WESTFIELD–Did somebody order a burrito “steak” out?
Moe’s Southwest Grill opened its doors in Westfield yesterday at 301 East Main Street, to a crowd of hungry individuals who also hoped to cash in on an offer of free burritos for a year. The free burritos were given to the first 25 customers. Some skipped work or class for the free burritos, others arrived in the early morning hours for the overstuffed food item, while a brave and hungry few camped out the night.
The line outside of Moe’s just before its opening. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
“We set up a tent and camped out, first and second in line,” Mike Oxbig, 20, of Southwick said about himself and friend Jeff Dunham, 33, also of Southwick.
Oxbig and Dunham were joined by a third person, Kristina Love, 29, of Westfield, who also joined them on the camp-out “steak” out.
A photo of the tent in front of Moe’s, submitted to The Westfield News.
The three shared the same tent with mixed results, all in order to be guaranteed 52 free burritos each, one for each week of the year. And for Love, the experience wasn’t even for food that she has had before. She said that she’s had Mexican food and enjoyed it, but never a Moe’s burrito.
Dunham said that he heard through Facebook about the free burritos for a year and decided to arrive the night before simply because the food is good and plentiful, he said.
Others weren’t as die-hard for burritos as the three campers, but still made sacrifices to make certain that they were given the shot at the free food.
“I’m missing class right now but I know I’m going to spend a lot of money here,” Nick Zaporozhchenko, 18, of Springfield said. “I got here at 4 a.m. and there were already 10 other people here at that time.”
State Rep. John Velis tries to decide what to have for lunch (Photo by photographer Lynn Boscher)
The Moe’s in Westfield is the third opened in Western Massachusetts, joining locations in Northampton and Hadley. The Westfield location has great appeal for the franchise, where college students–the restaurant’s main clients–reside nearby.
“Moe’s is very popular with family and high school and college students, and it just seemed like a natural match,” co-owner Bruce Steminsky said. Steminsky co-owns the restaurant with Craig Shamlian.
Steminsky said that in addition to providing another restaurant for the Whip City, him and Shamlian will be active in charity in the city. This is being started off by a fundraiser for Westfield High School athletics Oct. 19, where all money made between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. will be donated to the high school.
