‘This is simply enjoyable’: Thousands flock to George Webb to get their palms on a free burger 

Ken Krahn spent Wednesday morning and early afternoon standing in line outdoors a George Webb restaurant in West Allis. 

Why? For a free burger, in fact.

“Yeah, it’s a hamburger, but … the whole experience of doing it is just awesome,” Krahn mentioned.

He is aware of some would possibly name him loopy. 

“Crazy is in the eye of the beholder,” he mentioned. “You know, you only live once, you got to have fun.” 

Krahn was the primary in line on the restaurant for the George Webb burger giveaway. The promotion was triggered when the Milwaukee Brewers received 12 video games in a row for the primary time since 2018 final week.

Thousands of individuals waited in line to assert their free burger at 23 areas throughout Southeast Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon.

The line wrapped across the block at a Wauwatosa George Webb shortly after the promotion started at 2 p.m. That’s the place Ben Blitz was ready for his freebie. 

He mentioned he didn’t declare the George Webb giveaway final time the staff received 12 video games in a row in 2018.

“It’s one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” Blitz mentioned. “So … I’ve been waiting for this moment to make up for it.” 

Employees on the Wauwatosa location handed out the burgers to individuals standing in line to expedite the method. Blitz ate his on the sidewalk subsequent to the car parking zone.

“It almost felt like we won this season after we got those 12 wins,” Blitz mentioned. “And like, whatever happens after that … that’s just gravy on top.”

More than 100 individuals have been ready in line at a New Berlin George Webb at round 3 p.m. Wednesday. Stephanie Fong ate her burger at a sales space contained in the restaurant. 

“What I love about this promotion is kind of like the togetherness of the community,” Fong mentioned. “Maybe it’s a dorky thing to stand in line just to get a hamburger, but I think it’s just fun.”

Fong is a Brewers fan and was watching carefully because the staff approached their twelfth consecutive win.

“Everybody around me has been talking about it like, ‘one more win, one more win,’” she mentioned. “So yeah, I was paying attention.”

The promotion dates again to the Forties. 

“It was then formalized in 1965 when the owner painted the prediction on restaurant walls and advertised in local papers,” in accordance with an announcement from the restaurant chain. “As legend has it, George Webb boldly stated that once the hometown team won 12 games in a row, free burgers would be served.”

The chain expects to present away round 180,000 free burgers. They gave out 100,000 vouchers final week.

Pam Bloom is a supervisor at a George Webb in Milwaukee. She was working on the restaurant in 1987 and in 2018, the final two occasions the promotion was triggered. 

“It’s crazy, but a fun crazy is what it is,” Bloom mentioned.  

Bloom mentioned she expects handy out round 1,000 burgers at her location alone. She began her shift at 5 a.m. and expects to work till the promotion is over at 6 p.m.

“We’ll just be crazy and it’s going to be a good crazy, and we’ll cry and laugh at the same time,” Bloom mentioned.

Wauwatosa residents Kevin and Melanie Stewart each acquired a voucher for a free burger final week. They mentioned they plan to return again to the restaurant when it’s much less busy.

“This is just fun,” Melanie mentioned. “It’s fun to see all the community come out for something, we’re proud of the Brewers.”

Kevin Stewart mentioned he could maintain onto his voucher.

“I want mine for a souvenir,” Kevin mentioned. “I may have it framed.”