chami is one of those good and decent people. the world desperately needs more like him.
	Report Comment H_Harl, (11/25/2009 8:50:17 AM) 5.99 for the buffet sounds like a very good deal too. especially with todays inflation.
	Report Comment HarleyRyder55, Tulsa (11/25/2009 9:22:54 AM) Frank, God bless you and yours, from the diced ham and scrambled eggs w/cheese guy. Frank is one of the warmest, nicest, most generous men I've ever met. Since I've retired, his cafe is almost my second home, lol.
	Report Comment HarleyRyder55, Tulsa (11/25/2009 9:24:41 AM) BTW H_Harl, Frank's buffet, unless it's specialty day like Italian food, usually has strips of sirloin steak included for that price. Check it out!
	Report Comment H_Harl, (11/25/2009 9:47:21 AM) well, i do like me some sirloin steak. especially if it's all you can eat. i don't live in tulsa. but i do go to tulsa from time to time. i may just have to give Mr. Al Chami some business sometime.
	Report Comment SS_Hippy, Tulsa (11/25/2009 9:50:57 AM) Great story! Thanks Mr Chami!
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (11/25/2009 10:17:51 AM) What a nice man.
	Report Comment SRV, (11/25/2009 11:24:04 AM) Right on!
	Report Comment Moses, Jenks (11/25/2009 11:50:17 AM) Great guy, great food, thanks Frank. You must be a friend to have friends. I imagine Frank has more friends than he knows! Happy Thanksgiving!
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/25/2009 11:55:17 AM) Legendary cinnamon rolls. Such a fine baker he makes pastries for other restaurants too.
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (11/25/2009 1:37:14 PM) Great story! And reading about this, makes me want to go sit down and have a meal sometime. For sure.
	Report Comment Pippin, Tulsa (11/25/2009 2:02:14 PM) I love their food ! My work hours don't let me visit often, but it is always tasty, with a home-like feel to it. I am feeling under the weather, so I am not helping cook or feed anybody for the holiday, but Frank's staff took a donation over the phone to let me help feed folks who are not as blessed as I am right now. 665-6760 - Help Frank feed our neighbors who need. It makes good karma...Wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful holiday.
	Report Comment Joeknowsss, (11/25/2009 3:13:40 PM) Frank is a good man, and this my friends is what Thanksgiving is all about
	Report Comment Disco Deere, Oklahoma City. (11/25/2009 3:37:16 PM) I have two Gift Certificates for Country Cottage. Maybe I will donate them....
	Report Comment scooter2, (11/25/2009 8:45:52 PM) This story brings one to tears, you hardly ever seen kindness shown anymore. It really touches you to hear such good news in the midst of so much coldness. It is more Blessed to give than to recieve. Happy Thanksgiving to Frank and may he be even more blessed.
	Report Comment Bonasera the Undertaker, Brooklyn (11/25/2009 9:03:40 PM) I've had the pleasure of knowing a number of Syrians who live and work in Tulsa. And they are some of the most generous, big-hearted people I've known. Most would give the shirts off their backs. We would do well to frequent their establishments, and to thank them for their kind deeds.
	Report Comment okie ridgerunner, Small Country Town State Line (11/25/2009 11:13:11 PM) Great heart warming story.Framk is the kind of American and human being we need more of.proud to say he is a okie and has been for a long time. OH yes i never heard of his place untill i moved to kansas.I heard so much about him and his food i went back to tulsa and tried it. it was all i had heard about. very good and worth every mile.

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