Burger Joint Ends Furloughed Government Promotion After Giving Out 15,840 Burgers

Z-burger, a Washington D.C.-based area burger chain, was one of the many eateries to create a shutdown special for furloughed workers by offering free hamburgers. But high demand has prompted the restaurant to stop the promotion due to overwhelming response.

According to the Wall Street Journal, eatery ended it promotion of free hamburgers, citing overwhelming demand in their first three days of the government shutdown. Peter Tabibian, Z-burger's owner, said the chain gave out 15,840 hamburgers, equivalent of more than $88,000 at retail price, during the promotion.

"When I started this thing, I didn't know that many government workers were in such a need for hamburgers," he said. "I don't have any regrets for doing it. I feel really good."

The promotion included customers getting one single burger for free between the times of 5 p.m, and 7 p.m. Tabibian said the lines, that reached over 200 people, were beginning to burning out Z-Burger employees. The last day of the promotion was Thursday. The Journal reported that many of Z-burgers regular customers are government workers.

"It literally almost put me out of business," Tabibian said.

He added the promotion provided a place for furloughed workers to meet up and discuss their predicament.

"I think a lot of friendship was made," he said. "I'm pretty sure they're going to remember this for a long time."

Four of the chain's locations Arlington, Tenleytown, Columbia Heights, and Southwest - participated in the promotion. Several other chains have offered similar promotions, and some have vowed to charge members of Congress extra, or even turn them away at the door.

Enjoyed a free #zburger yesterday. Free to govt. employees with ID during lunch until the shutdown ends #goodpress pic.twitter.com/VfNVl4u0us

— Terry Camp (@terrycamp12) October 2, 2013

Thanks @zburger for the free burger & caring a whole lot more than our Congress does about furloughed federal wkrs! pic.twitter.com/iASCBiCPva — Holly Golightly (@MissDC_Esq) October 2, 2013