"Manny’s Deli is giving away sandwiches on Tuesday, March 30 but it’s not a celebratory gesture. The first 1,000 mask-wearing customers who stop at the beloved South Side shop can pick up one free sandwich. The gimmick (copped from Florida’s vegan deli Golden Dinosaur) was born out of frustration with customers who can’t seem to obey COVID-19 safety rules. Earlier in March, Manny’s made a promise: If customers could go 30 days without being told to properly wear a mask, they’d give out free sandwiches. That effort didn’t last long with the daily tally often resetting by lunchtime. An anonymous donor has since stepped up to fund Tuesday’s free sandwiches special and as the deli reloads, it will also donate sandwiches to 450 staff members at the United Center’s mass vaccination site." - Naomi Waxman
