P.Y.T.’s Tommy Up uses Foursquare to pack the house… in a blizzard
Last week, as Philadelphia was crying mercy from its second snow storm in less than a week, most local restaurants and shops closed up business for the day as Philadelphians were unable to even see down the block.
Yet, nestled in the back of the Piazza in Northern Liberties, P.Y.T. was packed to the brim. Every table in the burger joint was filled with indicators that its inhabitants had settled in for the long haul: empty beer pitchers, stacks of winter gear shoved into the booths and plates filled with onion rings and burger crumbs lettering the tables.
So, how did P.Y.T. fill a restaurant when SEPTA wouldn’t even dare run busses?
Being located under an up-and-coming apartment complex doesn’t hurt, but owner Tommy Upgegrove (better known as Tommy Up)messaged his 300 Foursquare friends that those who arrived early to the restaurant would be able to take advantage of an open bar.
By 1 p.m. the offer had been rescinded, but it didn’t matter. P.Y.T. turned a blizzard into one of its best days of the season and its owner proved why, thanks to social media, he was the restaurant world’s undisputed king of low-budget promotion.
