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Rush for 23-cent pizzas closes Papa John's stores
Chain seeks police help at 6 local shops
Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:34 AM
Updated: Thursday, May 8, 2008 05:24 PM

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Overwhelmed by the response to a promotion offering 23-cent pizzas, Papa John's closed some of its Columbus stores before dinner today.

Columbus Police officers were called before 5 p.m. to help close the pizza shops because of concerns that the large crowds could become unruly, said Amanda Ford, a police spokeswoman.

She said there are about 20 Papa John's locations in the city, but officers were beginning by assisting at shops on Morse Road, E. Hudson Street, Parsons Avenue, S. Hamilton Road and Kathy Run Lane. They were asking the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for help at a location outside the city on W. Broad Street.

“That’s where they’re having the most issues” with crowd control, she said of the six locations.

The regional manager for the stores also requested special-duty officers to work outside Columbus locations from 6 p.m. to midnight.

“They’re worried about vandalism if people show up and can’t get their 23-cent pizza,” Ford said.

The pizza chain offered the promotion in several Ohio cities as a public-relations gesture after a Papa John's franchise in Washington, D.C., printed T-shirts last week referring to Cleveland Cavaliers’ star LeBron James as a “crybaby.”

The shirts were printed during the Cavaliers’ playoff series with the Washington Wizards. James wears number 23.

lemur68 wrote:I didn't even know they were doing that here. The E. Hudson location is just a few blocks from me.