Aurelio's Pizza In Plainfield Gets Grinch To Deliver Food

PLAINFIELD, IL — With indoor dining suspended across the state, restaurants are coming up with creative ways to bring Christmas cheer this holiday season, including having food delivered by a beloved Dr. Seuss character.

Aurelio's Pizza of Plainfield has enlisted one employee to dress up as the Grinch, a pot-bellied, grouchy creature, whose heart is too small for him to truly appreciate the spirit of Christmas. The Grinch delivers food and even takes photos with the customers. If time permits, he'll also do a little dance, said Aurelio's owner Mike Pascale.

"We have had Santa dinners in the past which have always been so successful but with our dining room being closed that is just not possible this year," Pascale said. "So we needed something else. We had customers asking for Grinch deliveries, so we got online and ordered a costume and jumped on the bandwagon and started delivering our food with the Grinch."

Customers must call and place their reservation when the restaurant announces the dates and times for when the Grinch is available, on its Facebook page. These deliveries will be available through Christmas Eve.

With two children at home, Plainfield resident Meagan Olsen, felt "limited" in terms of Christmas-related activities.

"When I saw Aurelio's was offering Grinch deliveries, I thought that sounded like a fun idea. My kids really got a kick out of answering the door and seeing the Grinch standing there," she said. "They were right on time with our order, and he was able to stick around for a few minutes to take some photos."

Pascale said the community has loved the idea, and they've delivered to families with little children as well as to parents who were to embarrass their teenagers.

"Our Grinch was even the center attraction of a professional photo shoot for a family's Christmas card and even Santa himself flagged down the Grinch for a photo," he said.

The restaurant sold out all slots for the Grinch deliveries within an hour of posting them on social media each day.

"We have had a blast delivering food with the Grinch, the pictures we received have been great!," Pascale said. "It's been great to see all the happy faces we haven't been able to see at Aurelio's inside our dining room. We would like to thank the community for supporting us during this unprecedented time. We all need all the help we can get to get through this pandemic, customers need it just as much as we do."

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