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New York — A&W Restaurants, the oldest franchised restaurant chain in America, marks its 105th anniversary by honoring the Greatest Generation. Starting this month, anyone aged 100 or older will enjoy free Root Beer Floats for life, a sweet tribute to a group often overlooked by brands.
The celebration ties back to A&W’s historic roots, which began on June 20, 1919, when co-founder Roy W. Allen opened his first Root Beer stand in Lodi, California, to welcome home WWI veterans. Today, the chain continues to serve the same famous Root Beer made fresh in its restaurants worldwide, along with iconic Root Beer Floats in frosty glass mugs.
This year’s birthday initiative focuses on the estimated 108,000 centenarians in the U.S. Liz Bazner, VP of Marketing & Innovation at A&W, emphasized the importance of these long-time fans, stating, These are people that have been with A&W since the beginning. We wouldn’t have survived the last century without them, so we wanted to show our appreciation with something special just for them.
Highlighting the celebration, WWII veterans and centenarians Hazel Calloway, 104, and Glendell Bennett, 100, were featured enjoying their free floats. Adding a modern twist to the campaign, 95-year-old ‘granfluencer’ Baddiewinkle, known for her vibrant social media presence and zest for life, serves as the official spokesperson, expressing her excitement for the promotion.
To participate, eligible seniors simply need to visit any A&W location across the U.S. and may be asked to show identification. For those not yet in their centennial year, A&W also offers a free Root Beer Float on birthdays for customers aged 13 and up through Rooty’s Mug Club. More details and exclusive deals on A&W’s All-American menu can be found at awrestaurants.com/100.
A&W has New York restaurants in Cortland, Fishkill, Hudson, Lake George, Niagara Falls, Owego, Vestal, and Wilmington.
