Balloons decorate the dining room at Einstein Bros. Bagels in South Bend Saturday morning, January 22, 2011. (Tribune Photo/MARCUS MARTER) |
SOUTH BEND -- They started lining up as early as 2 a.m.
Scores of people braved the cold Saturday morning for a chance to win free breakfast sandwiches once a week for a year at the new Einstein Bros. Bagels shop in South Bend.
Entrepreneurs Melissa and Michael Newton celebrated the grand opening of their shop by giving the deal to the first 100 people in line.
"My friends called me and woke me up so I could get ready," said Catie Salyer, a student at Saint Mary's College. "We heard about this giveaway and because all three of us are very frugal with our money, we thought it was worth standing in zero (degree) weather to get a free breakfast for a year."
About 6:15 a.m., the lucky 100 were given a sheet of white paper with a number on it that was exchanged inside for coupons valid for one free breakfast sandwich a week for one year.Paul Grabill, an Adams High School student finally eating inside, said he and his dad, Joe, had been out there for what seemed like hours.
"This is cool because it's kind of a bonding time for me and my dad when we get to do crazy stuff together," he said. "But I have to say this is the best bagel I ever had to wait such a long time for."
When asked if it was worth the wait in line, Chuck Rinehart, of South Bend, answered, "Definitely, no regrets, 'cause I love Einstein bagels and breakfast is my favorite meal."
Kelcey Hall said this was something she was going to remember for a long time.
"I'm number 59," she said. "Look at all those people who were too late."Einstein Bros. Bagels, 2019 South Bend Ave., features a variety of bagels, sandwich creations, pastries and cream cheeses as well as a variety of drinks.
"Our corporation had done this in other stores and it has gone very well," said Melissa Newton. "So here we are happy to give 100 people out here the chance to have a free breakfast sandwich for a year. And we thought this was a good way to give something back to the community as well."
Staff writer May Lee Johnson: mjohnson@sbtinfo.com
