Some businesses report increase in carryout orders for Monday Night Football

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Monday was out of the ordinary for some Indianapolis businesses, as they worked to keep up with carryout orders.

At HotBox Pizza near the intersection of West 86th Street and Ditch Road and at Just Wing’n It, staff pointed to Monday Night Football as a possible cause for the boost in business.

“Multiple pies, multiple sticks, you know people getting together, Colts fans, coming together to cheer on their team so those bigger orders than we are traditionally seeing,” HotBox Director of Marketing Samantha Peterson said.

Stacy Jefferson, a manager at Just Wing’n It, says they also saw more carryout orders than normal. However, her staff is always ready for a full house during Colts games.

“We always make sure we have a full staff no matter if it’s gonna be a boat load of customers or just a little bit. We just always wanna be prepared,” Jefferson said.

The bustle usually starts to pick up later in the evening, but HotBox Manager Pacey Underwood says orders were coming in as early as 5 p.m.

“Usually, like around the 8 o’clock games, there is only one game on TV, everyone tunes in, everyone wants pizza, everyone wants food. Especially from places that deliver,” Underwood said.

Coming out of the pandemic, employees say nights like this are what they’ve been waiting for.

“I love it,” Underwood said. “I’m here, I like to just pump up everyone, get them all riled up for the night.”

Keeping up with the crowds takes staff. Like many businesses, these shops have had a hard time finding workers. Managers at both businesses say they are hiring.