Philadelphia is a sports city. And Chickie’s & Pete’s, with 13 full-service locations in Philadelphia and New Jersey, is paying homage to their sports fanatic guests by capitalizing on that penchant for all things Philadelphia.
Every Monday night beginning September 10, the bar will host the Andy Reid Coaches Show at 5 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Chickie’s & Pete’s Players Lounge will feature Philadelphia Eagle LeSean McCoy.
Locations in Bordertown and Egg Harbor Township, both in New Jersey, will host radio shows Monday at 7 p.m. and Tuesday at 7 p.m., respectively. The Merrill Reese Show, featuring Eagles players and rotating between the Roosevelt Boulevard location and the suburban locations, will be on Thursday nights at 6 p.m.
Chickie's & Pete's has been hosting these radio shows at its establishment for a number of years, Roger Falloon, COO of the bar, says. Guests like to be present when players and coaches are discussing the upcoming game, and Falloon says, the bar sees even larger crowds when the Eagles are playing well.
The sports radio shows are “an extra feature for our guest,” explains Falloon. “The atmosphere and experience are unique, and it sets us apart … it differentiates us.”
The bar owners plan to add more shows to its lineup as the season continues.
From the Eagles coach to the team's players, it’s exciting for patrons to see their favorte players in person. And for a city that takes its sports seriously, a promotion like this drives them to the bar. “It creates loyal customers because of the experience. It helps bring people in,” Falloon says. “It keeps our guests loyal, and it drives in new people that want to see those players.”
Planning for the event takes a little over two months, usually starting the brainstorming process during the middle of June. “We have the conversation about thoughts for football season, and it evolves from there” he says.
From there, Chickie’s & Pete’s partners with local sports radio stations to host these weekly shows. Not to mention, hosting the radio show provides inherent market; the station advertises the event on their airways. However, Falloon says they supplement that through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as sending out email blasts to make people aware of it.
Throughout the football season, Chickie’s & Pete’s continues to add specials and promotions, but the radio shows enhance that experience. “We are pretty fanatical,” as sports fans in Philadelphia, explains Fallon. “ ... Philly is just a passionate sports city.”