Americans order pizzas to feed Wisconsin workers protesting for worker's rights
Reprinted from BlogForArizona
We rarely take sides on any debate unless you want to talk about food -- fresh vs. old, delicious vs. yucky, Wisconsin cheese vs. California cheese (whose cows are truly happier?). But other than that, we really just want to serve you the best food we can, using the best possible ingredients, with the best possible customer service.
Now, maybe you've heard a little bit about what's been happening in Madison this past week. Protests, marching, little ol' Wisconsin on the national news...sounding vaguely familiar?
Yes, we've seen tens of thousands of people vigorously exercising their right to freedom of speech, steps from our front door. We're not going to get too in-depth here (we are just pizza people, after all) but suffice it to say it's been a rather unusual mid-February downtown.
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning we took a late-night call from folks still over at the Capital; they were wondering if they could have our end-of-night leftovers. Well, of course -- we're always glad to hand out food at 3:30am! (That is pretty much our reason for existence... well, that and the house-made ranch dressing.)
The next day we got a handful of calls from folks throughout the country, people who had heard about our late-night donation. Then a few more the next day, and next thing, fast forward to 5pm on Saturday when we were so inundated with calls - - from over half the states in the Union and from international locales ranging from Canada to Denmark -- that our normal business had to essentially be shut down so we could focus on feeding the protestors.
It takes a leap of faith to call a place you've never heard of, order a pizza that you'll never see, and just hope that those people on the other end of the phone do what they say they will. It's now 9am on Sunday, February 20th, and at last count we had sold over 430 of our signature 20" mac n' cheese pizzas to callers worldwide, and have at least 60 still waiting to be made so we could help feed what has turned into a city within a city.
When this is all over, we'll gather these order tickets, compile a list, post it on our website and Facebook and in-store, and we'll have a final count of who ordered what and just how many people we helped feed.
In the meantime, just know that we are so honored that you have entrusted us with feeding the people you're supporting and we're so grateful for your trust and your business -- thank you so much!
If you want to order a pizza, here is the contact info:
State Street Hours
Mon - Sun: 11:00am - 2:30am
Address:
115 State St.
Madison, WI 53703
Phone:
608.257.9248 (ZA4U)
Disclaimer: I have no knowledge or interest in Ian's pizza. I have no idea whether it tastes like cardboard or ambrosia. I have no idea whether they will actually deliver the pizza you order to the protesters. I have no idea whether the protesters are already stuffed to the toenails with Ian's pizzas already ordered by others.
In other words, while it may not be quite politically correct to say so, but caveat emptor.
On the other hand,
Workers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but a few bucks, and a hungry protester's eternal gratitude to gain...
And p.s. It's dinner time.
Important Update from Ian's
We already have all the orders we can fill for tonight (thank you thank you thank you!) so we are, as of 5:15pm CST, not taking any more calls tonight.
We will begin accepting calls for more orders beginning tomorrow morning at 11:00am.
Thank you all so much, we are doing our darnedest to keep up, and keep everyone who walks in ...fed and happy.
Love,
The Ian's Crew
It seems unlikely that there are not other pizza places in all of Madison, WI, though...
Here's a suggestion from the comments:
I have a couple of progressive friends who have a restaurant in the square that can definitely help out:
http://www.marigoldkitchen.com/
118 S. Pinckney St., Madison, WI • 608.661.5559
And another:
If they are at capacity, Pizza di Roma down the block has similar but more conventional pizza which is also delicious.
http://www.campusspecial.com/...
(608) 268-0900
And another:
Pizzeria Uno's Chicago Bar & Grill
* (608) 255-7722
222 W Gorham St, Madison, WI 53703
Sun: 11:00am - 10:00pm, Mon: 11:00am - 10:00pm, Tue: 11:00am - 10:00pm, Wed: 11:00am - 10:00pm, Fri: 11:00am - 11:00pm, Sat: 11:00am - 11:00pm CST
can't call to see if they wil deliver to protesters, my wifes been on the phone all night. But I bet they will.
Updated by jpmassar at Sun Feb 20, 2011, 08:08:16 PM
Update from the new wires
With national attention falling on Madison in the last week, Twitter has exploded with people talking about the Gov. Scott Walker's bill to remove many collective bargaining rights from most state employees. Thousands of people used Twitter to spread information (and rumors) and organize protests.
Late last week, Twitter reported the hashtag "#wiunion" had become one of the most talked-about subjects on the microblogging service nationally.
Updated by jpmassar at Sun Feb 20, 2011, 08:15:08 PM
Update from the news wires
attention is turning to a group of moderate Republican senators to negotiate a compromise to the stalemate that has drawn thousands of protesters to the state capital for a sixth straight day.
The proposal, written by Sen. Dale Schultz and first floated in the Republican caucus early last week, calls for most collective bargaining rights of public employee unions to be eliminated – per Mr. Walker's bill – but then reinstated in 2013, said Mr. Schultzs's chief of staff Todd Allbaugh.
Updated by jpmassar at Sun Feb 20, 2011, 08:18:33 PM
Update from the news wires
After six days of protests that packed the state capitol, Wisconsin's major teachers' union called on members to start returning to work Monday but keep fighting a proposed rollback of union protections for public employees.