What is Johnny’s All American?
Our monument to
an All - American Hero
From steel to Burgers.
I'm a third-generation factory worker and UAW member. My dad has worked at GM now for 40 years. My mother , a social worker, went to Ohio State when i was a mere tot and I spent my days running around the halls of campus and would eventually attend the best school on earth some 15 years later. My Grandma on my mothers side worked in a kitchen for 60 years and taught me everything about food and family. My grandma on my Dad’s side worked 50 years in a department store that I grew up in running around as if were my playground. My grandfather, Johnny worked at GM for 56 years. He was a civil rights, women's rights and labor rights champion. He dedicated his life to fighting for the working class. He helped elect at that time Representative Sherrod Brown as his babysitter and campaign manager. He was on countless boards and commissions to help working-class people in Ohio. Grandpa started little leagues, skilled trades apprenticeship programs, and countless other initiatives that stand til this day to help give people a chance. He and my family would go door to door to get people registered to vote, and load them into his Buick, and get them to the polls. I remember taking meals to halfway houses and working with local civil rights leaders from his generation to open safe places for minorities and women. I am so lucky to have a chance to honor his legacy. He was my hero, a working-class hero, and a respected leader for legions of women, people of color, and labor workers. Grandpa was a voting delegate for President Obama in 2008 and a revered leader in the union worker and civil rights spaces. My Army vet grandpa died with a 21-gun salute from the country he served without a penny to his name. His home was sold in a sheriff's auction. As a first-generation business owner, I am honoring his legacy with this neighborhood shrine and safe place for all people. I wish Grandpa was here to see what I did. I created the exact type of place where he would come and the whole city would come to talk to him over a cold beer, the Buckeyes on TV, and a good burger.
Thank you to our amazing community for embracing us and being a big part of his legacy. Together, we can accomplish so much. One of the lessons I held most closely from Grandpa is that you will never know what people are going through. Be compassionate. Listen. And help wherever you can. Johnny’s is a place where we look out for our community and the community looks out for us. Just as Johnny would want.
To me, the most amazing thing about my Grandpa, the man with 100 jobs, was that he NEVER missed an academic or sports event of mine, my dad, or my siblings his entire life.
I wish my Grandpa and I could still go to Ohio State Games, and talk sports, and politics. But we cannot any longer. So Johnny’s All-American is the place where we honor that. Welcome to the DC home of working-class folks.
So, just come enjoy the Johhny’s aura. And “don’t kick up any guff. “
-Branden
