George Webb locations across the Milwaukee area made good on their promise of free burgers for all on Thursday to celebrate the Milwaukee Brewers winning 12 games in a row.
It’s just the second time in history and 31 years in the making.
George Webb in Wauwatosa had already given out 1,500 free hamburgers by 5:00 p.m., but the event is about more than just food for most.
The lines stretched about a hundred people deep during the busiest portions of the event in Wauwatosa. Each customer could have one free hamburger between 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Jane Johnson had the event marked on her calendar since the giveaway was announced last Friday after the Brewers won their 12th straight game.
“I’m coming in here for my hamburger if it kills me, if I have to stay overnight,” she said. “I will never get 12 again.”
The celebration came with nostalgia for those who were doing the exact same thing in 1987 like Dave Prothero. He said this time was much better.
“I lived right behind a George Webb at the time and it wasn’t as orderly as this. It was wild and it was a mess, paper and hamburgers,” Prothero recalled. “People came out and they took a bite and just threw them away. This isn’t like that, it’s very well organized and it looks like a good day.”
Behind the scenes in the kitchen, cooks formed an assembly line around the grill. One flipped burgers while others took care of buns and condiments.
“We have just over 2,500 burgers,” said George Webb CFO Katie Perez about one location. “We are fully prepared to grill them all and serve them all today.”
Back on the other side of the counter, the smells may be good, but the excitement was even greater.
“I think my wife and I are just coming for the heck of it,” Prothero said. “It’s nice that Webb’s does that but we just want to be part of it.”
Coupons were handed out at 6:00 p.m. to customers who didn’t want to wait in lines. Those coupons are good for one free hamburger from Oct 19 until the end of the month.
