COMMUNITY

Community and Family

It all started at The downtown Onion Bar & Grill when we opened in 1978. The Onion location, at that time, was considered to be in a “rough” part of town.  The needs of the homeless were obvious to our founder Larry Brown.  The ability to help these unfortunate people out by bringing them into the facility became nearly impossible.  The need for a new way to help became imperative. It was decided that every year we would donate and raise money to help those less fortunate than ourselves, and this tradition is stronger today than ever before.

The generosity continues to grow today through voluntary employee payroll deductions with an owner match program. Our owners and crew often volunteer to assist in the distribution of these community donations and are proud to be a local business leader in these efforts. Several hundred thousand dollars and countless hours have been given back to our community through these efforts since 1978.

The Onion Bar & Grill and Franks Diners are substantial donors for The Spokesman Review Christmas Fund. Our downtown locations see the direct hardships that fall upon the homeless and hungry.  It is often difficult to help on a daily basis which led us to seek out the Spokesman Review Christmas Fund and other local charities. Chosen organizations must demonstrate that 100% of the money raised will help Spokane’s homeless. Are crew and owners are honored to be substantial provider of a program that provides food, clothing, and shelter for hundreds in need.

Amazing Kids Program

We are very active in our local schools with our Amazing Kid Program. Each year we supply thousands of “AMAZING KIDS” gift cards to local teachers as a means to help encourage good behavior in their students. These gift cards are good for a free ice cream sundae at The Onion.

Teachers from kindergarten – 5th grade use these to spot and publicly praise a student any time good behavior is witnessed. Nothing is more encouraging to a child’s mental health development than being honored in front of ones peers. This program supplies our local teachers with a tool to do this. It has become so successful that we delivered over 10,000 gift cards to teachers in schools all over Spokane and the surrounding area in 2011 alone.

Other Charity Organizations

The following local programs also receive time, money and contributions each year since 2001 from the crew and owners of Landmark Restaurants of Spokane. DBA, The Onion Bar & Grill and Franks Diners.

BIG TABLE, BEYOND PINK, Pro Start Culinary, 2nd Harvest Inland Northwest, Women’s & Children’s Free Restaurant, Volunteers of America, Olive Crest, Ronald McDonald House, Inland NW Candle lighters, Children’s Village Foundation, Spokane Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP), Union Gospel Mission, Hospice of Spokane, Vanessa Behan, Department of Social & Health Services, Spokane Suburban North Lions Club, Spokane Guilds’ School, countless local homeless organizations and school programs as well as Gloria, a grandmother who is raising her two grandsons.

If you have an organization, please let us know when you book your next dinner party with us and we will donate 10% of your net check back to your group. Please call Christy Belisle at (509) 209-6789 to arrange this in advance

The Crew of the Onion Bar & Grills and Franks Diners –

Our Crewmembers and Owners have been donating with a voluntary payroll deduction and owner match since 1978 –

Thank you Spokane, surrounding areas, world travelers and news and media personnel – We are proud to be Spokanes longest running locally owned and operated restaurant Company!