T-Shirt Store Pranks Ald. O'Shea With April Fools' Day Joke

CHICAGO — No, the popular Plug T-Shirt Store isn’t converting into a Papa John’s Pizza. The neighborhood’s go-to spot for team and spirit wear, pranked everyone a day early for April Fools.

Owner Dave Bruchett announced Wednesday on Facebook that “it’s the end of an era. Tomorrow The Plug will begin its liquidation sale. We have bought into Papa John’s franchise. And begin our process in converting into the Famous Pizza Joint. Please drop your favorite shirt made by us over the years.”

“You guys have truly been amazing!!!! We have a ton of shirts from you and you were always professional and so kind. Treated us like family. Looking forward to buying pizzas from you too, but I will really miss the one stop tshirt shop. Wishing you tons and tons of luck.”

“You guys saved my dads birthday with his shirt! My favorite shirt by you guys!”

“Wait??? What!!!!”

“Didn’t you just have your storeroom remodeled? I’m calling April fools day shenanigans!”

Later in the afternoon, The Plug posted it’s last "print job," the pizza chain’s logo on “our new work shirts for our New Papa John's Franchise location. Super Excited!!!!!! Our promise is nobody will be faster! We are going to kill the pizza game in Mt. Greenwood!”

On Thursday — April Fools' Day — The Plug admitted that it was all a gag, but not until after Ald. Matt O’Shea’s office called to warn Bruchett that the store at 3652 W. 111th St. was not zoned for a restaurant.

“People have been coming in and messaging and emailing, telling us how much they love and support us,” Bruchett said. “People hate Papa John’s, but they say they’ll buy from us.”

The Plug has pulled other April Fools' Day pranks. One time the store announced that one of its employees had twins and asked customers to help name the babies.

“Somebody did a Change.org petition, ‘Save the Plug,” Bruchett said.

Like many small businesses, the past year has been a roller coaster for the screen printing business renowned for its customer service and custom printing over 1,000 apparel items including tees, v-necks and hoodies. The Plug also has graphic artists on staff to help customers design shirts.

“We had the riots, the pandemic,” Bruchett said. “Our main focus has been making sure our employees stay employed full time.”

Meanwhile, The Plug offered 10-percent off to anyone who came in Thursday and said, “you got me today.”