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A Texas-based pizza chain, Pizza Patron, is now accepting pesos at all of their 59 nationwide locations. Many of the stores, particularly those in Texas (others are in California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado) are located in primarily Latino neighborhoods and, according to the director of restaurant operations for the company, "many of [the] customers travel back and forth to Mexico regularly, and sometimes they end up with pesos left over... [so] now we also welcome the currency of our homeland. We want to make Pizza Patron a better choice for our customers than any of our competitors." The program is a trial one that will last from now until at least the end of February, although it could be extended if it is met with a positive reaction from the customer base.
Even though it has only been in place for a week, the plan has not met with a warm reception. The company has received "hundreds of e-mails," most of them critical. The fact that 10% of sales this week in the chain's five primary stores were in pesos, however, is probably enough to keep the plan in action for another few weeks.
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1-12-2007 @1:42PM calamari said... This story has been the scandal of the week here in Arizona! You'd think from the fuss that no one had ever exchanged foreign currency before (which is what Pizza Patron is doing -- customers pay in pesos and get dollars back) or that businesses on the US/Canada border hadn't quietly been taking loonies for decades.
I figure the hostility here in Phoenix stems from hostility toward illegal aliens, which tends to generalize into hostility toward anyone who sees Mexico as "where grandpa and the cousins live" rather than as an affordable destination for Spring Break.
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1-12-2007 @10:53AM James said... Pizza Patron = Wetback Patron
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1-12-2007 @11:21AM Foodie Bride said... The peso program has gotten a lot of heat/press here in Houston, too. Of course, it's the first I've heard of the illegal immigration issue since election day.
The pizza shop knows their customer base and it's their establishment. Who cares what kind of currency they accept?
And by the way - ignorant racial slurs have no place in an educated society. I can't believe you actually wrote that.
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1-12-2007 @1:42PM Corvax said... Not all Mexicans in USA are illegal, I just had vacations in Texas last week.
Besides the Americans normally pays in dollars when they come down here !!
Cheers !
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1-12-2007 @1:41PM Brian said... I can't believe all the fuss over this decision. Do people scream that it's un-American when that cashier or vending machine takes your Canadian coins? Wouldn't people here be pleased if by chance they forgot to get a money exchange before traveled abroad and a business was pleased to accept their native country's currency?
I agree with the quote from their spokesman, "I can't imagine any illegal alien coming across the border into this country with pockets full of pesos looking to make his first discretionary purchase at a pizza store."
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1-12-2007 @3:37PM Word Diggity said... The company can accept whatever form of payment it wants. If they say bring in a chicken and we'll give you a pizza, that's their right.
And like Corvax said, not every immigrant is an illegal. This whole issue is so clouded now by rhetoric and propaganda from both sides that it's completely ridiculous.
It makes me wish there were a Pizza Patrón near me so I could go and give them a try (and show some support as well as offload some of my pesos), but the nearest location to me is down in Long Beach. That's a bit of schlep for a pizza, no matter how good it might be.
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1-13-2007 @10:08AM GhaleonQ said... Though some people take illegal immigration far too lightly, calmari correctly stated that it isn't as if those stores are sabotaging American currency. Essentially, they're expediting the actual currency exchange.
On another note, the company's pizza looks rather disgusting.
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1-13-2007 @10:52AM Adriane said... Well, we can now safely assert that James is 12 years old. No
wait, I
think most 12 y/os would have a bit more decency when speaking to a
group of strangers.
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1-18-2007 @11:47PM Ryan said... Personally, I don't see why this issue has sparked such a big debate. Im a mexican american and i feel like this is a great decision by the pizza place.....
and James....i cant believe u wrote that
you are an ignorant hater and probably 12 years old like adriane said....i could really cuss u out and be a real jerk...but ill be the mature one here
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1-18-2007 @8:40PM Pamela said... I applaud Pizza Patron! Living in Houston, where a great portion of our population are immigrants, I am delighted that you offer this service for our hard-working neighbors. I do not fault anyone who comes here looking for a better life. A few pesos are no threat to our economy. The logic of those who protest (and strongly, at that!) evades me. (I ask, from what country did their ancestors originate?) I see such generosity as truly American. Thanks!
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3-05-2007 @10:48AM Mike said... I think it's a damn shame that any business in the US would accept Pesos! This business should be shut down! Period! If you come to our country then you should SPEAK ENGLISH and learn to live by what our country founded on! What's wrong with you people? We are sitting idly by and letting our country go to shit! I think it's about time for a civil war right in America to take back our country! I say we round up ALL illegal aliens and run them out of our country and for the Americans that don't like it, KICK them out of our country too!
Wake up America before it too late! Our so called Government is NOT going to do anything for us so if WE don't do something soon; we won't have a country to call the USA!
Personally I am getting really sick and tired of all the CRAP that going on in our country! Americans are sitting by letting lesbians/gays and illegal aliens take over our country! What’s wrong with you people?
I'm all for taking our country back so when America is ready to take it back I'll be the first in line to join!
Mark my word...if things don't change before long it will be too late so all I'm asking is that you take a moment out of your busy work day and stop and smell the roses! Look at what’s going on in our country!
1) Lesbians/Gays raising children?
2) Blacks using their trump card? What the hell? NO ONE in AMERICA today has had a slave...ALL blacks have the same opportunity as anyone! I'm sick and tired when a black person gets killed for robbing someone, OUT comes the ALLCP starts talking shit! The police are ALWAYS wrong for killing a black man/woman that tries to kill them! Anyone see anything wrong with this picture?
3) Illegal aliens getting free medical care in the US?
4) Illegal aliens roaming our streets freely...
5) Illegal aliens getting access to Social Security after only working 18 months and it takes years for you and I?
This is just an example of what’s going on so wake up; it’s time we do something! If we have to run our so called American out of our country for wanting illegal aliens in our country so be it!
Take back AMERICA!
This is my opinion, and that’s my right! I am a true AMERICAN!
If anyone is interested in taking back our country let me know!
Mike
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1-26-2007 @11:48AM Rose said... What happened to freedom? Let them do as they please they are hurting no one. When I come back from Mexico I always have some of the currency left over. I get upset if they don't take dollars when I visit. Guess what someone thought of it before you did and they are cashing in? If you don't like the way USA is turning out it is all those "illegal immagrants" that work their ass off that make this country great. I don't see you going out to pick crops in the fields, or taking the under paid jobs they do. If you don't like it maybe you should be the one that leaves OUR USA, you are the ones that are bringing this country down with all your hate.
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1-29-2007 @5:07PM Javier said... I agree with Ryan and Rose and to that guy Mike i mean come on our country was founded on stealing and killing none of this is ours it was taken from Native Americans. and the idea of a civil war is stupid we already got alot of other stupid crap goin on. any ways on the plus side from what i hear Pizza Patron is giving a better exchange rate for pesos than most money exchanging places and so what if they are taken pesos get over it. i mena its not like you have to eat there. and what are they doin to us anyways
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