Marketing

Restaurants offering side of toilet paper with delivery, pickup orders

The promotions provide much needed comic relief amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Photograph: Shutterstock

“We’ve got your back(side).” That’s the message Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is sharing as it offers customers a free roll of toilet paper with any sandwich order.

This tongue-in-cheek promotion is just one example of how restaurants across the country—many of which have been restricted to delivery and pickup only—are hoping to provide their customers with a laugh, as well as some extra supplies, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Ike’s promotion began Friday and is valid while supplies last on pickup orders at the sandwich shop’s more than 75 locations throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Hawaii. While the free roll is not available with delivery, Ike’s is offering free delivery on orders made through its app.  

In Cambridge, Minn., Cambridge Bar & Grill is including a free roll of TP with all orders of more than $25. “When the customers get their order, you hear a genuine laugh, and that’s the best thing right now,” owner Sean Okerlund told Fox 9. Wednesday marked the first day of the promotion, and the restaurant is currently open for takeout from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, Tommy Riemer, general manager of The Beacon Tap in Des Plaines, Ill., told NBC Chicago he ordered 300 rolls of toilet paper from his supplier to “offer it to customers as a little comic relief.” The Beacon Tap is giving out free TP with a delivery or takeout order. The offer was posted on the restaurant's Facebook page Monday morning, and it was still handing out toilet paper as of Thursday.

Pizza chains are also rolling with it. Pizza Schmizza in Portland, Ore., announced a $15 special that includes a pizza of any size and a roll of toilet paper for curbside pickup at its Southwest Montgomery Street restaurant near Portland State University, The Oregonian reported. Wisconsin’s Mequon Pizza Company is also offering a free roll of TP with a pizza order, and it is also allowing customers to purchase just toilet paper for $1, with a limit of six rolls, according to Insider.

tp email

Photograph courtesy of Ike's Sandwiches

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Leadership

Meet the restaurant fixer who now owns Etta

Tech entrepreneur Johann Moonesinghe suddenly finds himself leading a growing group of restaurants. His secret? He doesn't expect to make a profit.

Financing

Looking for the next Chipotle? These 3 chains are already there

The Bottom Line: Wingstop, Raising Cane’s and Jersey Mike’s have broken free from the pack of well-established growth chains. Here’s why this trio stands out.

Financing

For Starbucks, 2 years of change hasn't yielded promised results

The Bottom Line: The coffee shop giant’s sales struggles worsened earlier this year, despite a flurry of efforts to improve operations and employee satisfaction.

Trending

More from our partners