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Any Way You Slice It, Downtown Pizzeria Offer Draws A Crowd

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Pizzaiolo's pizza giveaway was as popular as, well, free pizza.

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TBO.com

Published: March 10, 2009

Updated: 03/10/2009 01:06 pm

TAMPA - Downtown denizens flocked to a not-yet-open pizza joint this afternoon, cashing in on a free lunch.

Pizzaiolo on Franklin Street offered slices of pizza and drinks on the house. The eatery opens Wednesday and management hopes to stir up a little interest among all the downtown folk who venture out of their cubicles in search of a good, cheap lunch.

Manager Sait Escobar watched as a line of people filed through the door, bellying up to the table where fresh pizza slices awaited. The line extended almost to the end of the block. It was more than he expected.

"Everybody gets a slice and a bottle of water," he said. Plates of bruschetta were also being passed around.

The freebies, which last until 2 p.m., may cut into revenue, but Escobar hopes the sampling will bring more people by for lunch.

Lori Dec works at the nearby TECO building and said she got an e-mail about the Pizzaiolo offer. With everyone pinching pennies in this sagging economy, lunching out can add up.

"Every time you get a chance to get something for nothing," she said, "you better take advantage of it."

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