Campus restaurants bring in reinforcements

The Eagles are in the Super Bowl, Philadelphians are celebrating and local restaurant owners are getting ready.

"We're usually busy on Sunday, but we are going to be even busier this Sunday," said Angelo Fernandez, manager of Allegro Pizza.

His eatery is stocking up on everything from pizza supplies to employees in preparation.

"Every year this happens, we double our delivery [and so we hire] extra drivers, extra people answering the phones," Fernandez said, adding that he hoped customers wouldn't mind waiting a couple of minutes longer than usual for their pizza.

Cavanaugh's on 39th street also expects to be very busy this Sunday but is not bringing in extra employees. However, the bartenders on staff will be working a shift from noon until 2 a.m.

Freshgrocer supermarket is also preparing for a Super Bowl rush. Manager Jim Ronaldson said that they have ordered extra deli meats, party trays and vegetable platters.

Freshgrocer, like Cavanaugh's, is not worried about not having enough workers on Sunday. Ronaldson said that with 170 employees, they expect to be able to find some people who don't mind missing the game.

Ronaldson does expect some people to call in sick on Sunday, "but we always have callouts every Sunday, what are you going to do?"

Other local employees have told their bosses weeks in advance that they will not work during the Super Bowl and others have made plans so they never work during games.

College senior Thomas Richards, refuses to go to work at Greek Lady. Richards plans to go home and watch the game with his family.

But there are some who have forsaken the game for responsibility.

John Hagy, the manager of CopaBanana, said that he would obviously rather not work on Super Bowl Sunday but is going to fulfill his duty as manager.

Hagy, who said he thinks the Eagles will win 21-19, is not worried about other employees coming in because "it's a money shift."

Still, money may not be the sole reason that employees work during the Super Bowl.

"I've worked on Super Bowl Sunday for the past 15 or 16 years ... it's the only Sunday I work," said Lee's Hoagie House employee Ed Bryant, noting that everybody tries to help out around the establishment.

"I'd rather watch it here than at home, I'd be too nervous at home," Bryant said. "Being here gives me something to do. They are going to win or lose whether we work or not."

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