Restaurant Chains Ring in a New President
From national giants like T.G.I. Friday's and Krispy Kreme to local Washington, D.C., concepts, restaurant chains are celebrating Inauguration Day.
By Mary Boltz Chapman, Editor-in-Chief -- Chain Leader, 1/15/2009 12:21:00 PM
President-elect Barack Obama may not always have the best interests of the chain-restaurant industry in mind. But many chains are celebrating the Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20 with parties and promotions.
* Carrollton, Texas-based casual-dining giant T.G.I. Friday's plans the "World's Largest Inauguration Party," which it will host at more than 920 restaurants in 62 countries around the world. Guests will get discounts on drinks and appetizers, as well as a commemorative button. Members of the chain's Give Me More Stripes loyalty club will receive free appetizers and bonus "stripes," or points toward future purchases. And at 9 p.m., each restaurant will have a "Toast Heard 'Round the World."
* California Tortilla, the quick-casual Rockville, Md.-based chain, is holding a systemwide party on Inauguration Day. Customers who "dance, shake or shimmy" will earn a free taco and a keychain that holds coupons for free chips and queso with any purchase and buy-one-get-one-free of any entree at the 40-unit chain.
* From Jan. 15 through Inauguration Day, Silver Diner is offering a Red, White and Blue-plate menu of "patriotic themed" selections like the Barack & Biden Bacon Cheeseburger, Camp David Turkey Club Sandwich and Memorial Meatloaf. The 16-unit chain based in Rockville, Md., also is promoting Presidential Platters such as a Congressional Crunchy Shrimp Platter and Constitutional Cajun Chicken Pasta.
* Legal Sea Foods Inc. will sell bowls of New England Clam Chowder for 44 cents--in honor of the 44th president--on Inauguration Day, calling it a "Legal Holiday." The Boston-based, 34-unit chain's chowder has been served at every Presidential Inauguration since 1981.
* Duffy's Sports Grill, a Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based chain of 19 restaurants along Florida's east coast, will host parties in each restaurant, giving customers coming in on Inauguration Day a coupon good for 44 percent off an entree on their next visit.
* Passion Food Hospitality, a multiconcept operator based in Washington, D.C., is serving a new drink in its five restaurants, Acadiana, DC Coast, Ceiba, TenPehn and PassionFish.
Tied to Martin Luther King Jr. Day as well, the $9 drink is called The Dream and includes bourbon, warm apple cider, honey, caramel and a cinnamon stick.
* Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts is offering a Stars & Stripes doughnut through Inauguration Day. On the big day, in select markets like Washington, D.C., customers can get it for 44 cents with the purchase of a medium coffee or hot chocolate.
* And at Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Krispy Kreme, customers coming in on Jan. 20 will receive a free treat, no purchase required.
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