Philadelphia's favorite Memorial Day Weekend tradition is back! Free Toll Friday returns to the Atlantic City Expressway. This Friday, Chickie's and Pete's will PAY FOR ALL THE TOLLS (cash & EZ pass) for cars traveling Eastbound through the Egg Harbor Exit during Rush Hour, to honor Veterans this Memorial Day Weekend.
Chickie’s and Pete’s will again team up with South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) and the Atlantic City Expressway. Chickie's and Pete's picks up the toll tab on FREE TOLL FRIDAY May 26th from 5:00pm to 6:00pm.
Earlier that afternoon, Chickie's and Pete's countdown with free family fun from 12:00pm Noon to 5:00pm at Farley Plaza - including giving away free orders of their world famous Crabfries®. There will also be free food and beverages, The State Police Dog Search and Rescue Team and a display of Fire and Rescue Equipment from The Atlantic City International Airport. In addition, children can visit with ambassadors from The Funny Farm, an animal rescue sanctuary for farm and zoo animals, plus dozens of vendors, artists and more surprises. “Free Toll Friday has become one of my favorite summertime traditions,” said Chickie’s & Pete’s Chairman and CEO Pete Ciarrocchi. “It’s a great way to thank all those who have supported us over the years and kick off the summer in a fun way.”
There are far more than just free tolls that make up the Chickie’s & Pete’s/ South Jersey Transportation Authority summer kick-off celebration at the Frank S. Farley Plaza from 12:00pm to 5:00pm as a lead up to the magic hour. Everyone is invited to stop by and enjoy free Crabfries from the Chickie’s & Pete’s Food Truck as well as complimentary food and beverages courtesy of Hershey’s Ice Cream, Mars, Carlo’s Bakery and treats from Applegreen (the food service operator at the Farley Service Plaza right on the Atlantic City Expressway at Milepost 21.3). Monster Energy Drink will also be there with samplings to help refresh and invigorate the crowd.
In addition, children can visit with ambassadors from The Funny Farm, an animal rescue sanctuary for farm and zoo animals. Dalmatian puppies will be on-hand for children to meet, greet and pet in a supervised area, plus the New Jersey State Police K9 police dog team and the Fire and Rescue Equipment from The Atlantic City International Airport will make their annual appearance. The event includes almost 40 organizations, vendors, artists, and exhibitors from across South Jersey distributing free samples while they last, plus the one-hour toll-free, eastbound passage at the Egg Harbor Toll Plaza as the SJTA kicks off another 100 Days of Summer at 5:00pm.
Chickie’s & Pete’s is also proud to join forces with local non-profit, The Patriot Fund this Memorial Day Weekend; paying homage to what really matters this holiday. The Patriot Fund works to provide a world where our heroic Veterans can return from duty proactively supported psychologically, emotionally, socially, and financially as they and their families re-engage into civilian life. Ciarrocchi chose Memorial Day Weekend to pay the tolls as a way to honor his family’s military tradition. “My Dad and my Uncles were all in the military,” said Ciarrocchi. “In fact, my Uncle George, who was my restaurant mentor, won the Silver Star for bravery. He was quite the guy, and I couldn't think of a better way to honor him.” When you order Chickie’s “Patriot Punch” cocktail Memorial Day Weekend, a portion of all proceeds will be donated to The Patriot Fund. For more information on The Patriot Fund and to donate, please visit patriotfundinc.org. For more about Chickie's and Pete's, visit www.ChickiesandPetes.com for details. ABOUT CHICKIE'S AND PETE'S Chickie’s & Pete’s is a Philadelphia-based crab house and sports bar with 17 locations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and two brand-new locations in Nevada. Founded in 1977 by Peter and Henrietta Ciarrocchi, Chickie’s & Pete’s began as a single corner bar in the Mayfair neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia and has since grown to become one of the most recognizable brands in the region. It’s famous, one-of-a-kind Crabfries® concession locations can be found in stadiums, areas, boardwalks, and amusement parks throughout the country. Chickie’s & Pete’s is a leader in forging innovative strategic partnerships and utilizing technology to bring together casual dining with interactive sports entertainment. The company combines family-based values with a love of all things sports and entertainment in each of its locations. Learn more at chickiesandpetes.com