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In 1998, These SF Men Got a Tattoo to Snag Free Tacos for Life. Here's What Happened After.
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Sep. 20, 2021 | Joshua Bote

Posted on 09/21/2021 3:48:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Twenty-two years ago, Casa Sanchez in San Francisco estimated that its notorious tacos-for-tattoos deal would cost somewhere in the ballpark of $5.8 million.\

Martha Sanchez, who came up with the deal, arrived at that pricey estimate after the promotion was already underway. Assuming that the 50 or so inked-up people stayed in San Francisco for their lifetimes and got an eight-buck meal every week, the figure would be staggering. That number didn’t even include the second round of people when Casa Sanchez revived the deal; more on that later.

But for at least two of the first people in San Francisco to get inked up in exchange for free meals, the grub was never the point.

Rewind back to 1998: Greg Tietz, then 35, had only been in San Francisco for a couple of years and was looking to plant his roots in his neighborhood when a Mexican restaurant's promotion piqued his interest.

Get a tattoo, get free Mexican food for life.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: sanfrancisco; tacos; tattoo

1 posted on 09/21/2021 3:48:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

That’s a racist tattoo if ever I saw one!

A Mexican with a sombrero?

At least he’s packing a weapon. Like Mexicans do.


2 posted on 09/21/2021 3:52:38 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: nickcarraway
Martha’s sister wasn’t on board with the tats-for-tacos deal, Brenner added, taking the sign off the window whenever Martha would put it up. But Martha reportedly persisted, reprinting the sign until her sister relented. (Martha Sanchez did not respond to a request for comment for the story.)

If I was Martha's sister, I would be sure to debit all costs of those free tacos from Martha's share of the profits.

3 posted on 09/21/2021 3:56:16 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: nickcarraway

Maria need to stick to making tacos, and stay away from math.

50 people x 52 weeks x $8.00 x 50 years = $1,040,000

Plus, cost is half of the plate price. Way off Maria


4 posted on 09/21/2021 3:57:05 PM PDT by ready2brd
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To: ready2brd
1998 article says lunch everyday. That's where the number comes from. This article seems to have lost that in translation.


5 posted on 09/21/2021 4:06:17 PM PDT by Theoria
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To: Responsibility2nd
Like Mexicans do.

Looks like he's holding it in his hand, not carrying Mexican.

6 posted on 09/21/2021 4:09:00 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: PAR35; Responsibility2nd

Is that corn manual or automatic?


7 posted on 09/21/2021 4:11:12 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

I heard they eat corn long ways in San Fran, and I could also see why a guy riding a corn cob is a popular tat there.


8 posted on 09/21/2021 4:15:36 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
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To: Theoria

But it didn’t last ‘50 years’.

It’s a cute story, and the folks who got the tattoo probably got more in free food - even with tips - than they paid for the ink.

(Along with community and conviviality.)


9 posted on 09/21/2021 4:17:19 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: nickcarraway

If life in prison is only twenty years, how can one really expect free food for life be fifty years?


10 posted on 09/21/2021 4:19:16 PM PDT by Jonty30 (My superpower is setting people up for failure, without meaning to. )
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To: Jamestown1630

But did they report it on their taxes? 🤣


11 posted on 09/21/2021 4:21:22 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Irish lives matter!)
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To: Responsibility2nd
If I was Martha's sister, I would be sure to debit all costs of those free tacos from Martha's share of the profits.

If I were Martha I'd accept that deal as long as in return I got all the proceeds that came out of becoming a national news story several times.

12 posted on 09/21/2021 4:26:14 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Often wrong, but never in doubt!)
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To: Prince of Space

Do you mean the business, or the recipients of the free food?

I don’t know how ‘giveaways’ are reported on business taxes. Maybe it comes under ‘advertising costs’.

And individuals have always gotten an allowance for ‘gifts’ that didn’t reach the stipulated value at the time.


13 posted on 09/21/2021 4:28:43 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Theoria

Ok. Just garbage reporting then. But still, nobody is going for tacos every day for 50 years. Or, I guess if they do, they are not going to live that long, lol


14 posted on 09/21/2021 4:31:17 PM PDT by ready2brd
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To: Responsibility2nd

Reminds me of the FRITO BANDITO! How soon do the riots start?


15 posted on 09/21/2021 4:44:02 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (OUT OF FB JAIL! and back on the attack. 4 hours! Now back in FB jail-again!)
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To: nickcarraway

Looks like he’s riding a dill pickle.

I do not understand the motivation behind this deal. Perhaps a family member owns the tattoo parlor.


16 posted on 09/21/2021 5:20:51 PM PDT by proud American in Canada ("Fear is a reaction; Courage is a decision." Winston Churchill)
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To: nickcarraway

I don’t know what kind of transmission it has, but it’s riding so low you cant even see the tires.


17 posted on 09/21/2021 5:40:51 PM PDT by Durus (You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. Ayn Rand)
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To: ready2brd

Is that in today’s dollars or future dollars ?
It is not just the wholesale cost of food, but the cost of the facility, staff, etc. pro rated for 50 non-paying or under paying customers.
If inflation increases by the standard 3% inflation, then the costs would double twice (retail $32 taco plate).


18 posted on 09/21/2021 5:54:09 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began)
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