Scott Van Duzer, Big Apple Pizza Owner Says Sales (And Hugs) Are Up

[highplainsdem]

Source: Huffington Post

Business is thriving at the Big Apple Pizza shop thanks to owner Scott Van Duzer's now-infamous bear hug of President Obama.

Sales at his Fort Pierce, Fla. pizza place are up 200 percent, Van Duzer told The Huffington Post, since he lifted Obama off the ground in an exuberant squeeze that transfixed the country on Sunday, launching a flurry of copycat hugs. The 46-year-old businessman went on to embrace CNN's Anderson Cooper and former Florida governor Charlie Crist, as well as many locals who are now coming by the restaurant just to get a quick snuggle.

"Business has been booming," Van Duzer told The Huffington Post.

-snip-

"The outpouring of love and support from my community to me has been overwhelming," Van Duzer said. Many have called in to order pizza or donate money to his shop from as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, New York and New Jersey. He's taken their orders and donations and used them to give away pizzas to shelters, veterans associations, and firehouses and police stations, he said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/scott-van-duzer-obama-hugger-big-apple-sales_n_1871933.html

[immoderate]

1. Funny what can bring tears to your eyes...

I'm glad he's doing well.

--imm

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Ditto. I've been waiting for this news. I'm gonna have to head to Ft. Pierce. I need a bear hug.

[EnviroBat]

15. Wow! I was just wiping my eyes and thinking EXACTLY the same thing!!!

[myrna minx]

2. Awww - goodwill is contagious.

[onehandle]

3. I wouldn't worry about a teabagger boycott.

They put most of their social security/welfare checks towards Viagra, Ben-Gay, and Ensure.

[vt_native]

27. Don't forget Depends

or as I like to call them, "Grampers"

[brewens]

4. It would never have occurred to me to protest or boycott a local business because the

owner was stoked that Bush came in. Even if it was Robme on campaign. Even as a Democrat I would have loved Bush coming into the cafe my girlfriend and I ran. We'd have had all kinds of people wanting to come in and eat because of that. I would have put "Thank You For The Visit President Bush" up on the reader board myself the second they drove off! I would have only been mildly disgusted with myself.

[progressivebydesign]

6. the only times I've avoided local businesses, is if they have Fox playing on the big tvs in there.

We tried out a new deli a few years back, and every time we were there, they had the two big tvs blasting Fox News. It was too much. I also avoid places that go out of their way to push their politics.. There was a nice local steakhouse that we enjoyed, then in 2000, she put up these GIANT Bush signs in front of the restaurant, almost obscuring the building, and had more Bush stuff inside. It was just too in-your-face for us. But knowing someone supports a republican, or hugs the President regardless of party, is not going to drive me away.

[kimbutgar]

11. Is this steak house still in business?

*edited for bad spelling

[hamsterjill]

5. I like it when the good guys "win".

I'm sincerely happy that the threats, bad reviews, etc. made by those unhappy with Mr. Van Duzer have now been overshadowed by community support.

[TahitiNut]

8. I really like "win-win" ...

... and this is a win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win!

[dawg]

9. Ha ha!

[Hulk]

10. This guy could not have EVER been a true "repukkke"....

...not with this kind of action. I'm not saying all republicans are heartless, selfish, greedy sons-of-bitches; just most that I'VE met. I have 9 siblings, and the older ones are ALL repukkkes. One of them is just simple minded and gullible...the other three are sick, twisted, selfish, greedy bastards. I have friends and neighbors that are repukkkes...and they vary, but most are just ignorant of any facts and simple logic....while some others are just racist, gun-worshiping idiots. I haven't met a repukkke like this Scott, but I'm sure there are some out there. Who knows...maybe he was just ignorant of facts too.

I stopped by a shop yesterday that I visit a few times a year, and the old buzzard that runs the place started in on how "Obama didn't put his hand over his heart when he said the pledge of allegiance with Hillary and Richardson during the debates", and "there's an awful lot of fishy stuff going on in this administration today", and other BS like that. One was he said he just listened to someone on the radio who had audio-taped people at the DNC convention who expressed that they felt corporations shouldn't realize a profit, blah, blah, blah.

I asked him if he ever heard of Thom Hartmann, Randy Rhodes...or knows of any progressive radio in Portland, and he said he had no idea. I simply tried to tell him he seriously needs to listen to BOTH SIDES and then make up his mind, and not just listen to fox and right wing radio. That went right over his head.

We are living next to some pretty ignorant, hateful and happy-to-be-both fools. It's hard to make the horse drink, blah, blah, blah. But it's so true. My siblings would sooner drink a bottle of castor oil than even listen to President Obama give an address, let alone a political speech.

Guess they just have to die off...and most of them are about that age. I silently applaud when one of my friends who is an avid repukkke croaks. I feel bad for losing them, but the world is a better place in the long run. Maybe that's an awful thing to say...but it's true in my heart.

There is so much mis-information and downright lies floating in the right wing air-waves; and that's not to say there is some in the left air-waves as well. But this country is screwed with the propaganda war that is being waged against this President and the Democrat(ic) Party today. (They all seem so tickled when they call us "the Democrat Party".) Such simple minded morons.

[rosesaylavee]

13. I know some very kind hearted and generous republicans...

Only has made the last 12 years harder...

[closeupready]

16. That is so heartwarming.

K&R

[onethatcares]

17. it would be a good thing

to order over the course of the next 3 months and the 3 months after that in order to keep the sales up instead of

just a large spike.

I figure I'll buy one on November 5th and donate it to the Democratic Party of Ft Pierce.

[LiberalAndProud]

18. Should we call this the Chik Fil A Effect?

[Mopar151]

19. In areas where Democrats have been historically weak

There are quite a few decent people who still have "R" after their names. Look at how many Republicans crossed the aisle to defeat Gay Marrige Repeal in the NH House.

[drm604]

20. He probably wouldn't have gotten this much attention

if it wasn't for that dumb boycott. They did him a favor. I wonder what they think of all this?

[begin_within]

21. He should just sell hugs

[SoapBox]

22. Wonderful, wonderful...

I gave to his foundation.

Good work DUers, Dems, Libs, Progressives and anyone else that does the correct thing vs. the "Right Wing" thing.

[GreenTea]

23. Because Prez Obama cares & helps small businesses, with tax cuts, Obamacare

helps out small businesses immensely and will do so even more so in the future....Republicans ONLY care about the rich and their corporations - who love putting small businesses and any competition on any level out of business....

Republicans always pretend to like small business - but it's all lip service - Bullshit - just like the republicans pay to Social Security & Medicaid...they say they want to help keep it....but they've been trying to destroy it since the New Deal - They hate it and the republicans are liars....anything to fool the people.

Obama and democrats really do love & help small business as Obama showed write offs on taxes and making it easier to secure loans and help buy materials and equipment to expand.

[Blue Owl]

24. Hugs are up. Smirks are down.

n/t

[samsingh]

29. well put

[BadGimp]

26. Being authentic Wins Everytime

Eom

[Arugula Latte]

28. Freeps, cry your bitter tears.

[jaded_old_cynic]

31. Bitter? Freeper tears are delicious!

[Jennicut]

30. There are good people in this world.

Sometimes many more then the idiots that all bring us down.

[maratmuradyan]

32. Spam deleted by Paulie (MIR Team)